Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsThe First PillHow It WorksBenefitsSide Effects of Modern Birth Control
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
The First Pill
How It Works
Benefits
Side Effects of Modern Birth Control
Birth control pills have been used off-label to treat acne for years, but it wasn’t until 1997 that the FDA approved of a combination birth control pill to treat moderate acne in women.Birth control pills are now used to treatendometriosis,polycystic ovarian syndrome, irregular periods, and more.
The pill has revolutionized women’s health over the last five decades. Here’s a brief history of the birth control pill, why they’re used, and how they work.
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When Did Birth Control Come Out?
A major breakthrough in the conception of the pill came when American chemist Russell Marker discovered that generations of Mexican women had been eating a type of wild yam called Barbasco root, also calledcabeza de negro, for contraception. Marker was able to extractprogestin, a synthetic form of the sex hormoneprogesterone, from this root. The progestin would eventually be combined withestrogento formulate the first birth control pill.
The First Birth Control Pill
Enovid was not perfect. Although it was effective and simple to use, it contained far higher levels of hormones than needed to prevent pregnancy. The first oral contraceptive contained 10,000 micrograms of progestin and 150 micrograms of estrogen. By contrast, modern pills contain no more than 150 micrograms of progestin and 50 micrograms of estrogen.
The high doses of hormones also came with a heightened risk ofside effects. Dizziness, nausea, headaches, and vomiting were common among the initial pill’s users, along with an increased risk of heart attack, blood clots, and stroke. As a result, the pill faced immense criticism over many years, which helped refine it into the significantly safer and effective pill it is today.
Does Birth Control Have Long-Term Side Effects?
How the Pill Works
Birth Control Uses and Benefits
The birth control pill doesn’t just prevent unplanned pregnancy. It also offers a number of other benefits to the people who use it.
Research shows that women who take the pill for at least one year are 40% less likely to developuterine cancerandovarian cancer.Other important benefits of the birth control pill include:
The hormones contained in oral contraceptives also provide a protective effect against pelvic inflammatory disease, a major cause of infertility.
Modern birth control pills are significantly safer than the earliest versions. But like all medicines, today’s birth control pills come with a risk of side effects, including:
Not everyone who uses the birth control pill will have side effects. When they do occur, they are usually temporary and resolve within three months of starting the pill.
Rare but Serious Complications
Some birth control pills are associated with rare but serious complications. Specifically, combination birth control pills have been linked to:
The risk of these complications is particularly high in people who smoke cigarettes. If you do smoke cigarettes, let your healthcare provider know. Progestin-only birth control pills may be a better option for you.
When discussing birth control pills with your healthcare provider, you should also let them know if you have a history of medical problems or are using other medications.
Be sure to tell your provider if you have any history of:
Your healthcare provider will consider your lifestyle and medical history when determining the right birth control pill for you.
Birth Control as Treatment for Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
Summary
The birth control pill first came out in 1957, when it was initially FDA-approved to regulate menstruation. In 1960, the FDA approved of the birth control pill Enovid for the purpose of contraception. Since then, over 300 million women have used it worldwide.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.AMA Journal of Ethics.History of oral contraceptives.Trivedi MK, Shinkai K, Murase JE.A review of hormone-based therapies to treat acne vulgaris in women.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2017 Mar;3(1):44-52. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.02.018Spritzer P.Contraception for women with polycystic ovary syndrome: Dealing with a complex condition.Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2022 Apr;44(4):325-326. doi:10.1055/s-0042-1748036Planned Parenthood.The birth control pill: A history.Planned Parenthood.Birth control pill.Rapaport L.Lower risk of certain cancers with the Pill applies across lifestyles.Reuters. January 2018.Teal S, Edelman A.Contraception selection, effectiveness, and adverse effects.JAMA. 2021;326(24):2507-2518. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.21392Planned Parenthood.What are the disadvantages of the pill?.Food and Drug Administration.Brief summary patient package insert.Planned Parenthood.Are birth control pill safe?.Additional ReadingJones J, Mosher W, Daniels K.Current Contraceptive Use in the United States, 2006–2010, and Changes in Patterns of Use Since 1995.National Health Statistics Report. 2012;60.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.AMA Journal of Ethics.History of oral contraceptives.Trivedi MK, Shinkai K, Murase JE.A review of hormone-based therapies to treat acne vulgaris in women.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2017 Mar;3(1):44-52. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.02.018Spritzer P.Contraception for women with polycystic ovary syndrome: Dealing with a complex condition.Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2022 Apr;44(4):325-326. doi:10.1055/s-0042-1748036Planned Parenthood.The birth control pill: A history.Planned Parenthood.Birth control pill.Rapaport L.Lower risk of certain cancers with the Pill applies across lifestyles.Reuters. January 2018.Teal S, Edelman A.Contraception selection, effectiveness, and adverse effects.JAMA. 2021;326(24):2507-2518. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.21392Planned Parenthood.What are the disadvantages of the pill?.Food and Drug Administration.Brief summary patient package insert.Planned Parenthood.Are birth control pill safe?.Additional ReadingJones J, Mosher W, Daniels K.Current Contraceptive Use in the United States, 2006–2010, and Changes in Patterns of Use Since 1995.National Health Statistics Report. 2012;60.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
AMA Journal of Ethics.History of oral contraceptives.Trivedi MK, Shinkai K, Murase JE.A review of hormone-based therapies to treat acne vulgaris in women.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2017 Mar;3(1):44-52. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.02.018Spritzer P.Contraception for women with polycystic ovary syndrome: Dealing with a complex condition.Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2022 Apr;44(4):325-326. doi:10.1055/s-0042-1748036Planned Parenthood.The birth control pill: A history.Planned Parenthood.Birth control pill.Rapaport L.Lower risk of certain cancers with the Pill applies across lifestyles.Reuters. January 2018.Teal S, Edelman A.Contraception selection, effectiveness, and adverse effects.JAMA. 2021;326(24):2507-2518. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.21392Planned Parenthood.What are the disadvantages of the pill?.Food and Drug Administration.Brief summary patient package insert.Planned Parenthood.Are birth control pill safe?.
AMA Journal of Ethics.History of oral contraceptives.
Trivedi MK, Shinkai K, Murase JE.A review of hormone-based therapies to treat acne vulgaris in women.Int J Womens Dermatol. 2017 Mar;3(1):44-52. doi:10.1016/j.ijwd.2017.02.018
Spritzer P.Contraception for women with polycystic ovary syndrome: Dealing with a complex condition.Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. 2022 Apr;44(4):325-326. doi:10.1055/s-0042-1748036
Planned Parenthood.The birth control pill: A history.
Planned Parenthood.Birth control pill.
Rapaport L.Lower risk of certain cancers with the Pill applies across lifestyles.Reuters. January 2018.
Teal S, Edelman A.Contraception selection, effectiveness, and adverse effects.JAMA. 2021;326(24):2507-2518. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.21392
Planned Parenthood.What are the disadvantages of the pill?.
Food and Drug Administration.Brief summary patient package insert.
Planned Parenthood.Are birth control pill safe?.
Jones J, Mosher W, Daniels K.Current Contraceptive Use in the United States, 2006–2010, and Changes in Patterns of Use Since 1995.National Health Statistics Report. 2012;60.
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