Male Contraceptive Doc ‘Give It a Shot’ From ‘Ask the Sexpert’ Director Vaishali Sinha Sets North American Theatrical Release, Unveils Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)
Documentary “Give It a Shot”, directed by Vaishali Sinha, will receive a North American theatrical release in September. It follows efforts to develop a reversible male contraceptive, raising questions about whether men can take a greater share of responsibility for birth control.
The film centres on 83-year-old Indian researcher Dr Sujoy Guha and US-based developers working on what could be the first major reversible male contraceptive since condoms emerged around 200 years ago. It opens in New York on 4 September, has Los Angeles preview screenings from 14 to 16 September and opens there on 18 September, before expanding further; a PBS “Independent Lens” broadcast is planned for 2027. The Guttmacher Institute says men currently have three contraceptive options—condoms, vasectomy and withdrawal—compared with roughly five times as many for women.
In short
- “Give It a Shot” opens theatrically in North America this September.
- The film follows the push for reversible male contraception.
- PBS will broadcast it on “Independent Lens” in 2027.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Proponents argue that women have borne disproportionate contraceptive burden and health risks despite equal stakes in family planning. A reversible male contraceptive would enable genuine reproductive equity, granting men meaningful agency whilst reducing health demands on women's bodies.
The case against
Sceptics contend that male contraceptive development, whilst conceptually appealing, may not be the highest priority for resources. They note men already possess viable options and argue the challenge lies in promoting consistent usage and normalising responsibility rather than developing new methods requiring extensive testing.
Explained simply
Birth control can prevent pregnancy, but the methods available to men are limited. The Guttmacher Institute counts condoms, vasectomy and withdrawal as the three main options, while women have roughly five times as many.
Dr Sujoy Guha, an Indian researcher, has spent decades working on a reversible contraceptive for men. Developers in the US are also pursuing the idea; reversible means its effect could be stopped so fertility can return.
The issue is whether men could take a greater share of responsibility for preventing pregnancy. A new method could give couples another choice, though its safety, effectiveness and availability would matter before it could be widely used.