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The Male Role in Family Planning Today

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Female and Male Contraception

Part of the book series: Trends in Andrology and Sexual Medicine ((TASM))

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Abstract

Over the last century, the development of contraception has focused on women and men have generally been left out of family planning programs. At the International Conference on Population and Development (Cairo 1994), men were recognized as legitimate targets for sexual and reproductive health programs due to their role in the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, and their involvement in reproductive decisions.

Male partner involvement in hormonal contraception has been associated with lower discontinuation rates and more consistent contraceptive use, in addition to increasing emotional, pragmatic or economic support. Overall, data published thus far show lack of awareness and knowledge in the male population regarding female contraceptives and false myths about hormonal methods that may preclude men from helping female partners in this field. Worldwide a large percentage of men perceives contraception as the female’s responsibility, whereas most women consider it to be a joint decision. In spite of the fact that there are few male contraceptive options available and their shortcomings, the relatively high percentage of their use (around 30% in developed regions) may be interpreted as evidence of men’s interest in birth control.

We should question why men perceive contraception to be disassociated from them and to identify any barriers that justify this theory. Furthermore, there is a need to educate men regarding effective contraceptive options, to increase contraceptive knowledge and the number of male contraceptive methods, in order to give men the opportunity of performing an active role in family planning.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gynecology and Physiopathology of Human Reproduction, Sant’Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy

    Ilaria Mancini & Giulia Giacomelli

  2. Department of Medical and Surgical Science, University of Bologna, Clinic of Gynecology and Physiopathology of Reproduction, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Maria Cristina Meriggiola

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  1. Ilaria Mancini
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  2. Giulia Giacomelli
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  3. Maria Cristina Meriggiola
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical and Surgical Science, University of Bologna, Clinic of Gynecology and Physiopathology of Reproduction, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Maria Cristina Meriggiola

  2. Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden

    Kristina Gemzell-Danielsson

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Mancini, I., Giacomelli, G., Meriggiola, M.C. (2021). The Male Role in Family Planning Today. In: Meriggiola, M.C., Gemzell-Danielsson, K. (eds) Female and Male Contraception. Trends in Andrology and Sexual Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-70932-7_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-70932-7_22

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