For decades, the burden of birth control has fallen squarely on women’s shoulders. We navigate a complex world of daily pills, hormonal IUDs, patches, and implants—methods often accompanied by a daunting list of potential side effects, from debilitating mood swings and weight gain to a decreased libido and life-threatening blood clots. Meanwhile, the responsibility for men has largely been limited to condoms or the permanence of a vasectomy.
But what if that’s about to change? A groundbreaking, orally administered male birth control pill, YCT-529, is making its way through human clinical trials. It’s hormone-free, 99% effective in animal studies, and completely reversible—seemingly without the side effects women have endured for generations.
The science is promising, but the real question is societal: will men actually use it? To find out, we asked ten Nigerian men one simple, yet revolutionary question: If this pill were available tomorrow, would you take it?
1. Sam/Abuja/25
Yes, I would consider using it. I believe that contraceptive responsibility shouldn’t fall solely on women, especially when many of the current options available to them come with physical and emotional side effects. If there’s now a hormone-free method for men that’s safe and effective, then using it feels like a meaningful way to support bodily autonomy and share the burden of contraception equally in a relationship. It also gives men the opportunity to take direct control of their reproductive choices, which I think is empowering and long overdue.
2. Pete/Abuja/31
I’m open to using it but I won’t rush to be an early adopter. There could be unforeseen risks and side effects.
3. Ebuka/Enugu/29
I’m talking from the perspective of a married Igbo man who would want to always have kids. Now, whether I will use this drug depends on how the drug will work for me. My major fear now is how this drug will affect me, especially because men suffer from watery sperm, low libido, and literally anything can cause a man’s private part to stop rising. There are different side effects that I can think about which, as an Igbo man, I cannot play with. I cannot even take risks. Do you understand? My brother had an illness that he needed surgery for, but it took him over two years to do it because he needed to be convinced that the surgery was not going to affect his private part and sexual health.
Before I take this drug, I need to go through a deep, deep research and consideration on how it’s going to affect me. And it doesn’t even cut it by hearing other people’s testimony. Taking this drug is actually a personal thing. Someone’s body system and my body system are not the same. Where I come from and where they come from are not the same. What I intend to have for my life and what they intend for theirs is not the same. I’d rather remain healthy than take risks that I wouldn’t know the outcome.
4. Emeka/Abuja/27
See, I will gladly take it, but my woman must know it is a two-way street. If she makes it a requirement for me to take this drug, she has to understand what she’s signing up for. Since the pill will supposedly prevent sperm production, she better be ready for me to finish inside her whenever I feel like it. No more ‘not today’. That’s the deal. She can’t have it both ways.
5. James/Lagos/27
I’m sorry, but no. The idea just doesn’t sit right with me. Asking a man to take a birth control pill? Utter woke nonsense and it feels too unnatural. My whole philosophy is that we shouldn’t be putting unnecessary chemicals in our bodies, and that goes for both men and women. I wouldn’t be comfortable with my partner taking the pill if she didn’t want to. I mean, I hear the horror stories about the side effects. I use condoms. Religiously. Every single time. It’s simple, it works, and nobody has to mess with their body’s chemistry. So don’t come and try to gaslight me into thinking I’m not doing my part. I am. You guys need to stop with all these agendas.
6. Yinka/Ibadan/29
I honestly won’t be one of the first people to try it out. In fact, it may take years before I finally opt to use the drug because of the unknown side effects. And don’t tell me the drug doesn’t have any side effects. All drugs do. However, I am quite open to taking it. I have seen certain contraceptive options fuck up my sisters in the past, I wouldn’t want the woman I love to go through that. Also, I’m not a fan of condoms because…well, if you know you know. Vasectomies on the other hand sound too serious and I think there are cases where men got the procedure and still ended up having kids, so there’s that. The pill sounds like a perfect middle ground, though I will have to wait till hundreds, if not thousands of other guys have taken it. That’s my take.
7. J/Lagos/27
As long as it’s proven safe, sign me up. Women go through a lot, reproductive-wise. I don’t see why I can’t pop a pill to keep my girl from getting pregnant. Personally, I am not even ready to be a dad. Maybe with this pill, guys can stop saying women are trying to trap them with pregnancy. Man, pop the pill or be ready for whatever consequence for real.
8. Emmanuel/Lagos/33
Yes, I’d definitely be open to taking a male contraceptive. I think it’s important for both partners to share responsibility when it comes to birth control. Of course, I’d want to understand the side effects and how it might affect my body before committing to it, but if it’s safe and reliable, I’d be willing to take it, especially for someone I really care about.
9. Tolu/Lagos/25
I don’t want to be a father right now. Condoms work, sure, but let’s be honest, skin-to-skin feels better. That said, women already carry most of the burden when it comes to contraception, and that needs to change. I’m willing to meet her halfway and take responsibility, too.
10. Mark/Toronto/22
I sleep with men – is that a good enough explanation?
We have pills like PrEP that help prevent STDs, right? And I don’t even take those because I hate pills.
But if I were dating a woman and really wanted to avoid having kids, I’d take male contraceptives. No question.
The responses from these ten men reveal that while the idea of a male birth control pill is welcome, its adoption faces significant hurdles. A clear divide emerges between a progressive desire for shared responsibility and a deep-seated fear of unknown side effects, particularly those affecting sexual health and virility.
Even among those willing to try it, a cautious “wait-and-see” approach prevails. Ultimately, the success of a male pill will depend less on the science and more on overcoming personal fears, building trust, and navigating complex cultural and relationship dynamics.
