Lennie Waite
RLA D
April 28, 2000

Imagine a child wrongfully conceived and brought screaming and wailing into a world full of harsh circumstances where a downward path would be the only one he could take. Unwanted and unloved, this boy will mature in a world filled with poverty, lack of education and ill health due to ignorance in his future. If you could ask him his opinion on birth control what do you think his response would be? Since the innovation of the birth control pill in 1950 by Dr. Gregory Pincus and the approval of the pill in 1960, society can easily prevent children from being born into an unhealthy society. With recent medical advancements, the birth control pill works 99+ % of the time (Baum 1), and can prevent the catastrophe of a child being born undesired into an uncaring family. Today the birth control pill has numerous applications, varying from medical purposes to population control. Even though the birth control pill stirs religious debate and negative speculation, it allows reliable family planning, prevents countless diseases, and it has paved the way for future methods of controlling overpopulation.

As problems such as overpopulation, poverty, and an explosive birthrate haunted the globe, a feasible solution became urgent. Suddenly, people opened their minds and realized the world was rapidly outgrowing its resources due to the high birthrates of developing countries. Unintentional births and unwanted babies began to overload hospitals, abortion became widespread and the number of cases of infanticide started to rise. As late as the 18th-century, European countries disposed of unwanted babies by abandoning them, exposed and helpless. In addition, parents had insufficient funds to afford schooling for their children; this lowered the overall literacy rate. Women sought an effective birth control pill because they thought they deserved the right to choose whether they wanted a child or not. Lastly, children deserve to be brought up in a world where their parents cherish them, and where they can enjoy life and live it to the fullest. Prior to effective birth control, people unwittingly had babies under misfortunate circumstances because they had no alternative besides dangerous back-alley abortions and strange potions and spells.

The birth control pill’s main application stops women from becoming pregnant by preventing a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus and developing into a baby. Most birth control pills consist of two artificial hormones called estrogen and progestin. These hormones have similar characteristics to those produced naturally by the female body. Each hormone has a different objective. Estrogen blocks the ovaries from ripening and releasing an egg and progestin stops the male sperm from reaching the egg by changing the texture of the mucous in the cervix. If, for some reason, the egg still had contact with the sperm, fertilization would not necessarily occur because the lining of the uterus would have stopped developing due to the effect of these hormones. The birth control pill has 99 + % effectiveness if utilized properly and taken regularly. The pill must be taken every day at the same time, forgetting the pill causes its efficacy to drop to 94% (Angeles 1). Once the baby begins to develop, birth control pills cannot abort it.

Even though the birth control pill initially stockpiled in doctor’s offices, the demand for it and reactions towards it could be described as unenthusiastic. Opinions voiced generally came from those who disapproved of the pill. During 1960 the pill’s only application prevented unplanned pregnancies. Religious groups argue birth control pills defy God’s will, however in 1961, the National Council of Churches in America stated, the use of birth control could be permitted to limit the size of families. In addition, in 1960, the United States government adopted programs for family planning. Prior to America adopting these programs about eighty other countries had already implemented birth control programs. The suppliers of the pill in Europe originally declined to sell it the United States because they feared political backlash. Legally a doctor could prescribe the pill, but few did, as they believed sexual intercourse should only occur for procreation. As arguments such as these continued, people deemed birth control pills immoral because they interfered with fertility. Also, the first pills originally released could have been hazardous because of yet to be discovered side effects. The first pills supplied to the public had four times the amount of estrogen and ten times the amount of progestin as the pills of the present. Safer drugs with fewer side effects can now be purchased. In the past, the pill had harsh side effects, which included severe vomiting, nausea, darkening of facial skin, headaches and weight gain. Birth control pills should be avoided by some women with special problems including excess blood clotting, liver disease, tumors, and it can also be unsafe for diabetics, smokers, and people over the age of forty.

Throughout the history of civilization, there have been other methods of birth control, however none as reliable as today’s oral contraceptives (see visual 1). During ancient times, the male controlled conception through coitus interruptus during which he would halt intercourse before ejaculation (Trussel 283). However, some seminal fluid could still be released before ejaculation, leaving it possible for the female to become pregnant. Prior to birth control pills, males would generally wear condoms for birth control. When used carefully, condoms can be effective, however they do have the tendency to break, which allows the male sperm to be released. When the male sperm has been released, the woman will most likely become pregnant, causing her to face the choice of carrying the baby or not. Despite the introduction of the pill, 28% of pregnancies in the United States still end in abortion (Angeles 1). Still, the vast majority of women disagreed with the concept of abortion, which can often be considered murder even though it can be performed legally. The most recent form of oral contraceptive has been named the “morning-after pill”. Morning-after pills can be taken up to 72 hours after unprotected sex, and can expel the fetus from the womb by causing the wombs lining to disintegrate. The FDA approved the morning-after pill in 1998, and it has since prevented 2.3 million unintended pregnancies every year, 1 million of which would otherwise have ended in abortion (CNN/AP 1). Both birth control pills have become very popular with women because of their effectiveness and minor side effects. Also, women have easy access to the birth control pill, which can now be readily purchased in a clearly labeled $20 package.

As doctors studied the effects of the birth control pill, they realized it could be utilized for multiple medical purposes. Oral contraceptives help reduce the possibility of pelvic inflammatory disease. Studies show those who do contract this disease have less severe symptoms if on the pill. Amazingly, the birth control pill can also help reduce the risk of contracting both endometrial and ovarian cancer by 50 %. The pill can even reduce the chances of developing endometrial and ovarian cancer fifteen years after discontinuation of use. (What is the History of the Development of the Birth Control Pill? 1). Today, one of the most commonly prescribed uses of the birth control pill includes relieving menstrual ailments. It helps to relive painful or difficult menstruation by suppressing the growth of the lining of the uterus. Due to the suppression of the uterus the production of prostaglandin, the main cause of cramping during menstruation, ceases. Also, because of shorter and lighter periods, iron deficiency and anemia can be reduced by 65%. Users of the pill also have a marked reduction in non-cancerous breast conditions and arthritis. In American society, the popularity of the birth control pill increased as its considerable benefits became more widely known.

While birth control use among women rises, some still consider it a negative aspect within society. Still, one million pregnancies per year occur when a woman takes the pill (Angeles 1). Some say birth control pills cause people to be promiscuous, and sexual activity to begin at an earlier age. This has often been thought because teens no longer have to worry about becoming parents, although the pill does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases. The Roman Catholic Church forbids all types of birth control except natural family planning, which involves the avoidance of sexual contact during the days immediately after ovulation.

With scientific advances in medicine, one can only imagine the effects and methods of oral contraception available in the future. Use of birth control has grown rapidly throughout time (see visual 2), and recently drugs like the “morning-after pill” or the “abortion pill” as it can sometimes called, have been issued. As medicine and research progresses, scientists may even formulate a birth control pill suitable for males to ingest. In the future, there could be limitations on family size, causing people to be forced to have fewer, or zero children. Perhaps someday governments will only permit selected women to bear children for families, and then they will distribute the babies to certain qualified families. With the way medicine has evolved since the 1900’s, no one knows where it will be by the 22nd century.

Approval of the pill has allowed for efficient family planning, and worked as an overall medicine, however some still consider it against God’s will. Birth control has both positive and negative factors, but the positives outweigh the negatives. During the 20th century the FDA’s approval of the birth control pill has been considered the 20th most important event by USA Today. The actual approval of the pill does not make it a medical break through, the effects of the pill cause it to be considered an amazing event. Ultimately it has provided the chance for only desired babies to be brought into the world, and it can be used for diverse medical purposes. In the long run, it will prevent overpopulation and abortion. The pill has given women the freedom to regulate their childbearing years and never to face the horrors of choosing whether to abort an unplanned pregnancy or bear an unwanted child.