Are you a New Man?

Exploring people’s attitudes about contraception often looks at women’s experiences. But women are just half of the equation, aren’t they?

TO GET the full picture, The Family Planning Association (FPA) will be focusing on the male element of contraceptive use. The Valentine’s campaign – The New Man – will examine men’s attitudes to contraception, get some of the basics about contraception out there and encourage men to get more involved in their own reproductive decision making.

Research shows that men are interested in contraception. Since 1996 an extra 48 per cent of men have gone to a contraceptive clinic.

But men have their own set of issues when it comes to sexual health. Men don’t have as many methods to choose from as women (at the moment there are two male methods – condoms and sterilisation). Some men might think contraception is a bit of a “girly” subject, putting them off it. The FPA also reports that many men who call FPAs helpline that they just don’t know enough about contraception and how the different methods work.

Some may say there’s no point including men. Contraception is a woman’s issue.

Of course it is! But there’s more to it than just focusing on the ladies. If men don’t know about contraception, how can they understand the options and make decisions about preventing pregnancy? And besides, how can they impress women with their encyclopaedic knowledge of all things contraceptive if they don’t know their patch from their pill?

To find out more about male contraception campaign to be launched in February 2008, see www.fpa.org.uk

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