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1800 BCE
Egyptians
Egyptian Women would make a paste-like mixture with acacia leaves and honey, or they would use animal feces to prevent pregnancy. it would be used as a vaginal suppository before there were any other forms of contraceptives many groups of people would use herbal methods. (American Experience) Contraceptives had to start somewhere to make progress to where they are now. They had to be tested and worked with what they had before modern materials. -
Period: 1800 BCE to
Evolution of Birth Control
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Lemon Half
Before there was a term for condoms and cervical caps, a famous seducer by the name of Giacomo Casanova would make his women use lemon halves. They would half squeeze the juice out and place the rind over the uterine orifice like a cap. (“Muvs - Lemon Half”) There was a start of progress once they began to realize what did and didn't have a high concentration of acid. -
Hormonal Discoveries
Researchers in Germany and the United States discovered and isolated the human sex hormones. they used several hundred liters of urine from pregnant women for contraceptive purposes. (“Timeline: Contraceptives”) The testing helped in being able to study the sex hormones in not only pregnant women but also women who weren't pregnant. It helped to possibly jumpstart the contraceptive research. -
Revolutionary Contraceptive
The first contraceptive pill was developed by Margaret Sanger, Katharine McCormick, and Gregory Pincus. It was composed of synthetic progesterone and estrogen. It was able to give women quick access to take care of any reproductive decisions for their bodies. It also opened the door for other researchers to start developing their own pills. -
Enovid
This pill was created after the Great Depression to help lower poverty since smaller families would be better than larger families. It benefitted not only Sanger's initiative but also the eugenics movement
.(“Enovid: The First Hormonal Birth Control Pill | Embryo Project Encyclopedia”) The positive outcome of this changed society's stigma of women on contraceptives. It also took off the bad views of women taking contraceptives. -
Plan B
Researchers had discovered that a high dosage of estrogen could prevent a pregnancy from happening. The first emergency contraceptive appeared for women in the 1960s. (“Timeline: Contraceptives”) The emergency pill being made was a turning point in how the different a contraceptive could be used. The pill being made was progress. -
Copper
Jamie A. Zipper discovers that inserting a small copper wire into a rabbit's womb prevents pregnancy. That was when a T-shaped plastic spiral with copper wires became a new option. It was later put on the market along with other products that were being made. (“Timeline: Contraceptives”) Trial and error happens but that comes along with developing products. There being Intrauterine devices at that time were huge turning points. -
Spiral
Researcher Antonio Scommenga discovered that proestergone in the womb causes changes to the membrane. It could also cause bleeding to reduces and prevents conception. -
Implants
The FDA had approved Noraplant, making it the first subdermal contraceptive that would be implanted into the patient's upper arm under their skin. The procedure would take only 3 minutes, but it ended up being pulled off the market due to complications.(“Contraceptive Implants | KFF”) Concerns are a factor, but this is a major milestone as we've evolved from pills to intrauterine devices to now implants. It is the most-effective reversible contraceptive. -
Digital Age
The FDA approved the first contraceptive app, Natural Cycles, to track women's daily body temperature readings and their menstrual cycles. The method of contraception used is fertility awareness. (“FDA Approves First Birth Control App - Natural Cycles | Docwire News”) The way that modern medicine is now, everything can be done through your phone or simply with a few clicks. It has progressed tremendously since the 1960s.