navigation Little pill - big story For over half a century, women have entrusted their contraception to the pill. Today around 100 million people around the world use pill packs every day. What many do not know: The contraceptive pill is a matter of course nowadays as a contraceptive. However, this has not always been the case. Women had to wait decades for this safe and simple method of contraception and had to fight hard for their right to self-determination, including when it came to contraception. Two women in particular made the development of the pill possible through their courage and commitment. At a time when contraception was still a taboo and considered blasphemous, Margaret Sanger and Katherine McCormick campaigned resolutely for birth control and thus also for the women's movement. The two Americans were driven by the painful stories of countless women who, after several unwanted pregnancies, lived in poverty with their oversized families, died giving birth or endured bizarre abortions with often fatal consequences. Since 1926, the nurse Margaret Sanger explained various contraceptive methods and family planning in self-built women's clinics - unfortunately without much success. The problem wasn't due to a lack of visitors. Sanger encountered constant resistance in the strictly Catholic and male-dominated society, and was even arrested for trying to educate herself. Sanger and McCormick agreed: only contraception that women can control themselves would put an end to the unplanned blessings of children. It was not until the 1950s that birth control laws were relaxed so that it was possible to look for new contraceptives. The two women turned to the scientist Gregory Pincus with an idea for the “perfect contraceptive”. They called for a means of contraception that can be taken like aspirin and that is quick and cheap to make. The financial prerequisites for research and development - no less than two million dollars - came from McCormick, a wealthy lady of society. The preparatory work for the birth of the pill was carried out by several hormone researchers in parallel and independently of one another. They developed the first synthetic estrogens and progestins - both components of the pill. Best known is Carl Djerassi, who is referred to by many as the 'father of the pill'. But it was only Gregory Pincus who set himself the goal of producing a means of contraception from these active ingredients. He succeeded in doing this too. His first pills were successfully tested on women in Latin American countries in 1956. Initially, nobody in western countries dared to manufacture such a contraceptive. It was not until 1960 that Sanger and McCormick finally achieved their goal: The first medicated oral contraceptive 'Enovid 10' came onto the market in their home country, the United States. A year later, the birth control pill called Anovlar ® was also available in Europe. In 1966 Gedeon Richter launched the first pill on the Hungarian market. For the first time women had the opportunity to determine their own lives and bodies. Sex was no longer just about having children, but also about love and fun. But not everyone was able to get the new miracle pill. With the argument that single women do not need contraception, only married women were given the prescription for the pill. In order to protect itself from attacks by the church and the critics, the pill was marketed as a remedy for menstrual cramps in the early years. The contraceptive effect was declared as a side effect. It was not until the sexual revolution in the 1970s that the pill was finally freely available in the USA and Europe. Uterine fibroids How do you recognize myomas and what therapy options are there? ▶ learn more "Preventable" In the VerhütBar women can find out everything about contraception, emergency contraception and partnership ▶ learn more Girls' office hour initiative Girls have many questions - gynecologists have answers ▶ learn more Contact Press Terms of Use Data protection Notes on data processing Cookie Notice Conditions imprint </div> Last update: 01/23/2020 © Gedeon Richter About cookies on this website Cookies are important for the correct functioning of a website. In addition to technically necessary cookies, we use optional cookies to collect statistical data to optimize website functions and to provide you with content that is tailored to your interests. You decide which category you allow. We are happy to provide you with detailed information on data protection and everything to do with the use of this website in our data protection declaration , our cookie policy and in our terms of use. Necessary statistics Show details SAVE ON COMPUTER ACCEPT ALL imprint