Egyptian men interviewed by Al-Masry Al-Youm said they categorically reject the use of male contraceptives after some pharmaceutical research institutes said they are developing contraceptive pills to be taken by men to achieve equality between the sexes in family planning.
Some of the men, randomly interviewed by Al-Masry Al-Youm, said they fear that using the contraceptives may negatively impact their prestige among their acquaintances, while others said they fear birth control pills may affect their fertility.
Pharmaceutical research institutes around the world are conducting research projects to develop a contraceptive that can be effectively and easily taken by men. The alternatives under study are pills, injections and dermatological gels.
Hussein Ghanem, professor of reproductive diseases at Cairo University, meanwhile, said research in the field is still at an early stage.
Abdel Aziz Mostafa, one of the men interviewed, said he would not use such contraceptives if they become available on the market, even though his wife has given birth to several children while she was using intrauterine devices.
"I can't take contraceptive pills, they are for women," Mostafa said. "How would I look like if my colleagues or friends knew I was taking such pills? I would become a laughing stock."
Mohamed Fathi, another interviewee, said he would rather have dozens of children than take contraceptive pills. "Family planning is intended to ensure a better life for children," he said. "But this does not mean that men should use contraceptive pills."
Mohamed Ali said he feared using such contraceptives since men’s fertility could reduced by the use of such pills, which he believed would definitely have side effects.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
