In 1957 the FDA approved the first birth control pill, but only as a treatment for severe menstrual disorders not simply for contraceptive use. That same year an unusually high number of women report severe menstrual disorders to their doctor (Nikolchev, 2010). It seems fairly unlikely that this is just a coincidence. What is far more likely is that women were excited for the opportunity to be given the opportunity to decide for themselves if they wanted to become pregnant or not. For the first time, there was an effective and simple option for women to avoid unwanted pregnancy. This should be relatable to many modern day women who desire the same thing. Women want to be free to do what they want without having to worry about having a child …show more content…
The decision to have or not to have a child is a life-changing a decision that every woman deserves to be able to make for herself and take action to follow through on that. Meaning, if a woman chooses that either at this point or in her life as a whole she does not wish for her a child it is her basic right to access anything required to follow through on that. Access to all birth control methods means that women can live their lives the way they choose without the interruption of a child at a less than ideal time. With no similar product yet available to men it falls to the women make the decision to use this safe and reliable medication and make it part of her routine. Many reasons may lead a woman to not want children; whether for personal or economic reasons access to birth control allows a woman to continue to live her life how she chooses without risking …show more content…
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine listed on their fact sheet of Non-contraceptive Benefits of Birth Control Pills (2011) users also enjoy regulation and control over their menstrual periods, treatment for heavy and painful periods, treatment of endometriosis, treatment of premenstrual syndrome, as well as treatment for acne, excess hair, and hair loss. On top of all that some other ovarian cancer, benefits are fewer cases of anemia, ovarian cancer, and uterine cancer. Interestingly enough, according to Taggart Oral Contraceptive Use Associated With Increased Romantic Relationship Satisfaction (2016) in a few studies have found birth control use is linked to high satisfaction within romantic relationships. It can even be used in the treatment of some medical conditions such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. One article published in Obstetrician & Gynaecologist concluded by pointing out that more research has been done on oral contraceptive pills than perhaps any other medication and for the majority of women the health benefits are much greater than the health risks. And overall, women using contraceptive had the same mortality rate as non-users. It also claims that the case is likely the same for other forms of contraceptive (2012). With all of these uses and benefits, it is clear why so many women use birth control.
Due to its proven safety and benefits, it is extremely important that any
In fact, many women take birth control specifically for these other benefits. A few minor benefits may include: clearing up acne, regulating periods and helping with hot flashes or night sweats. Lowering cancer risks and helping ease polycystic ovarian syndrome (POS is a hormonal disorder causing enlarged ovaries with small cysts on the outer edges) are only two of the several bigger impacts birth control can have on the female body. “In 2011, the Guttmacher Institute estimated that 1.5 million women use birth control to help with medical issues such as ovarian cancer, ovarian cysts, endometriosis and endometrial cancer”
Over the counter birth control pills could be a change for the contraceptive world. If a law were to pass by the Food and Drug Admiration to let women gain access to birth control without a prescription, women will not receive the proper health checks that they need. According to Morgan Greenwald (2015) a doctor’s consent is important to make sure women are screened for protentional dangerous health risk while taking the pill. Saving health insurance companies money is not worth the cost, doctors can monitor a woman’s body reaction to the type of birth control pill. Over the counter birth control would require multiple warning labels that women would not likely read. Birth control pills are used by many woman and making it over the counter would change how women view
Carl Djerassi was a chemist in Mexico city that created the first pill that synthesized hormones in 1951. In 1957 the FDA approved the pills for women with menstrual disorders but just three years later the pill was released for sexual protection. Some states still made this drug illegal and it went against many people’s morals. In 1997 the pill was expanded to treat acne (A Brief History 1-2). The pill has come a long way and is still continuing to form in this evolving society. Less than seventy years ago we didn’t even have an oral option for birth control. Today we are fighting over whether the pill can be available over the counter or not.
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
Women have been using birth control methods for over thousands of years. Today, we have various effective birth control methods available to woman. Such as the pill, patch, shot, or IUD. Birth control is a safe way to prevent pregnancy. You can purchase birth control at your doctor’s office, planned parenthood, a clinic, or a public health care provider. They will first discuss your medical history with you, then check your blood pressure and finally you will discuss which birth control method is right for you, and they will send you on your way with your prescription. Birth control can be purchased at your local drugstore and costs up to 50 dollars. In a lot of cases though, young girls and even older women cannot afford or access these types of birth control. There are concerns about being unemployed which results in no income coming in for birth control, lack of health insurance the woman may have and whether or not the woman can afford having a child, even more during an economic crisis. By having women’s birth control free it will not only decrease the chances of abortion, help women financially , help with women’s menstrual cycle, and also by lowering the teen pregnancy rate, and having them have the power to decide when they want to have children. Many people can argue that the government shouldn’t have to provide another free service and that the cost
Women have the right to choose what they want to do with their body. Women have a constitutional right to obtain birth control if they choose to. The reproductive rights allow individuals to have say so over their bodies. “Reproductive rights are the rights of individuals to decide whether to reproduce and have reproductive health. This may include an individual's right to plan a family, terminate a pregnancy, use contraceptives, learn about sex education in public schools, and gain access to reproductive health services.” (“What are Reproductive Rights?”). However some may argue that women
In the 1950s, birth control pills were introduced in the United States (Windsor, 2002). Over the past seven decades, the pill has changed the American women’s lives in several ways. The pills have allowed women to delay marriages, invest in their career development, and secure well-paid jobs in areas that were previously dominated by men. The pill has also improved family relationships and prevented abuse and marriage dissolutions. This paper explores the history of birth control methods in the US and how the pill became available on a large scale to women. The paper further examines how the pills has given women the freedom to advance their careers, strengthen the marriage relationships, and participate in the workforce.
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
Women do not have to set an appointment with their doctor and having to wait a week or more for their appointment.But with the over the counter birth control, consumers can go to their local pharmacy and pick up their birth control pills. When over the counter pills are easier to access, the more patient will use it. Everybody in America should be able to receive birth control (Laura Bassett). Some women do not have access to a doctor which makes it harder for them to have birth control. Having over the counter birth control pill will be easier for people to have.
Birth control has always been somewhat of a taboo subject. Even though it has come a long way from when it was first introduced many are still against the idea of it. Margaret Sanger devoted her life to legalize birth control and to make it universally available for all women today. I chose her for my paper because I strongly believe that birth control should be available to all women and that women should have the right to be able to control if they will produce children or not. Sangers fight for birth control started when she was 19 and didn’t end till she was 81. She devoted her life to seeing it legalized and was extremely passionate about women being able to have it available to them in order for them to have a safer and healthier life.
Throughout history women have become more independent by entering the work force and having the option to take birth control. By women entering the work force they are able to be financial stabile without having to rely on someone else to take care of them. The FDA approving the use of birth control allowed women to plan their pregnancy’s which help’s them both financially and as a career women.
Birth control pills “were developed in the 1950s, and were first approved by the FDA in 1960” (“Birth Control”). The birth control pills are made of two hormones- estrogen and progestin. Hormones are chemicals that are made in our bodies. The hormones in the pill work by keeping eggs from leaving the ovaries. Recently birth control pills have changed and include less hormones and other positive side effects. Some of these effects include, lighter periods, which reduce risk of anemia, less severe cramps during menstrual cycles and lessening of acne breakouts. This, however, is only helpful for females who do not smoke. The pill does carry some health risks. For example, women over the age of 35 and that smoke or have medical conditions such as history of blood clots, or breast cancer, may not be
With the help of Planned Parenthood, the first birth control pill is developed by Gregory Pincus, John Rock, and M.C. Chang. However, in 1956 the pill underwent the first human trial. The side effects were less than satisfactory, leading to the development of the first FDA approved oral contraceptive in 1960. By 1965, through the approval for married couples, by the U.S. Supreme Court, to use birth control, one in four women under the age of 45 had used the pill. In 1967 New York State legalized abortion, making it possible for women to seek out safe and legal abortion.
Birth control came about from women who were obligated to have families and not letting it be a choice. Many women have heard about contraceptives that are advertised on tv, magazines, and even from a family doctor. Women knew very little of what birth control could do or even prevent. Women thought that just by taking birth control it could prevent pregnancy. They were not well informed that all body
Birth control methods have been used for over hundreds of years in the United States. Women’s early method consisted of solutions being injected into the uterus with a syringe after being intimate. The first clinic to issue birth control was founded in 1916 by Marget Sanger. The most effective method, the birth control pill wasn’t approved until 1960 by the Food and Drug Administration. Birth control has not always been approved of, Roman Catholic churches created a statement against contraceptives in 1930, calming