The pill has revolutionized women’s health over the last five decades.
When Did Birth Control Come Out?
Marker was able to extractprogestin, a synthetic form of the sex hormoneprogesterone, from this root.
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The progestin would eventually be combined withestrogento formulate the first birth control pill.
By 1959, some 500,000 women were using it for this purpose.
At that time, its ability to work as contraception was viewed as a side effect.
In fact, the pill’s packaging even came with a warning about its “contraceptive activity.”
By 1965, approximately one in every four American women under age 45 had used the pill.
That number rose to 13 million women worldwide by 1967.
Enovid was not perfect.
The first oral contraceptive contained 10,000 micrograms of progestin and 150 micrograms of estrogen.
By contrast, modern pills contain no more than 150 micrograms of progestin and 50 micrograms of estrogen.
The high doses of hormones also came with a heightened risk ofside effects.
How the Pill Works
Oral contraceptives work by stopping sperm from joining with an egg.
The pill does this in two ways: by preventingovulation, and by thickeningcervical mucus.
Birth control pills suppress ovulation through the actions of the hormone estrogeneither alone or in combination with progestin.
Birth Control Uses and Benefits
The birth control pill doesn’t just prevent unplanned pregnancy.
It also offers a number of other benefits to the people who use it.
Side Effects of Modern Birth Control
Modern birth control pills are significantly safer than the earliest versions.
When they do occur, they are usually temporary and resolve within three months of starting the pill.
Rare but Serious Complications
Some birth control pills are associated with rare but serious complications.
If you do smoke cigarettes, let your healthcare provider know.
Progestin-only birth control pills may be a better option for you.
In 1960, the FDA approved of the birth control pill Enovid for the purpose of contraception.
Since then, over 300 million women have used it worldwide.
Birth control pills work by preventing sperm from reaching an egg.
It is widely considered safe and effective for these purposes.
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