The Oral Contraceptive (Birth Control)

The purpose of the oral contraceptive, also called the birth control pill, is to do just that: control birth. While “on the Pill”, women have the freedom to decide when to have children and how many. Previous to the approval of the Pill by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1960, other methods of birth control were used, such as the condom, the diaphragm, and the “rhythm” method. These practices were not completely reliable, and women who were using these methods were still having many children without the intent to do so. The birth control pill changed all that, preventing unwanted pregnancies and regulating the fertility of the women that used it. The oral contraceptive’s effects were deeper than just regarding family size. The Pill allowed women to have a sexual freedom that they had never before experienced, and to choose their own path educationally and professionally. The Pill gave women a feeling of rational self interest, something that was fundamental i...