A male contraceptive pill and 'main character energy' ... this week in social change
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Our readers have zeroed in on two stories this week. The first takes a look at the development of a male contraceptive, which is giving us hope that the contraceptive burden could balance very soon. The second takes a deep dive into the not so scientific affliction dubbed 'main character syndrome' on TikTok, and considers when catching the feeling that we are the brightest glowing star in this life starts to become detrimental to those around us. Before you get stuck into that though, can I get you guys anything? Some snacks? A condom? Let me know! Oh God, love ya!
It looks as though birth control options for men may soon expand beyond condoms and vasectomies because scientists in the US have developed a male contraceptive pill that’s so far proven safe and effective on mice. Set for clinical trials in humans as early as this year, the drug’s approval could help to balance the burden that’s currently placed on those who ovulate. The news is particularly welcome in the UK amid recent allegations that the country’s heavily understaffed and underfunded reproductive healthcare services are unable to perform IUD removals, leaving thousands of women in extreme discomfort.
Presenting their findings at the American Chemical Society’s Spring 2022 conference last Tuesday, researchers explained that the breakthrough medication works thanks to a molecule called YCT529. Targeting a protein called the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RAR-α) – a form of vitamin A that plays an important role in sperm formation – it’s able to cause a significant reduction in sperm count over a four-week period. Within a month of being weaned off the pill, fertility levels return to normal, and reproduction becomes possible once more.
What makes the discovery stand out, however, is that the pill does not target testosterone (the male sex hormone), thereby eliminating the risk of side effects that have, until now, kept previous alternatives from landing on the shelves of pharmacies across the globe.
‘Most female birth control pills work on the female sex hormones,’ says Abdullah al Noman, who was involved in conducting the study. ‘But targeting the male sex hormone leads to a lot of side effects such as weight gain, depression, and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Men are less willing to take a birth control pill that has significant side effects. That’s why we are targeting a non-hormonal pathway to developing a male birth control pill.’
It’s also a great deal more reliable than single-use condoms which are prone to failure and terrible for the environment, as well as much less of a commitment than largely irrevocable vasectomies which are procedures generally considered a permanent form of male sterilisation as the reversal surgery is expensive and isn’t always successful. For this reason, scientists have been trying for decades to create a compound like this one, though it remains to be determined how human test subjects will react to it, regardless of how promising it seems.
‘We are very excited and hopeful about this drug. If approved, this could be the next breakthrough in birth control pills since the first female birth control pill in 1960,’ says al Noman. ‘If everything goes well and the drug shows safety and efficacy in the clinical trial, it’d be safe to assume that we could see this on the market within this decade and perhaps as early as in five years.’ Read more on this story here.
Scientists are working hard to give us more choices when it comes to our health, body and wellbeing, improving lives quicker than things went from ?? to ?? at the Oscars last week. So why do we find it so hard to follow their advice? Instagram is filled with quotes like ‘put yourself first’ and ‘be your own best friend’, despite scientists reiterating time and time again that human beings are programmed to be social creatures, bound together by a strong sense of community. While these pieces of advice can be helpful, our obsession with individualism has arguably already veered into the toxic realm via the popular trend of ‘being the main character’.
As the phrase pops up incessantly on TikTok and in social media captions typed out by Gen-Zers around the world, psychologists have started analysing what exactly having ‘main character energy’ means. The general idea is to see your life as a movie in which you are the central star, deserving of attention, love, exciting opportunities, and special moments. Which obviously, you are. But quite frankly, so is everyone else.
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Main character syndrome is not recognised as an actual mental disorder, but upon analysing the trend, experts have identified two key types of main character energy emerging – and both have very different consequences.
The first is the self-absorbed version. This involves having a view of self that is both warped and idealistic, then forcing it onto others through in-person interactions and on social media. While being your own biggest fan is worthy of applause, we can all remember a time we’ve sat with someone who talked nonstop about themselves. Needless to say, it’s deflating.
Adopting this level of main character energy can result in feeling the constant need to be the centre of attention, as well as to prove your life is going considerably better than everyone else’s. Viewing yourself as the permanent protagonist whose storyline takes priority over others’ risks becoming overly self-indulgent and treating everyone else as a prop rather than individuals with their own storyline, needs, desires, and goals. This is a slippery slope into self-delusion which in the long term, isn’t fun for anyone.
It should be unsurprising that long before TikTok and Twitter latched onto this life perspective, there were already tons of people exhibiting these qualities of being too self-centred to foster fulfilling relationships. But before this was normalised online, society simply called them egotistical or narcissistic.
The second strand of main character energy has been labelled by psychologists as the ‘confident romantic.’ These are the Emily in Paris types, who use main character syndrome to appreciate small moments and blessings each day like a ray of sunshine streaming through a window, the first sip of a hot cup of coffee, or hitting every green light on the commute into work. When good things happen, it’s about relishing in the moment and believing they’re deserving of it rather than demanding it. Romanticising life in this way – especially when things aren’t going well on a whole – has the potential to make difficult times more bearable.
You can be the main character in your own life and still be a supportive co-star in the lives of others. After all, most of the best films have more than one interesting character, right? When main character energy helps you to appreciate the little things and believe in the value you add to the world, it can actually help you be more present in your relationships and help to lift up the people around you. Read more on this story here.
Becoming the (right kind of) main character can be empowering. It gives you a sense of direction and a reminder that you’re armed with the power to write each day however you want with a simple shift of perspective. And what better way to express that autonomy than by getting on top of your reproductive health – right? It's no doubt that the OG birth control pill's impact on equal rights cannot be overstated, and by god we are grateful. But that was well over half a century ago now, and the next step is long overdue. ?
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