-
Jan 1, 1000
1550 B.C. -- Early Contraceptives
Eggptian woman receive information to mix dates, acacia, and honey into a paste that prevents pregnancy (Time, 2010). -
Jan 1, 1400
15th Century -- Chastity Belt
During the 15th century, women start to wear chastity belts. Women who wear chastity belts are kept pure because it physically prevents them from having sex (Cornblatt, 2009). -
1700's -- Use of Condoms
The famous womanizer, Casanova, writes about the use of condoms in order to prevent pregnancy. He refers to condoms as the "English riding coat" (Cornblatt, 2009). -
1844 -- Invention of vulcanized rubber
Charles Goodyear invents the technology to vulcanize rubber, which leads to the mass production of rubber condoms (Cornblatt, 2009). -
1873 -- Comstock Act
Congress passes the Comstock Act, which makes it illegal to send contraceptive devices or information through the mail (Cornblatt, 2009). At this time, the U.S. is the first Western country to prohibit contraceptions (Time Magazine, 2010). -
1916 -- First family planning center opens
Margaret Sanger opens up the first clinic for family planning in Brooklyn. A few days later it is shut down (Time Magazine, 2010). -
1921 -- American Birth Control League
Margaret Sanger starts the American Birth Control League, which eventually becomes Planned Parenthood (Conrblatt, 2009). She is also the woman who started the phrase "birth control" (Cornblatt, 2009). -
1951 -- Development of "the Pill" begins
Margaret Sanger asks Gregory Pincus to research the idea of hormones in contraceptives (Time Magazine, 2010). -
1960 -- "The Pill"
The FDA announces its approval of Envoid in preventing pregnancy. However, Envoid was available beginning of 1957 for women who had problems with menstruation or infetility (Time Magazine, 2010). -
1965 -- Griswold vs. Connecticut
The U.S. Supreme Court denied the Conneticut law stating that the use of contraceptives is prohibited for married women. "The case established the 'right of privacy' of married couples to plan their sex and family lives as they saw fit" (Cornblatt, 2009). -
1973 -- Roe vs. Wade
The U.S. Supreme Court legalizes the ability for a woman to have an abortion. However, even after the ruling on Roe vs. Wade, there has still been many protesters and controversies over abortion (Cornblatt, 2010). -
1976 -- FDA approves IUDs
Even though IUDs were being used since the early 1900's, the FDA approves IUDs in 1976. -
Period: to
1992-2002 -- FDA approves several other forms of Birth Control
Between the years of 1992 and 2002, the FDA approves various forms of birth control including: the hormone shot, female condom, the patch, NuvaRing, and Plan B (Cornblatt, 2009). -
1996 -- Welfare Reform Act
In 1996, the Welform Reform Act is passed in order to help stop welfare. Under this act, millions of dollars are spent to educate kids about abstinence for the first time (Cornblatt, 2009). -
1998 -- FDA approves Viagra
In 1998, Viagra is approved by FDA. After a few months, most insurance plans covered Viagra. This leads to many angry women and lawsuits because at this time "the Pill" is not covered. Before Viagra, "the Pill" did not receive much public attention for not being covered on insurance plans (Stabile, 2005). -
2000 -- Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission states that companies that provide health insurance must cover insurance for prescribed birth control. If the an employer did not, then they are in "violation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which prevents discimination on the basis of sex" (Baumann, 2012). This law occured during President George W. Bush's term (Baumann, 2012). -
2010 -- Healthier Women
46,000 women are studied over the past 40 years. Research has discovered that women who use "the Pill" "live longer and are less likely to die prematurely of all causes, including cancer and heart disease" (Time Magazine, 2010). -
2012 -- President Obama's Health Reform
Under President Obama's health care reform law, most insurance companies are required to cover preventative health care for women (Pear, 2012).
