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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 2004)
4A Thursday, April 15, 2004 THE BATTv Progress being made in que for male version of The Pi| Disarming Iraq Dr. Hans Blix Chairman, Commission on Weapons of Mass Destruction Friday, April 23, 2004 8:00 p.m. Rudder Auditorium Tickets on sale now at the MSC Box Office! (979)845-1234 or (888)890-5667 WILEY For further program information, call (979)845-1514 or visit http://wiley.tamu.edu By Malcom Ritter THE ASSOCIATED PRESS More than 40 years after The Pill hit the market for women, scientists are still trying to come up with a version for men. “Why?” some women might ask. Men don’t get pregnant. Men do account for nearly a third of all contraceptive use in the United States and worldwide. And right now, they’re basically limited to condoms and vasectomies. So experts see a market for a male Pill, even if it’s not actually a pill, and some large studies to develop one are in progress. In China, hundreds of men are getting injec tions once a month. In Europe, more than 300 men are signing up to get 2-inch rods implanted in their arms and take injections every three months. The research quest is hardly new hut it could get its own shot in the arm later this year. The federal government plans to gath er researchers, representatives of drug com panies and federal regulators to figure out where the research should be going. “We’re pushing to move it forward,” said Robert Spirtas, chief of the contraception and reproductive health branch of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD). New contraceptives for men would be welcome, experts say. B-CS Continued from page 1A Houston and Austin, the Bryan-College Station are has a lot to offer. Wood said. “We have two well-run cities, the pres ence of Texas A&M University, a good school district, a low unemployment rate and continuing job growth,” he said. Wood said the Bryan-College Station has been ranked highly several times in the past. The area was ranked No. 1 by Southern Business and Development in the category “Top Southern Metro Business Climates Regardless of Size,” and was No. 1 in the “Small Markets" category. “The more options that are available, the more likely a couple will find an option that fits very neatly into their particular lifestyle,” said Dr. Vanessa Cullins, vice president for medical affairs of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The focus for developing contraceptives has been on women for some time, she noted, but “men are partners in heterosexual sexual activity, and in heterosexual attempts to pre vent pregnancy. So it’s only right that there be more options that men can consider.” "The shocker for most people is that men are interested in contraception, are actually using a lot of contraception," said researcher Dr. John Amory of the University ot Washington in Seattle. Noting that men provide nearly a third of all contraceptive use despite “pretty limited options," Amory said, “I think there’s a market there.” Besides condoms and vasectomy, men recently gained another contraceptive option: the “Vasclip,” a device about the size of a grain of rice that a physician can install in the testes to block the flow of sperm. It’s considered permanent. Of course, there is also abstinence. Researchers generally envision a male version of The Pill being used by men in committed relationships. Other couples should be using a condom anyway to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, the experts say. Southern Business & Development ranked Bryan-College Station No. 1 in the category "Top Southern Metro Business Climates Regardless of Size.” It also ranks No. 1 in the "Small Markets” category, areas with populations less than 200.000. Business Week listed Bry an-College Station as one of 12 “Pockets of Prosperity.” College Station was ranked ninth by Men's Journal in the 50 Best Places to live. WckxI said. Roland Mower, president and CEO of the Research Valley Partnership, said Bryan-College Station was ranked 14th. one place behind communities that make up the “research triangle" in North Carolina. "This kind of publicity can only enhance Foiling fertility In 1995, the most recentyeJ of a national survey on contraception use, more than one quarter of women using birth control relied on tubal sterilization. Contraception use among American women Tubal sterilization pg 27.7% 26.9°.. Other 8.1% Injectable i ooa 3.0% Withdrawal 3.0% Icondoir L 2cm Vasectomy —10.9°i NOTE- Women relying on morek one method (about 9 percent of wont' using contraception) are classifiedt| the more effective method. SOURCE: National Survey for Famify Growth our image,’ Mower said. Mostpeopld probably never heard of us unlessiheyi to a Big 12 university." The Research Valley Partnershipiii vate nonprofit organization Wf; Brazos County and Bryan-Colbe$a that seeks to encourage busine® expand or relocate to this areatocr* anil expand the tax base. Mower said:* ranked as the lop Texas community*il helpful in recruiting companiestothej “As the University is in the pro of hiring 450 new professors,hope! the fact that this is a goodareaio in and raise a family will assist^ University in hiring these newfatij Mower said. WWW. TEXASHAJLLOt'FAME.MKT O 979-822-2222 Hall of Fam 25 Years in Bryan-College Station! ^SSi^ ■ AQ ♦ Great drink specials til 10 p.m. $2.50pitchers, $1.50 chuggers, $1.50 u-call-its, $1.50 longnecks, and 75<t bar drinks! All tickets $6 at the door R£ : .T nBTOljggPT jyjSTvh^i /ZDC AT lm. CiMm I niump L# JL w JL mJ ft. ♦ Great drink specials til 10 p.m. $2.50 pitchers, $1.50 chuggers, $1.50 u-call-its, $1.50 longnecks, and 75</: bar drinks! ♦ All tickets $8 at the door Coming Saturday, May 1st: EARL THOMAS CONLEY! Tickets on sale NOW at Cavenders, Baskins, and the Hall! The Texas Hall of Fame encourages you to drink responsibly and always designate a driver. Free soft drinks to designated drivers over 21. COLLEGE STATION UTILITIES AND THE COLLEGE STATION PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT PRESENTTHI. 2004 Music Series p&ifw iHijsm SATURDAY, APRIL 17 jERRY JEFF WALKER with Django Walker SATURDAY. APRIL 24 Bruce Robison AND KELLY WILLIS with Gary Starkey Sunday, April 25 Brazos Valley SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA featuring Ruthie Foster SATURDAY. MAY 1 Billy Joe Shaver with Diamondback Texas Saturday, may 8 Cowboy Mouth Saturday, may 15 Michael martin MURPHEY with Yancey Stevens SATURDAY, MAY 22 Strutter with Terry Price Saturday, June 5 Hanna's Reef SATURDAY, JUNE U BIG OTIS SATURDAY, JUNE * | DOYLE BRAMH “ With The Full Housed^ SATURDAY.)^ EDDY RAVEN with Johnny l) 0 ” SATURDAY, lUW’® DAVE MATTHE COVER l> ANI with Terns FREE ADMISSION TO ALL EVENTS! Bring your own coolers & picnic baskets. - No pets, BY0B. No glass containers. - Soft drinks and snacks available' 0 GOTES OPEN OT 6:30PM WOLF PEN CREEK AMPHITHEATER, COLLEGE STAR® For more information, call (979) 764-3486 or visit www.cstU m ion F» R O <: ■> R (