On the latest Patreon-exclusive episode of New Rory & Mal, the crew takes on a provocative and timely topic, male birth control pills, following news that a hormone-free version has passed early human safety trials. The conversation blends humor, curiosity, and skepticism as the hosts explore what this could mean for men, relationships, and the long-standing gender imbalance in reproductive responsibility.
The pill, currently in development, operates by blocking a vitamin A metabolite essential to sperm production, rather than using hormones like many existing female contraceptives. Early human trials show minimal side effects, with just one report of a temporary, mild arrhythmia. With further testing underway, experts project that male birth control could become commercially available before the end of the decade.
One host is immediately intrigued by the idea, describing male contraception as a meaningful way to share the burden of pregnancy prevention, which has largely fallen on women through options like pills, IUDs, injections, and emergency contraception. The other host is more cautious, voicing concerns about potential long-term health risks, such as possible links to prostate issues or other unknown side effects.
The conversation also touches on deeper cultural dynamics, including the gender double standard in how parents treat birth control conversations with sons versus daughters, and how men might be reluctant to take it unless it offered some fringe benefit, such as improved sexual performance.
There’s also discussion around trust and consent, with hypothetical scenarios about whether people might lie about being on birth control, and what accountability should look like in those cases. While joking about the idea of taking pills while not even being sexually active, the underlying tone reflects an acknowledgment that contraception is a shared responsibility that men haven’t traditionally shouldered.
