The Pill: How to Make Love Without Worrying About Your Future – Sex and Science

The 1960s was a turning point for a sexual revolution in the United States.  Still reeling from the horrors of the Second World War and the 1930s depression, people in the United States and elsewhere were trying to bring normalcy to their lives and focused on family life.  As a result, the U.S. population shot up from 140,000,000 in 1945 to 180,000,000 in 1960, a dramatic 22% increase.  To answer the unprecedented population growth, the introduction of synthetic progesterone, more commonly known as the birth control pill, was approved by the FDA in 1960.  As a consequence, the introduction of synthetic progesterone and estrogen, coupled with the stirrings of the second wave of women's liberation, gave impetus to heightened sexual liberation for both men and women. At the same time, it enabled women to begin to stand toe-to-toe with men in asserting their rights and desires.

The newfound readiness to engage in sexual activity without worrying about pregnancy made women realize that they could be more in control of their destiny.  The birth control pill, and subsequent effective contraceptives, brought on a new sense of hope and desire among women to realize long-held dreams.  More women entered college, finished their academic degrees, and opted for advanced education.  Currently, there exists an equal number of women and men in medical and law schools.  Many women, having completed their education or often without completing them, entered the workforce and occupied positions traditionally handled by men.  In the hallowed halls of the Fortune 500, 41 women CEOs now occupy the pole position, an all-time high.

However, there were unintended consequences that came to the fore after the introduction of the pill. In 1960, there were 1600 births per 1000 women-years in this country. In 2015, that had dropped to 600 births per 1000 women-years.  Some have expressed concern that with an aging population we will not have enough of a younger population to support and serve the country.  Moreover, women have delayed marriage and childbearing increasing the likelihood of infertility becoming a potentially difficult issue for them to deal with as they age.  Thus, the "contraceptive pill" has affected American lives and society in more ways than can be imagined.  It has opened up a world of possibilities, especially for women.  No longer is sex and pregnancy the limiting factors they once were.

by Dr. Barry Verkauf, author of the book, Sex, Science, Society, and Reproduction: The Pill that changed America