June 8, 2010

The ongoing evolution of the pill

As 2010 marks the Birth Control pillís fiftieth anniversary, it is clear that its use, purpose and even form, have all greatly evolved as a benefactor in the lives of countless women. This anniversary calls for use to celebrate the benefits women, have gained from taking the Pill historically, as well as what capabilities doctors have in developing future modules of the pill. Originating as the ìCombined Oral Contraceptiveî and approved by the Federal Drug Administration in 1960 for contraceptive use, the pill has transformed greatly in its fifty-year existence. Although women who took the early form of the pill experienced dangerous side effects, on the whole the Pill afforded women greater autonomy over their own bodies.

Immediately after its introduction, the pill gave women unprecedented power and freedom. Unlike ever before, they would not need to experience unwanted pregnancies. Furthermore, because abortions were not made legal until 1973, fewer unwanted pregnancies meant ìback streetî abortions would become less of a problem. The usability of the pill has also greatly developed. Initially, a woman needed to take the pill at a specific time each day, every single day. But since, the pill has grown more flexible for women: some modifications of the pill do not need to be taken every day. Other forms of the pill donít even come in pill shape any more but instead are patches that woman place on their skin.

Whether one supports its use or not, the pill is one of the most popular forms of birth control used among sexually active women today. And it now not only has a variety of forms, but a variety of purposes: women take some form of birth control to shorten or lighten their periods or to relieve pain or cramping associated with menstruation. Sometimes the pill can even clear up acne!

Although new developments to the pill have mostly provided women with benefits, in several ways they have also generated negative feelings among women about menstruating. Today, not only can the pill help prevent unwanted pregnancies but it can also prevent unwanted periods. Seemingly the new ìbenefitsî of taking the pill denaturalize a womanís menstrual cycle and can actually disrupt a womanís natural rhythm; a concept about which many are uncomfortable. SOURCE: Silver Chips

No comments: