the MicroCHIPS implant will last up to 16 years, and women will be able to turn it off via remote control if they’re trying to get pregnant. Trials in humans are expected to start next year, but the same microchip technology has been tested successfully in women with osteoporosis. MicroCHIPS Biotech says the implant could reasonably be on the market by 2018.
Pointer from Jason Collins., who has other interesting links this week.
My prediction is that this will make little or no difference in the number of “unwanted” births. My intuition is that a relatively small proportion of these are truly unwanted. To put this another way, I do not believe that the important margin is the change in quality of contraceptives.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
The article discusses both male and female contraceptives. Advances in male contraceptives *would* reduce the the number of unwanted pregnancies. This remote-controlled female contraceptive not only would not reduce the number of “unwanted” pregnancies, it might actually increase the number.
You’re kidding, right?
“C’mon, baby, give it up. I’m on male contraception, you can’t get pregnant”.
No contraception is 100% effective, there’s always going to be “mistakes”. Or, as I refer to my 4th child, miracles.
So far, my kids are 100% effective at contraception.
1. Unwanted births are often unwanted by a 2nd, or 3rd party. Imagine parent pressuring their 16 year old to get the implant and then confiscating the remote, or a controlling husband doing the same.
2. Couples could ask for a two remote setup where both have to agree to turn the chip off.
3. One day a man will subpeona these records to fight child support. It will be a big deal if he wins.
Yes, in my limited experience, I don’t actually know a truly unplanned pregnancy — only ones where the guy wasn’t aware the woman was trying to get pregnant. (I think I may know one exception, but that one is a guess.)
“Honey, have you seen the remote?”