"As part of the project I’m looking at contraceptive coverage. A few years back, I discovered that female sterilization (tubal ligation) was covered without cost under the ACA, but male sterilization (vasectomy) was not. Even though it is cheaper, safer and more effective. "
;;; Female sterlization is notoriously harder to obtain. Try being a 30 year old woman with no kids attempting to get a tubal ligation. At any rate, vasectomies should be covered, and encouraged. They are reversable, afterall. And with the whole Dobbs thing maybe the government finally wised up and realized that men need to become sexually responsible.
They want to put the entire responsibility of sex and reproduction onto women. Just like with the male "pill". It was invented and tested decades ago but never rolled out because men "didn't like the side effects" and said they wouldn't use it. But somehow Viagra is pushed and has been covered by insurance for eons. So they want men to be sexually active, just not sexually responsible.
The researchers (not the test subjects) ended the study because some test subjects were experiencing serious health problems and the researchers did not want blood on their hands. The test subjects themselves were in favor of continuing, but they were overruled because the risk to their lives was deemed too high.
Male birth control is a lot more tricky than female birth control. Female birth control simulates pregnancy to induce temporary sterility, but there is no such natural process in males to simulate. This makes make birth control much more difficult to formulate, and it may not ever be possible to make it safe enough to go to market.
It's been a while since I read the research but I remember the "serious" side effects were the side effects women also experience on the pill. The reason it didn't go through whereas women's did is because the side effects from the pill for women were considered less serious than the side effects and risks of pregnancy. So because men cannot get pregnant the "trade off" was not considered worth it. If they re-did it all now maybe they would consider "child support" more of a side effect and risk than the male pill.
Great news...tho no longer relevant for me, still married and faithful at the age of 83! But a great step forward, not just for men, but for equality and more, for recognizing that (at least for heterosexuals) contraception is a mutual issue!
Fascinating, and as someone in healthcare, no less shocking to read. Looking forward to the paper on vasectomies to see what remained after any snipping.
How so? Where does it say women kept condoms or vasectomies from being insured? Did women pass laws banning condoms from being sold in stores (including every gas station) or without a Dr exam & prescription? Did women ban vasectomies? I haven't seen or heard this. If I didn't know any better I'd say that sounds absurd!
Well done and the part about vasectomies needs even more attention. You might have mentioned, however, that condoms, in practice, have a pretty high failure rate compared to other forms of contraception. Offsetting this, they do protect against sexually-transmitted diseases and they are a lot better than nothing.
Belle SAWHILL in the comments, people! (My friend and mentor). You have of course done all the work on contraceptive effectiveness, especially LARCs, and I completely agree about the relative efficacy point. The vasectomy question will be addressed explicitly in the paper I'm working on, but note that Guttmacher Institute clear call to expand ACA to include it. Thanks!
There is an issue regarding the use of condoms that men need to be aware of: women can trick or trap a man into paternity by poking holes in condoms, or fishing used condoms out of the garbage can, etc. The solutions for men: always have the condom in his possession, before, during and after sex. Don't leave it on a coffee table, so she could poke holes in it. After sex, empty the condom in the toilet, flush the toilet, tie a knot in the condom, then put it in his pocket, and leave it there.
Vasectomies aren't reversible. The success rate drops to 5% or less after a year or so from the surgery. Vasectomies are sterilization, not birth control.
Your reproductive rights come in the form of choices to have protected or unprotected sex. If you are really in anxiety about it, get a vasectomy. But you still have to wear a condom because STDs. Celibacy is probaby the best path.
What are mens reproductive responsibilities? Do men have to go to the Dr to get invasive exams & birth control prescriptions they have to take daily, a shot or painful IUDs inserted? Do men have to get surgery for a hysterectomy or tubal ligation costing thousands of dollars? Do men go thru pregnancy & child birth if BC fails? Or can they just buy condoms at any gas station for $10 &/or get a vasectomy, which is a 30 minute outpatient procedure?
If modern medicine is oppression to you, even when it enables people to have sex without consequence, you are too idiotic to bother with. Blocking you. Bye!
Excellent research and thanks for the fantastic article -- stunning that condoms can only be gotten for free by women who are prescribed them under ACA, if I understand you. Wow! I'm looking forward to the full report.
Here in California, there was a similar issue -- the state now provides free feminine products in high schools since the passage of the "Menstrual Products for All" act. However, a bill that would have paid for condoms in California for all high school students was shot down. Here's a link: "California’s Gov. Newsom vetoes bill to make free condoms available for high school students" https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/californias-gov-newsom-vetoes-bill-to-make-free-condoms-available-for-high-school-students
"However, a bill that would have paid for condoms in California for all high school students was shot down. "
California is full fanatical religious parents and the government has to placate them otherwise shrill cries of "GROOMER!!!!!" ring out across the California sky.
Unlike condoms, menstrual products are a necessity you can't choose to go without, needed multiple days every month, a regular expense, not used for sex & not something parents object to adults giving minor kids. Thinking it's women who are privileged when talking about periods & something used for mens pleasure is hilarious. The 2 aren't comparable.
"As part of the project I’m looking at contraceptive coverage. A few years back, I discovered that female sterilization (tubal ligation) was covered without cost under the ACA, but male sterilization (vasectomy) was not. Even though it is cheaper, safer and more effective. "
;;; Female sterlization is notoriously harder to obtain. Try being a 30 year old woman with no kids attempting to get a tubal ligation. At any rate, vasectomies should be covered, and encouraged. They are reversable, afterall. And with the whole Dobbs thing maybe the government finally wised up and realized that men need to become sexually responsible.
"They are reversable, afterall."
Not completely.
Who the hell wants to wear a rubber anyway?
Responsible men who also want to avoid STDs.
Incredible discrimination against men. How exactly did this happen when men are a majority of politicians?
They want to put the entire responsibility of sex and reproduction onto women. Just like with the male "pill". It was invented and tested decades ago but never rolled out because men "didn't like the side effects" and said they wouldn't use it. But somehow Viagra is pushed and has been covered by insurance for eons. So they want men to be sexually active, just not sexually responsible.
The researchers (not the test subjects) ended the study because some test subjects were experiencing serious health problems and the researchers did not want blood on their hands. The test subjects themselves were in favor of continuing, but they were overruled because the risk to their lives was deemed too high.
Male birth control is a lot more tricky than female birth control. Female birth control simulates pregnancy to induce temporary sterility, but there is no such natural process in males to simulate. This makes make birth control much more difficult to formulate, and it may not ever be possible to make it safe enough to go to market.
It's been a while since I read the research but I remember the "serious" side effects were the side effects women also experience on the pill. The reason it didn't go through whereas women's did is because the side effects from the pill for women were considered less serious than the side effects and risks of pregnancy. So because men cannot get pregnant the "trade off" was not considered worth it. If they re-did it all now maybe they would consider "child support" more of a side effect and risk than the male pill.
Am I reading that right.. that condoms are covered but only women can obtain them?
I remember back in the old days when a central push of feminism was to centrally involve men in contraception. Not so much any more...
What does this have to do with feninism?
Feminism has changed 180 degrees in this goal.
Great news...tho no longer relevant for me, still married and faithful at the age of 83! But a great step forward, not just for men, but for equality and more, for recognizing that (at least for heterosexuals) contraception is a mutual issue!
Fascinating, and as someone in healthcare, no less shocking to read. Looking forward to the paper on vasectomies to see what remained after any snipping.
Interesting! Really seems like covering the cost of condoms/providing them for "free" to people is smart public health & economic move all around too.
If I didn't know any better I'd say it looks like women are trying to control men's bodies and sexual health.
How so? Where does it say women kept condoms or vasectomies from being insured? Did women pass laws banning condoms from being sold in stores (including every gas station) or without a Dr exam & prescription? Did women ban vasectomies? I haven't seen or heard this. If I didn't know any better I'd say that sounds absurd!
Well done and the part about vasectomies needs even more attention. You might have mentioned, however, that condoms, in practice, have a pretty high failure rate compared to other forms of contraception. Offsetting this, they do protect against sexually-transmitted diseases and they are a lot better than nothing.
Belle SAWHILL in the comments, people! (My friend and mentor). You have of course done all the work on contraceptive effectiveness, especially LARCs, and I completely agree about the relative efficacy point. The vasectomy question will be addressed explicitly in the paper I'm working on, but note that Guttmacher Institute clear call to expand ACA to include it. Thanks!
R
There is an issue regarding the use of condoms that men need to be aware of: women can trick or trap a man into paternity by poking holes in condoms, or fishing used condoms out of the garbage can, etc. The solutions for men: always have the condom in his possession, before, during and after sex. Don't leave it on a coffee table, so she could poke holes in it. After sex, empty the condom in the toilet, flush the toilet, tie a knot in the condom, then put it in his pocket, and leave it there.
Vasectomies are reversible. Just get one.
Vasectomies aren't reversible. The success rate drops to 5% or less after a year or so from the surgery. Vasectomies are sterilization, not birth control.
After all the kids are born, V is the way to go. Before that condoms. Or scheduled celibacy. No excuses.
OM SHANTI.
Exactly! Men don't have reproductive rights. They only have reproductive responsibilities. That hasn't changed.
Your reproductive rights come in the form of choices to have protected or unprotected sex. If you are really in anxiety about it, get a vasectomy. But you still have to wear a condom because STDs. Celibacy is probaby the best path.
What are mens reproductive responsibilities? Do men have to go to the Dr to get invasive exams & birth control prescriptions they have to take daily, a shot or painful IUDs inserted? Do men have to get surgery for a hysterectomy or tubal ligation costing thousands of dollars? Do men go thru pregnancy & child birth if BC fails? Or can they just buy condoms at any gas station for $10 &/or get a vasectomy, which is a 30 minute outpatient procedure?
If modern medicine is oppression to you, even when it enables people to have sex without consequence, you are too idiotic to bother with. Blocking you. Bye!
Vasectomies are reversible and a good option.
Vasectomies aren't reversible. The success rate drops to 5% or less after a year from the surgery. It is sterilization, not birth control.
Even better!
Excellent research and thanks for the fantastic article -- stunning that condoms can only be gotten for free by women who are prescribed them under ACA, if I understand you. Wow! I'm looking forward to the full report.
Here in California, there was a similar issue -- the state now provides free feminine products in high schools since the passage of the "Menstrual Products for All" act. However, a bill that would have paid for condoms in California for all high school students was shot down. Here's a link: "California’s Gov. Newsom vetoes bill to make free condoms available for high school students" https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/californias-gov-newsom-vetoes-bill-to-make-free-condoms-available-for-high-school-students
"However, a bill that would have paid for condoms in California for all high school students was shot down. "
California is full fanatical religious parents and the government has to placate them otherwise shrill cries of "GROOMER!!!!!" ring out across the California sky.
Newsom only cares about women, like almost all leftist politicians.
Unlike condoms, menstrual products are a necessity you can't choose to go without, needed multiple days every month, a regular expense, not used for sex & not something parents object to adults giving minor kids. Thinking it's women who are privileged when talking about periods & something used for mens pleasure is hilarious. The 2 aren't comparable.
It's about the fanatical religious parents of California.