What Takes Place When A Man Uses Birth Control?

You see, if a drug is not advertised to you or prescribed for you, it probably isn't for you.

So it's probably best not to take birth control in the form of the pill if you don't have a uterus.

Sadly, the male contraceptive pill is still not widely accessible, so the two main options for men at the moment are vasectomies or condoms.

But here's what experts predict will happen if you take the female contraceptive pill (hopefully by mistake, or maybe just out of curiosity).

One contraceptive pill taken by a man will probably not have any effect.

But if he starts using birth control regularly, he might observe some variations depending on the type of pill he uses.

According to BBC Science Focus, the combined pill, which contains oestrogen and progesterone and is intended to be taken daily, may have "mild feminizing effects."

That would entail broader hips, softer skin, and a slight increase in breast size.

Additionally, there are several tablets in the combined pill packet that are nothing more than sugar.

The stopping of hormones is what causes people taking the pill to experience their breakthrough bleed at that time each month.

Therefore, if the man only consumes a small number per month, he could unintentionally consume the sugary ones with no negative effects.

Women who identify as trans take much more oestrogen than is contained in birth control pills.

The type of oestrogen in the pills has also been associated with increased risks of deep vein thrombosis, so using them to change your gender is not advised.

The progesterone-only pill, on the other hand, would have a different effect; according to BBC Science Focus, it would only decrease a man's sperm count and libido.

Why aren't there birth control pills for men?

Although none are currently on the market, there are a number of male birth control methods in various stages of development. Male birth control has not been widely used for a variety of biological reasons, including the difficulty of preventing a large number of sperm and the limitless fertility window. The pharmaceutical industry has been discouraged from researching and developing male birth control because historically, society has viewed contraception as a women's issue.

What negative effects can male contraception cause?

A promising male birth control trial was abandoned in 2016 as a result of adverse reactions that participants reported. Many of the side effects they experienced were similar to those experienced by women using hormonal birth control, such as acne, weight loss or gain, and mood swings.

What occurs when a man consumes testosterone?

Long-term use of additional testosterone increases libido, lowers sperm counts, facilitates muscle gain, causes smaller or softer testicles, and elevates mood and energy levels.

Does using birth control have an impact on my skin?

Numerous side effects of birth control are possible, both positive and negative. For instance, it might enlarge your breasts or result in a slight weight gain [source: Mayo Clinic]. Your skin appears to be affected as well.

Have you ever noticed that the start of your menstrual cycle tends to coincide with your acne outbreaks? It's not just you. Actually, there is a biological explanation for why it happens so frequently. The good news is that contraception might be beneficial.

Androgen is a hormone that only exists in women. This hormone stimulates the body to produce extra oil just before menstruation. Typically, oil is beneficial to your skin. Your face actually produces oil continuously to maintain the health of your skin, but if it starts to produce too much, it can clog your pores and result in pimples. There are times when birth control can prevent androgen from producing too much oil, resulting in fewer breakouts. American Academy of Dermatology is the source. It has been so effective at treating acne that the FDA has authorized use of specific brands of birth control.

However, there is a possibility that oral contraceptives will have a negative impact on the skin of some women. While birth control may help you get rid of your acne, it can also make your skin much more sensitive to the sun, and in some cases, it can even cause you to get melasma, which is a condition where you get dark patches on your face [source: American Academy of Dermatology: Melasma].

In the end, taking birth control to get rid of your acne might not be worthwhile, but if you're going to take it anyhow, that could be an added benefit. Actually, until you use birth control, you won't know how your body will respond to it.

To learn more about caring for your skin, continue reading.