I swear this is something I think about all the time.
Why is birth control basically seen as a “girl thing”?
Like genuinely. Any time it comes up, it’s always directed at women. Doctor appointments, conversations with friends, even random comments people make. It’s just assumed that we’re the ones handling it.
And honestly, I’ve felt that a lot.
I’ve been on more than five different types of birth control at this point, and I can confidently say it is not as simple as people make it seem. Every time I switch, it’s like starting over. New side effects, new adjustments, and a whole lot of hoping it doesn’t mess with me too much.
The hormonal changes alone are insane. Some made me feel super emotional, some made me feel off in ways I couldn’t even explain, and others just didn’t work well with my body at all. And the craziest part is that this is completely normal.
We’re just expected to deal with it.
And I know I’m not the only one. I’ve heard so many horror stories from other women about birth control. Things like really bad mood swings, constant headaches, weight changes, or just feeling like they’re not themselves anymore.
I even have a friend who developed ovarian cysts from being on a certain birth control, which is honestly scary to think about. Like these are real things that can happen, but they’re rarely talked about in everyday conversations.
But even with all of that, the expectation doesn’t really change.
It’s still on us.
Meanwhile, what are the options for men? Condoms… and that’s basically it. There are over 20 different types of contraceptives approved, but only two are really available for men right now. That alone says a lot.
What’s even more interesting is that research is actually being done on male birth control. A recent study from the University of Minnesota talked about a new hormone free male birth control pill that has already started clinical trials. In early testing, it was about 99% effective and didn’t show noticeable side effects, which is honestly kind of surprising compared to what women usually deal with.
So clearly, progress is happening… just slowly.
And that’s where it starts to feel unfair.
Because birth control isn’t just some small thing. It affects your body, your mood, your energy, and sometimes even your mental health. It’s not just “take a pill and move on.” There’s a lot that goes into it.
What also doesn’t get talked about enough is how this connects to healthcare in general.
Women have been dealing with side effects for years and are still expected to just push through. But when it comes to male birth control, side effects have been one of the reasons things get delayed or stopped.
So why is it different?
It really makes you realize how normalized this imbalance is. Women are expected to manage everything. The appointments, the prescriptions, the side effects, the responsibility. And if something goes wrong, it usually falls back on us too.
That’s a lot for one person to carry in something that involves two people.
And I’m not saying women shouldn’t have access to birth control. Obviously it’s important, and I’m glad those options exist. But there’s a difference between having access and being expected to take on all the responsibility.
It should feel more shared.
Even just starting with how we talk about it would help. Instead of assuming it’s automatically the woman’s job, it should be something both people are involved in and thinking about.
Because right now, it just feels one sided.
And once you actually think about it, it’s kind of hard to unsee.
So I guess the real question is… why has it always been this way, and why hasn’t it changed yet?
As someone who as also heard a lot of horror stories and have dealt with them myself with birth control, I agree that this is an important topic. I do feel like it is seen as a “girl thing” and to just take a pill and deal with the harsh consequences. I didn’t know they were working on a male birth control pill that’s effective and no side effects, thats crazy. I really liked the line that you said “That’s a lot for one person to carry in something that involves two people.” Do you think the male birth control is something that guys will take it if it becomes available or things will stay the same?
I feel like that is such an important question because as women we have so many options and have tried so many of them, not just for ourselves but for our partners too. I honestly think it really depends on the person, but if I’m being real, part of me feels like a lot of men wouldn’t take it. There’s already so much stigma around birth control being a woman’s responsibility and that mindset is hard to break. At the same time, I do think things could slowly change, especially if more research keeps showing that male birth control can be effective and safe. But like I mentioned, it’s kind of frustrating that side effects are one of the reasons it gets delayed, when women have been expected to deal with side effects for years. So I guess I’m a little in between. I think some men would step up, but I don’t think it would fully shift the responsibility overnight.