Can men be trusted with contraception? That was the big question facing the female columnists in the wake of news that Australian scientists have successfully tested a contraceptive for men. "The treatment involves an implant under the skin - meaning men cannot forget to take it - and hormone injections," explained the Adelaide Advertiser. "A tablet version could be available in as little as two or three years."

But while scientists claimed the trial showed the contraception to be 100% effective and free from unpleasant side effects, many had doubts about the prospect of a male pill. "One of the biggest problems with men taking a contraceptive pill would be whether they could be bothered to remember to take it in the first place and whether, if they hadn't, they would lie about it," said Cindy Blake in the Daily Mail. "The sad truth is that women will keep taking the tablets and men will leave their sperm swimming in peace. Unless, perhaps, they develop a pill to give men headaches."

Sinead Desmond in the Sun thought some men would be glad they no longer had to rely on a condom and a woman's word not to become a father, "but your average bloke might not see it the same way ... Women are right to be suspicious - because there's simply more at stake for us."

In the London Evening Standard, Amanda Platell noted that the implant might increase the recipient's sex drive - "only an Aussie could invent a male pill that increases a man's libido". The Australian-born columnist was also sceptical about "a man's ability to tell the truth in the throes of passion", insisting that she would need a foolproof guarantee. "Something not dissimilar from the branding mark one finds on British bacon to prove his authenticity would do it." It was a view shared by Vanessa Feltz in the Daily Express: "Does anyone seriously think that the wimpier sex will volunteer for anything that involves having their dainty skin pierced by a needle?"

But elsewhere in the Evening Standard, James Delingpole defended the trustworthiness of his sex and welcomed news of a treatment that would be a "huge hit with fathers" - especially those who want no more children but "want to go on having unprotected, carefree sex like you did in the early days". He added: "At least this new pill has a reassuring sense of impermanence about it. If you win the lottery or you remarry and want to start breeding again, you just stop taking it."