What happens if a man takes female birth control pills? Doctor answers

An interesting and intriguing topic is what happens to the male body after taking medications (intentionally or not) that are considered exclusively female. Namely – hormonal contraceptives. What is it threatening?

Before taking any medication, consult a doctor who can put together a treatment regimen that is ideal for you based on your symptoms or condition.

How contraceptives work

Contraceptive pills contain two hormones, estrogen and progestin, that a woman’s body produces naturally.

When contraceptives are taken, these substances regulate a woman’s menstrual cycle and prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus, thereby preventing pregnancy.

These hormones are also produced in smaller amounts in the male body as well. Estrogen is used in the process of producing sperm, while progestin produces testosterone.

What happens if a man takes birth control pills

Taking one or two birth control pills will have no effect on the body. However, their use for a longer period of time can lead to a change in the appearance of the body according to the female type.

Namely, an increase in breast tissue, the deposition of female-type fatty tissue (e.g. in the thighs), a reduction in the total amount of hair, particularly on the face, and even a decrease in the volume of the testicles.

Although taking the pill once will do nothing, you should remember that it is designed to work with the female reproductive system.

Birth control pills are prescription medications and should only be taken by the person they were prescribed to, according to the prescribed intake plan.

If taken for long periods of time, several likely symptoms associated with feminizing hormone therapy may occur:

• erectile dysfunction;

• zmanjšan libido;

• povečanje telesne teže;

• gallstones;

• visok krvni tlak;

• development of type 2 diabetes;
• increased risk of thrombosis.

Hormone therapy can also increase your risk of developing certain cancers, such as breast cancer (yes, men are not immune to this disease either).

Why there are no male birth control pills

For a number of biological reasons, female contraceptives don’t have the same common and effective counterparts for men.

One of these is the difficulty in suppressing the activity of a huge number of sperm cells, compared to the activity of a single egg cell, and the non-menopause-limited age of fertility in men. Historically, medical contraception has been viewed as a women’s issue.

Many male contraceptives are already being developed, including pills and injections. But they are not yet approved for widespread use. None of the drugs have appeared on the market.