The male contraceptive jab was always going to attract a lot of attention. And it's been talked about a lot on TV this week. ITV seem to have an axe to grind about it, with one of the Loose Women stating yesterday "I wouldn't trust a man to take it. I can't even trust a man to put the rubbish out". I wasn't expecting a (male) doctor on This Morning to say the very same thing. Why wouldn't you trust a man to take a contraceptive jab?
The issue isn't about whether or not you would trust a guy with contraception, but why women are apparently having sex with a man they don't trust. After all, we're not talking about a casual option here. The jab is just a jab. It doesn't protect against STIs so it's not suitable for a casual fling. And contraception in a relationship is something that should be a joint discussion, this just gives you more choice. I know a lot of men who would like to be more involved in this part of a relationship. If you can't trust the man you're with to have this conversation with them, then that's the issue. Not whether or not they're forgetful.
I'm very forgetful. I don't take the contraceptive pill anymore because I (yes! me - a woman!) never remember to take it. It doesn't work for me. Does this make me just as unreliable as a guy? Yes. But then, I never remember to take the rubbish out either. It doesn't mean that I'm a player, or that I'm trying some elaborate ruse to get men into bed, I'm just human.
Maybe the guy you're with would forget to get his jab. But maybe you would too. But if you're not trusting the guy you're shagging before you've even discussed it, the problem goes a little bit further than whether or not you use a condom, despite what ITV seem to think.
Flickr image from Stevendepolo's photostream.
