America’s favorite birth control method turns 50
May 7, 2010 - 6:58 am
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. "Our own ideas of morality had nothing to do with the case," said John Harvey of the Food and Drug Administration in 1960.