Sexual Chemistry: A History of the Contraceptive Pill

A History of the Contraceptive Pill

Author: Lara V. Marks

Heralded as the catalyst of the sexual revolution and the solution to global overpopulation, the contraceptive pill was one of the twentieth century's most important inventions. This title shows how its development and use have raised crucial questions about the relationship between science, medicine, technology, and society.

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Summary

Heralded as the catalyst of the sexual revolution and the solution to global overpopulation, the contraceptive pill was one of the twentieth century's most important inventions. This title shows how its development and use have raised crucial questions about the relationship between science, medicine, technology, and society.

Description

Heralded as the catalyst of the sexual revolution and the solution to global overpopulation, the contraceptive pill was one of the twentieth century's most important inventions. It has not only transformed the lives of millions of women but has also pushed the limits of drug monitoring and regulation across the world. This deeply-researched new history of the oral contraceptive shows how its development and use have raised crucial questions about the relationship between science, medicine, technology, and society. Lara Marks traces the scientific origins of the pill to Europe and Mexico in the early years of the twentieth century, challenging previous accounts that championed it as a North American product. She explores the reasons why the pill took so long to be developed and explains why it did not prove to be the social panacea envisioned by its inventors. Unacceptable to the Catholic Church, rejected by countries such as India and Japan, too expensive for women in poor countries, it has, more recently, been linked to cardiovascular problems. Reviewing the positive effects of the pill, Marks shows how it has been transformed from a tool for the prevention of conception to a major weapon in the fight against cancer.

Critic Reviews

“Sexual Chemistry [will] attract attention, if only because of its title. . .Marks. . ..has produced a history worthy of that attention.”

"Lara Marks . . . places the history of the pill in a rich context that considers sexual customs, religious attitudes, and government support for family planning."-Londa Schiebinger, Science -- Londa Schiebinger Science "Extensively researched and clearly written, this book will be essential reading in the fields of women's studies and in the history of science."-Publishers Weekly Publishers Weekly . . . [A] beautifully written, definitive history of the oral contraceptive pill. . . [A] masterpiece. . . The book is an invaluable reference source. -- Michael Gilmer Nature -- Mary Hager National Journal