Summary: The First Birth Control Pills

May 1, 1960. The Food and Drug Administration approved Enovid for marketing in the United States. Enovid, the first hormonal birth control pill, was the child of extensive exploration into the unknown and controversial field of reproductive medicine. Its advocates encountered many legal, political, and social obstacles. The progression of Enovid from an unorthodox idea to a medical reality lead to a vast exchange of moral ideals pertaining to sexuality, the role of women, and the extent of government and church influence in society.

The Birth Control Movement of 1912 in the United States had a significant impact on Women’s Reproductive Rights. Women in the 1800s would frequently die or have complications during or after childbirth. Even if the woman would have died, they would still have a great amount of children. As the years progressed into the 1900s, the amount of children being born dropped. Because of this, birth control supplements were banned, forcing women to have a child that she was not prepared for or did not want to have in the first place.

Society today often takes the simple rights they have for granted. They don’t realize that everything they have now is because of so many activists in the past fought for those rights; forgetful rights that without their sacrifices people wouldn’t have the freedom we have today. The birth control pill was one of these rights that so many advocates fought for and died before they could see the battle that they struggled and gave up everything for, come to an end.

A quick history of abortion pills and how they came to be comes from WebMD. The top drug used for abortions is mifepristone also known as RU-486. Testing of the drug began in 1983 when the FDA issued a permit. Jan. 1993 President Clinton asked for the FDA to reconsider their import ban. In 1994-1995 the Population Council the U.S. patent rights for mifepristone, and clinical trials began. In September 1996 the FDA issued an approval for RU-486 to be used as a safe alternative to surgical abortion, but they also said, they wanted more information on how the drug was manufactured and labeled before they could make their final decision. On September 28, 2000 the FDA approved RU-486 as a method for early medical abortion.

The idea of birth control has been around since before the eighteenth century. However, those in control of it have changed over time leading to several positive and negative effects including seeking underground abortions and disguised labeling of products for contraception.

One of the most significant happenings that the Birth Control Movement was responsible for was the creation of the birth control pill. In 1948, Margaret Sanger, biologist Gregory Pincus and physician John Rock began to research and develop the birth control pill. It got approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1960 (Kaufman). This oral contraception is a type of medication that women take daily to prevent pregnancy because these pills contain hormone that prevent a woman’s eggs from leaving the ovaries and making cervical mucus thicker which keeps the sperm from getting to the eggs (Planned Parenthood). Plannedparenthood.org stated that within five years of its approval, the birth control pill was used by one out of every married women

Birth control has been a controversial topic since the 1960’s, when the pill arose on the scene and gained popularity. Men and women of certain religious faiths have sought to prevent other women from using birth control. However, most women want to be able to choose when the time is right for them to have a child. This is why birth control is essential, because it allows women and couples in general the freedom to choose and plan their families. In many cases the need to control women by controlling their access to birth control goes all the way to the federal government. The federal government determines what types of birth control are allowed on the market and who has access to them. Some Presidential administrations look more kindly

Oral contraceptive has been a controversial topic for years. Oral contraceptives are a common form of birth control. Birth control is used to prevent pregnancy by blocking a male’s sperm from fertilizing a female’s egg. Women take birth control to prevent pregnancy. Also, teen women can prevent unwanted pregnancies by having access to over the counter birth control pills. Birth control pills should be available without a prescription.

Although the majority of women can receive birth control from their insurance companies, there is still a need for over the counter birth control. Recently, contraception in the United States has become more of a political issue rather than a public health issue. Present-day contraceptives come in a variety of forms, but still have the same function; to prevent unintended pregnancies (Cartwright-Smith 541). Cartwright-Smith also stated that in addition, certain hormonal contraceptives are prescribed to treat medical conditions such as severe menstrual pain, excessive menstrual bleeding, acne, migraines, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids (541). There have been arguments about how over the counter birth control leads to “promiscuity”. Moreover,

Healthcare professionals are faced with a multitude of ethical and legal conundrums. Since the introduction of birth control in American history, healthcare professionals have been put in situations to either follow their own moral and ethical beliefs, or choose to follow the law and give healthcare services to those who seek it. A large constituent to the disapproval of contraceptives other than natural family planning, is health professional’s religious beliefs. In addition, Adolescent females who need contraceptives are less likely to seek access to health care providers for these contraceptives in fear of personal information due to their age being released. Through the research provided, cases of pharmacist denial of prescribed or over the counter contraceptives to women have been the majority of conflict in this nation and in others.

The Center for Disease Control conducted a study on contraceptive use; their findings concluded “four out of five women have used birth control pills” during one point of their lives (Basset). Birth control pills have been around for over six decades, and their popularity has significantly increased during the past decade. Thousands of sexually-active women are turning to birth control pills as a way to prevent unplanned pregnancy, regulate periods, and to control acne. Nonetheless, birth control pills are synthetic hormones that influence the female body in severe ways. In fact, doctors and media are not presenting the menaces of consuming birth control pills in women; instead, they disguise the risks with commercials of synchronized

Nemours, a children’s health organization, created pamphlet for doctors’ offices geared towards parents and teens who have questions about common issues in the realm of sexual health. They define “the pill” as an oral contraceptive, “a daily pill that usually contains the hormones estrogen and progesterone, and is taken to prevent pregnancy.” Other points discussed in the pamphlet include the safety of

Over the counter birth control pills have been a topic of discussion for many women. Some might say it would pose many risks such as not receiving medical checkups and not knowing the side effects of birth control pills. Others may see it as a helpful to women because of the convenience of accessing the pills and not having to take time to schedule appointments. Additionally, due to health care and insurance policies some women might not have an easy access to birth control pills but the cost should not be a factor. Although over the counter birth control would allow an easier access for women, there are reasons why a doctor’s visit and a prescription are required to receive birth control pills.

Are you interested in birth control are know someone who is? Are you stuck or know someone who is stuck in between which birth control to use? Well, being a woman myself I have found that using the birth control Implanon was the best birth control for me only because it is convenient, mess free, and it last for up to three years. People around the world have used birth control methods for thousands of years. These methods include things such as condoms, pills, shots, and many other things that have advanced though out the years. Today, the world has many safe and effective birth control methods available to us, however all birth controls do not work the same for everyone.

Condoms are categories into two type one is male type condom and one is female type condom. Male type condom can by many material such as latex, plastic and animal membrane. As the function is just to act as a wrapper to stop the semen enter to the vagina. The advantages are easy to use and getting protection against sexually infection. The disadvantage is it may tear or break without improper use. For female condom, it is an internal use condom as the condom needed to put inside the vagina with a device to hold the place. The advantage is protected form HIV infection and disadvantage is it very hard to put the condom correctly. For barrier birth control method also have spermicide, diaphragm, and sterilization. Spermicide is a gel type barrier for birth control, as it available in several forms for personal convenience and disadvantage is it may be difficult to use because it have to apply immediately before intercourse. Then, diaphragm is a domed-shape rubber cup that for female user only and there is having the spermicidal jelly inside the dome. The jelly is to kill the sperm cells. The advantage is it can be keep for two or three months if clean and stored properly and disadvantage is required to go to clinic or physician for the fitting. Sterilization is the way that can be done by male or female as it only needed to cut the tube lead to the scrotum and join to urethra (vasectomy), as