| Birth control pill is the most popular method of | | | | women's right activist. McCormick believed that as |
| contraceptive world wide. Today many birth control | | | | much as the right to vote for women is important so |
| pills like Yasmin, Lybrel, Alesse and many others | | | | is the right to control her body. She helped Margaret |
| manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies | | | | Sanger, a birth control activist by supporting her |
| are available in the market. The reason for their | | | | cause in many ways. |
| popularity is 'convenience', unlike sterilization, birth | | | | When her husband died in 1947, she became the sole |
| control pills are not permanent; it is for temporary | | | | inheritor of his property and a wealthy widow; she |
| use i.e. they can be taken till the time a women is | | | | was 75 years of age then. Along with Sanger she |
| not ready to start a family and can also be used for | | | | envisioned a birth control method which could be |
| proper family planning. | | | | taken in the pill form. Accordingly they met a scientist |
| Though, birth control pills are popular but there are | | | | called Gregory Pincus who was equally interested in |
| many people who are still naïve about their | | | | developing a birth control pill. Gregory was researching |
| origin. The hard work and efforts put by the | | | | on progesterone and believed that it could be used |
| scientists who invented it and the endless support | | | | as an anti-ovulent and could be developed as a |
| given by the great women who made this invention | | | | contraceptive. He had already tested and proved |
| of the first contraceptive pill possible is little known | | | | progesterone to work on animals but could not move |
| by people, not even by those who use these pills. | | | | further with the research due to lack of funds. |
| Therefore, I found it worth writing about the origin | | | | McCormick asked him to immediately restart the |
| or history of birth control pills which extremely | | | | research and handed him a check of $40,000 which |
| contributes to the elevation of a woman's status. | | | | was quite a fortune that time. |
| Since ancient times birth control was an issue. We | | | | Wanting the pill to be developed in her life time, |
| can even see the word "abstinence" being mentioned | | | | McCormick moved from her Santa Barbara home to |
| many times in the bible. Aristotle, Pliny and even | | | | the east where the research lab was located. She |
| Casanova talk about abstinences and spermicides. | | | | time and again asked the scientist to hurry up the |
| Human reproduction was understood only in the | | | | project. Dr. John Rock joined Pincus and together |
| 1800's when the scientists of that time discovered | | | | they did their first trial on human beings. The |
| the female egg and its importance in reproduction. | | | | progesterone pills were tested on 50 women who |
| Earlier it was considered that men were the life | | | | administered them for 21 days with seven days |
| creator while women were just the nest. From then | | | | break for menstruations. The human trial was a |
| on the approach to birth control took a different turn. | | | | success, not even one out of the 50 women tested |
| Devices like condoms, sponges, douching syringes | | | | ovulated while on the pill. This laid the foundation of |
| (injection in the uterus with birth control solution after | | | | the birth of Enovid, the first contraceptive pill. In 1960 |
| intercourse), diaphragms and cervical caps started | | | | FDA approved Enovid as a birth control pill. |
| being widely used but some of them were not at all | | | | Today many new pills are available in the |
| safe. | | | | pharmaceutical circuit. You can opt for Yasmin birth |
| Katherine McCormick, Margaret Sanger, Dr. John Rock | | | | control or Lybrel birth control, as per the prescription |
| and Gregory Pincus are the names to reckon with, | | | | given by your doctor. But while buying spare a |
| without their zeal and hard work the birth of | | | | moment for these great people without whom it |
| contraceptive in the form of a pill would not have | | | | would not have been possible to develop birth control |
| been possible. I would especially want to give kudos | | | | pills. Great honor and acclaims should be given to the |
| to Katherine McCormick. | | | | scientists that they without question deserve. |
| Katherine McCormick was born in 1875 in a wealthy | | | | However, the name of Katherine McCormick the real |
| family in Dexter, Michigan. In 1904, she became one | | | | person behind the development of birth control pill |
| of the first women to graduate in a degree of | | | | and the sole financier, is today forgotten. Great |
| science (biology) from Massachusetts institute of | | | | injustice is done by us for not knowing and |
| technology. She got married to Stanley McCormick, | | | | remembering the selfless women who paved the |
| heir to the International Harvester Company fortune, | | | | way for our liberation. Therefore, let us all give a toss |
| who later suffered from schizophrenia. Believing that | | | | to her, remembering that it is only because of her |
| schizophrenia is hereditary Katherine McCormick | | | | that today we can opt for family planning and pursue |
| vowed not to have any children. Therefore, | | | | our career without the hassle of periods and |
| contraceptives became her prime concern. She was | | | | unwanted pregnancies. Kudos! Katherine McCormick. |
| involved in many philanthropic works and was also a | | | | |