what happens if a guy takes birth control
If a guy takes a standard “female” birth control pill (the kind with estrogen and progestin), one or a few pills usually won’t do much, but taking them regularly can slowly mess with his hormones and cause noticeable side effects.
what happens if a guy takes birth control
(Quick Scoop guide)
First: one pill vs. taking it all the time
1. If he takes one pill (by accident or as a dare)
For a healthy adult male, a single combined birth control pill is very unlikely to cause serious harm.
Possible short‑term effects:
- Mild nausea or stomach upset.
- Headache or fatigue.
- Very slight, temporary mood changes (feeling a bit off, irritable, or emotional).
It will not :
- Work as emergency contraception for a partner.
- Suddenly “turn him into a woman.”
- Stop his sperm production from one dose.
If someone has certain conditions (like a history of blood clots, liver disease, or heavy smoking), doctors still prefer to know about any accidental dose, just to be safe.
2. If he takes birth control regularly
This is where things actually start to matter. Birth control pills are basically controlled doses of estrogen and progestin designed for bodies with ovaries. In a male body (testes, higher baseline testosterone), those hormones can gradually:
- Lower testosterone levels over time.
- Suppress sperm production and reduce sperm quality.
- Shift the hormonal balance toward more “estrogen‑like” effects.
This typically does not happen overnight; it’s about consistent daily use over weeks to months.
What physical changes could he see?
If a guy stayed on estrogen/progestin birth control long term, he might see some feminizing or hormone‑related changes.
Likely possibilities:
- Breast growth (gynecomastia)
- Breast tissue can enlarge, nipples may become more sensitive or tender.
- Changes in body fat and muscle
- Fat may redistribute slightly (more on chest/hips), while muscle mass and strength can slowly decrease as testosterone drops.
- Less body and facial hair (in some cases)
- Over time, reduced testosterone and added estrogen can modestly reduce hair growth rate.
- Genital changes
- Testicles may shrink somewhat with prolonged hormone disruption.
* Erections and ejaculation can become weaker or less frequent.
None of this is guaranteed or precisely predictable, but these trends have been observed when male hormone balance is shifted toward estrogen and away from testosterone for months or longer.
Mood, sex drive, and fertility
Hormones aren’t just about looks; they affect brain and reproductive function too.
Mood and energy
- Mood swings, irritability, or feeling “off” are possible.
- Some men might feel more tired or low‑energy.
- In hormone‑based male contraceptive trials, guys reported acne, mood changes, and even severe depression in rare cases.
Sex drive and sexual function
- Lower libido (less interest in sex) is common when testosterone falls.
- Difficulty getting or maintaining erections can develop over time for some.
Fertility
- Sperm count and motility can drop, which can reduce the chance of getting someone pregnant while on the pills.
- In most cases, fertility tends to recover after stopping the hormones, but it can take months, and there’s no 100% guarantee for every individual.
Important note: even if a guy’s sperm count drops, these pills are not designed or tested as a reliable contraceptive for men, so they shouldn’t be used for that purpose.
Is it dangerous?
For a one‑off pill:
- For most healthy men, it’s unlikely to cause serious harm; more of an unnecessary mini hormone hit.
For regular use:
- Blood clots risk
- Estrogen can increase the risk of blood clots (deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism), especially in people with clotting disorders, smokers, or those who are older/overweight.
- Liver stress
- Long‑term estrogen and progestin use can stress the liver.
- Cardiovascular risk
- Changes in cholesterol and clotting can raise the risk of stroke or heart issues in susceptible people.
Doctors are very clear on this point: there’s no good medical reason for a cis man to take a standard female birth control pill routinely , and the risks outweigh any curiosity or joke value.
What about “male birth control”?
Researchers have tested hormonal birth control for men , but those methods are very different from just taking a woman’s pill.
- Trials used injections or combinations of testosterone and progestin specifically studied in male bodies.
- These methods did reduce sperm counts effectively, but side effects like acne, mood swings, depression, and libido changes led some trials to stop early.
So: scientists are working on male contraceptives, but popping your girlfriend’s pill is not the same thing and isn’t recommended as a DIY version.
Mini FAQ: common “what if” scenarios
“If a guy accidentally takes my birth control pill once, is he in
trouble?”
- Usually no: one pill is usually not a medical emergency for an otherwise healthy adult.
- If he has a high‑risk history (clots, stroke, serious liver disease), call a doctor or poison line just to be cautious.
“Will he grow boobs from one pill?”
- No. Breast growth requires consistent hormone exposure over time, not a single dose.
“Can a guy use birth control pills to transition?”
- Medical gender‑affirming hormone therapy is not just “take birth control.”
- Transfeminine hormone regimens use carefully chosen forms and doses of estrogen and anti‑androgens, monitored by a specialist.
“Does birth control do anything for trans men?”
- Some trans men and nonbinary people with ovaries use hormonal contraception to manage periods or pregnancy risk.
- But that’s about their own reproductive organs; it doesn’t apply to cis male bodies.
Forum & trending angle
Because this question pops up a lot on forums, the answers often swing between joking and half‑correct science.
“He won’t get pregnant.”
That joke is technically true but misses the real point: the main issue isn’t pregnancy, it’s unnecessary hormone messing with a system that doesn’t need those hormones. Other common forum takes:
- “Nothing happens” → oversimplifies. One pill, mostly nothing; months of pills, real effects.
- “He’ll grow boobs overnight” → exaggerated for a single dose, but long‑term estrogen can cause breast growth.
Quick HTML table summary
| Situation | What usually happens | Risks / notes |
|---|---|---|
| One accidental pill | Often no major effect; maybe nausea, headache, mild mood change. | [3][9]Low risk for healthy adults; contact a doctor if clotting/liver issues or other serious conditions. | [3]
| Weeks–months of daily use | Lower testosterone, reduced sperm, possible breast growth, testicle shrinkage, libido/mood changes. | [1][9][3]Not a safe or approved use; can increase clot and liver risks. | [1][3]
| Using female pills as male contraception | Unreliable at preventing pregnancy; not designed for male bodies. | [1][3]Hormone side effects without proven contraceptive benefit. | [3][1]
Bottom line (the “Quick Scoop”)
- A single birth control pill in a guy usually causes little to nothing beyond maybe mild, temporary side effects.
- Taking them regularly can lower testosterone, affect sperm, change body shape, and impact mood and sex drive , and it increases health risks like blood clots and liver strain.
- It is not a safe or effective way for men to prevent pregnancy and shouldn’t be used as a joke, dare, or DIY experiment.
If someone has taken multiple pills or is using them on purpose, the smart move is to stop and talk to a healthcare professional as soon as possible. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.