Prior to the second world war, birth control was prohibited in many countries, and in the United States even the discussion of contraceptive methods sometimes led to prosecution under Comstock laws. The history of the development of oral contraceptives is thus closely tied to the birth control movement and the efforts of activists Margaret Sanger, Mary Dennett, and Emma Goldman. Based on fundamental research performed by Gregory Pincus and synthetic methods for progesterone developed by Carl Djerassi at Syntex and by Frank Colton at G.D. Searle & Co., the first oral contraceptive, Enovid, was developed by E.D. Searle and Co. and approved by the FDA in 1960. The original formulation incorporated vastly excessive doses of hormones, and caused severe side effects. Nonetheless, by 1962, 1.2 million American women were on the pill, and by 1965 the number had increased to 6.5 million. The availability of a convenient form of temporary contraceptive led to dramatic changes in social mores including expanding the range of lifestyle options available to women, reducing the reliance of women on men for contraceptive practice, encouraging the delay of marriage, and increasing pre-marital co-habitation. COUNT 10
QSN1 What law prohibited birth control? ANS1 Comstock laws QSN2 When was Enovid first approved? ANS2 1960 QSN3 What increased due to the availability of birth control? ANS3 pre-marital co-habitation QSN4 Who created the first oral birth control? ANS4 E.D. Searle and Co QSN5 In 1965, how many women were on the birth control pill? ANS5 6.5 million QSN6 Discussing contraception sometimes led to prosecution under what laws? ANS6 Comstock laws QSN7 What was the name of the first oral contraceptive? ANS7 Enovid QSN8 By 1965, about how many American women were taking Enovid? ANS8 6.5 million QSN9 When did the FDA approve Enovid? ANS9 1960 QSN10 Birth control was prohibited in most countries before what war? ANS10 second world war