America's favorite birth control method turns 50

Source: AP

CHICAGO — A world without "the pill" is unimaginable to many young women who now use it to treat acne, skip periods, improve mood and, of course, prevent pregnancy. They might be surprised to learn that U.S. officials announcing approval of the world's first oral contraceptive were uncomfortable.

The world has changed, but it's debatable what part the birth control pill played. Some experts think it gets too much credit or blame for the sexual revolution. After all, sex outside of marriage wasn't new in 1960.

The pill definitely changed sex though, giving women more control over their fertility than they'd ever had before and permanently putting doctors — who previously didn't see contraceptives as part of their job — in the birth control picture.

The pill is America's favorite form of reversible birth control. (Sterilization is the leader overall.) Nearly a third of women who want to prevent unwanted pregnancies use it. "In 2008, Americans spent more than $3.5 billion on birth control pills," Tone said, "and we've gone from the one pill to 40 different brands."

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I've often been told they didn't get the recipe right the first time...so I came along while mom and dad were still going to school! Mom still insists that I was wanted anyway. lol

compared to other countries.

I think it might have to do with the fact that they have universal health care and prescriptions are more affordable.

I stopped taking my birth control because it was $30 a month. If I were heterosexual and looking to not have kids, it would be worth it but I was just taking it to skip my period.

I am past needing the pill. When I took in in the sixties and seventies, it was three or four dollars for a month's supply. I got my last refill some time in 1978, and although the price had gone up, I don't think it cost ten dollars.

My girls have gone to Planned Parenthood for the pill. They have gone to the local health department, too. That was the only way they could afford them as college students. I paid a few times, but I don't think they wanted to rely on me for everything.

We should be able to do something about making an item as essential as birth control more affordable. This is about women's health, and it is not optional.

groups often oppose making health insurance companies cover birth control.

Mine will pay for it but the kind my doctor prescribed was not available in generic so...there ya go.

but my insurance company PAID FOR IT. Amazing, huh? Fast forward, 50 years and most insurance won't pay for it, although they WILL pay for Viagra. Now, we even have the religious right calling for it to be banned as an abortifacient. I took the Pill, unmarried and married, for about 15 years. I will turn 62 this November. I am still alive and kicking!!!!

there was only one dose in the US, it was for all women no matter what the height/weight, and caused a whole lot problems with having their estrogen level being to high. My skin was so soft the day after taking the pill that my finger nail going softly over my arm could tear it, I showed my doctor and she explained why.

The US had 3 different pills for different levels by the late 1990's but I haven't gone back to see if it's better.

The reason the women got the horse dosage was to keep it 99% effective. I know several women who had hysterectomy's because of the pill damaging them back in the 1980's. After that it was recommended women didn't take it for years on end but instead took breaks from it.

I had hope for the 3 year birth control shot but it got pulled off the market by the time I heard of it so I couldn't get the doctor to give it to me. I was worried it would be too much estrogen but I didn't bother asking after I was told they no longer give women it.

So many methods have been pulled now, so many women fucked up. I really hope someday they get it right in the shot format. That _sounded_ wonderful.

different ones until I had the right dosage. The first one I took gave me morning sickness and skipped periods (that was scary) - and way back then they thought we should still have a period every month. My doctor switched me to a different dose and then in the late 80s I was switched to a lowe dose one that my doctor thought was safer for someone in her middle 30s.

Someone earlier posted that the US has a low usage rate of the pill compared to other countries. That's because of intimidation by the Religious Right, whose members insist that people abstain from sex until marriage and then again have sex only to start a family and value virginity as the one thing that makes a woman worthy.

Certainly that is more popular, and has been around a lot longer.

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ask any guy . . .

I mean seriously plummeted, previously climbing at an astronomical rate. Now, we have a shortage of people around age 50 that will increase every single year. What does that mean? Look at this:

http://thegreatbustahead.com/

We've got 2 years, then it all goes to hell as a result of the Pill. I'm not against it, I'm just sayin'. You heard it here first.

women's careers. He was a proponent of zero population growth.

He said that contraceptives have helped but the biggest factor was women not having multiple kids due both to careers (thank you Rosie the Riveter) and because of medical advances that make it unnecessary to have 5 kids in the hopes that 2 or 3 survive- I frightening thought but a reality.

I quit using it when I figured between the post-testicular cancer BF and my advanced age, pregnancy was unlikely. And at that point the acne and cramps had slacked off a bit......