May 9, 2010, is a big day for a little pill: It's the 50th anniversary of the FDA's approval of oral contraceptives. For anyone who wasn't of childbearing age in 1960, it might be hard to understand the immense impact of something so tuck-in-your-purse tiny. But in fact, "The Pill made huge changes in the balance of power between men and women," says Gloria Feldt, former president of Planned Parenthood of America. In honor of the Pill's birthday, a few facts:
It was illegal in many states for married couples to use the Pill until 1965, when the Supreme Court declared that such laws violate the right to privacy. (You think?)
Loretta Lynn's 1975 musical homage, "The Pill," made top-10 country charts. Lyrics: "The feelin' good comes easy now/since I've got the Pill."
The Pill is currently used by 12 million women in the U.S.
There are more than 40 different brands of birth-control pills in America. Cheers to that!
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