LARC options include the copper IUD, progestogen-only intrauterine system (IUS), progestogen-only injectable contraceptives and progestogen-only subdermal implants.
There are no LARC options for men, only a permanent vasectomy –
Is there a biological reason it’s easier for women to have these options?
In: Biology
It is just down to differences in biology.
Women’s reproductive cycles can be interrupted by “tricking” the body into thinking it is pregnant and thus preventing eggs from being released for fertilization. As this is a very natural process for women who are pregnant, it is easy to replicate with few serious side effects.
Men have no such process where sperm production is interrupted, so it isn’t as easy to stop. Hormonal changes to stop sperm production wreck male physiology, so they aren’t used. The only effective method is a vasectomy, which doesn’t actually stop production, but just disconnects the “tubes” that allow sperm to exit.
There are some LARC options for men in the testing stage right now, but they are still a few years away.
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