The Contraceptive Pill
Over half a century ago, a male contraceptive pill was successfully developed in the early 1970s. It worked as effectively as the female contraceptive pill.
Didn’t know that? That’s because the pill never passed its clinical trials. The reason? Symptoms experienced by men that were exactly the same symptoms as women who take contraceptive pills.
So why haven’t we still got a widely circulated male contraceptive pill in 2025? Because of the above. Still. Men are held to a higher standard in clinical trials. Our discomforts are deemed more acceptable.
Only recently in 2023 has a new male contraceptive pill entered clinical trials with mice. There is still none available for circulation. Pharmacy companies don’t fund male contraceptive options, asking why would they when contraceptive pills for women already work so well? Even though a male contraceptive pill would prevent many unwanted pregnancies and would lead to much better outcomes for many women and birth-givers.
Sounds like something that would not happen in the modern era, doesn’t it? This isn’t the only example of sexism within healthcare, however. And again, reluctant funding in clinical research on illnesses that affect primarily women play a large role in it.
Our Event
York Disability Rights Forum are hosting an event which you can sign up to here. Held at Acomb Methodist Church on 6th March between 4pm-6pm, we will be talking about how gender affects medical care. The event is open to cisgender women, trans people, non-binary people and other marginalised genders. Follow the link for information about accessibility. We hope you can make it!
Endometriosis
This blog aims to raise awareness on the huge disparity experienced in healthcare between men and other genders. There is modern medicine for some, and what sometimes feels like Victorian healthcare for others. And as always, the disparity is bigger for those who experience multiple areas of discrimination.
I will move onto something that I experience myself: Endometriosis. Endometriosis is as common as diabetes. And yet, the difference in funding and research is a chasm.
The average wait time for a diagnosis for Endometriosis is a staggering 8 years and 10 months.
Pain is belittled frequently; GPs deem it to be ‘normal’ pain levels for menstrual cramps.
Childbirth
Pain is another issue in women’s healthcare. It is severely dismissed in childbirth especially, and this is so much worse for Black and Brown birth-givers.
Someone who has given birth via caesarean section (major abdominal surgery) is required to look after a new-born baby right away. Those who have partners often have their partners only for 2 weeks paid parental leave before they need to return to work. Doctors tell us that it takes 6 weeks to recover from a caesarean (one of the biggest lies I have ever been told). Meanwhile, others with major abdominal surgery are told to spend 2-3 months recovering before resuming normal activities. Birth-givers need to look after a new-born from day one.
Menopause
Menopause is still something that is regarded as taboo to speak about. For many people, symptoms are so severe that people are unable to work. Despite this, treatment for Menopause takes a long time, with 44% of respondents waiting over a year for treatment.
COVID-19
In the Covid-19 pandemic in the UK, midwives were redeployed to Covid-19 wards and used to administer tests in 2020. I was among the unlucky to be pregnant in that year, with cancelled appointments, inconsistent policies that were constantly changing, dangerous understaffing, my wife being unable to visit me after giving birth among countless other issues.
So yes, it does still sound Victorian. Centuries of medicine and healthcare designed for men has made it that way. We continue to undo countless incorrect assumptions in healthcare even now, as a result of modern medicine using a man’s body as their template.
What Help Is Out There?
However, there are a lot of organisations determined to make things better for women and other marginalised genders in healthcare. There are fantastic Menopause charities, campaigns for various health conditions that primarily affect women and gaining traction into research and medicines for our specific healthcare needs. Autoimmune diseases are getting more funding and as awareness increases, there is higher chance of a diagnosis and treatment.
If you are struggling to have your healthcare needs met, there are some great peer support groups out there. I’m in one for Endometriosis through Endometriosis UK. TransActual UK have some brilliant resources for trans and non-binary people who also have significant issues in accessing healthcare they need. Black Women’s Health Imperative have been campaigning to improve the health outcomes of Black women and families, and advocate for them. Pregnant then Screwed are a charity supporting birth givers and their partners and ensuring they get the support they need, both prenatal and postnatal. The Birth Trauma Association has been overseeing the stark increase in birth trauma in recent years as the midwifery services in the UK deteriorate due to underfunding and understaffing issues.
Summary
We have a long way to go, but with these organisations and countless more, there are avenues for support, resources and education. There is a disproportionate approach that remains, and a lot of that is due to clinical trials and medical research consistently neglecting issues affecting us. However, perhaps one day in the near future, we will finally have a male contraceptive pill in circulation.