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Cassanova
In Cassanova's memoirs, he writes of different forms of contraceptives, such as rudimentary cervical caps -
Discovery of the Egg
The ovum is discovered by scientists. This is a major step towards the understanding of human reproduction, thus the prevention of reproduction. -
Utereus Soluttion
A Massachussetts physcian, Charles Knowlton, invents a soution that can be injected into the uterus post-intercourse to prevent pregnancy. -
Wilde Cap
Friedrich Wilde, a German doctor, invents a cervical cap, the predecessor to the modern-day diaphragm. -
Rubber Condom
Charles Goodyear invents a method to harden rubber, and use his technology to make rubber condoms. -
Sperm Finds the Egg
Scientists discover that conception occurs when the sperm enters the female egg. No longer it is believed that a woman is just the temporary home of the life created by the man. -
Comstock Act
Congress passes the Comstock Law, an anti-obscenity act that specifically lists contraceptives as obscene material. It is illegal to ship them through the postal service. -
Margaret Sanger Birth
Margaret Higgins is born. -
Birth Control Suppository
London chemist W. J. Rendell invents the first commercially manufactured birth control suppository. -
Hormones
Viennese gynecologist Emil Knauer discovers chemicals that control the body's metabolic processes. They will later be named hormones. -
Margaret Sanger Indicted
Sanger is indicted for nine violations of the Comstock Law. She flees to England where she continues her work. -
Margaret Sanger Beliefs
In "The Woman Rebel," Margaret Sanger puts forth her ideas on the circumstances birth control should be used, such as poverty or illness. -
Birth Control
Maragret Sanger Coins the term "birth control." -
National Birth Control League
In New York City, a group of women form the National Birth Control League. -
Sanger Returns
Sanger returns to America. The charges are dropped. She continues to fight the Comstock Laws. -
Birth Control Clinic
Sanger opens the first birth control clinic in Brooklyn. -
Clinic Closed
Sanger's birth control clinic is raided and shut down. -
Crane Decision
The Crane decision is the first legal ruling to allow birth control to be used for therapeutic purposes. -
Nineteenth Ammendment
Women win the right to vote. -
Rhythm Method
Japanese and Austrian scienetists discover that women are fertile about halfway through the menstrual cycle. Abstaining from sex during this time can prevent pregnancy. -
American Birth Control League
Margaret Sanger establishes the American Birth Control League. -
Legal Birth Control Clinic
Margaret Sanger opens the first legal birth control clinic in the U.S. with the intent of only using contraceptives for medical purposes. -
Estrogen
Estrogen is identified by Edward Doisy at Washington University in St. Louis. -
U.S. vs. One Package
Margaret Sanger orchestrates a court battle over a shipment of Japanese diaphragms to a U.S. doctor. The case is called U.S. vs. One Package,. the court rules that physicians can receive contraceptive devices via mail. It is a major victory. -
Synthetic Progesterone
Chemistry professor Russell Marker discovers a way to make synthetic progesterone. His discovery makes progesterone production affordable and will become basis for hormonal birth control. -
Pincus and Sanger
Sanger and Pincus meet in New York. She persuades him to work on the birth control pill. -
Pincus and Rock
Pincus tests progesterone in rats; it works. He meets gynecologist John Rock, he has already started testing chemical contraception in women. -
McCormick and Pincus
Katherine McCormick, biologist, women's rights activists and heiress, writes a $40,000 check for research. -
Success in Massachusetts
Rock and Pincus successfully conduct the first human trials on 50 women in Massachusetts. -
FDA Approves
The FDA approves the pill, but only for severe menstrual disorders. -
FDA Approves
FDA Approves the pill for contraceptive purposes. -
Five Years Later
Five years after its approval, 6.5 million American women are on pill, making it the most popular form of birth control. -
Margaret Sanger Death
Margaret Sanger dies. -
Aristotle
Aristotle puts forth the idea of using spermicides such as cedar oil or lead ointment to prevent pregnancy.