The Pill: 50 Years Later

Although once known as being an extremely controversial subject the birth control pill has now been around for the past 50 years. Not only has the pill helped women control their own fertility it has also had a huge impact on people all around the world. Here is a look at the birth control 50 years later and what sort of impact and significance it has had on the world.

The first impact of course has to do with the amount of children that are being born. When once it was very common for women to have extremely large families now days most women are choosing to only have 2 children or 3 at the most thanks to the help of the birth control pill. This has spread throughout the world and now women who choose to have 4 or more children are not so very common.

In addition to the number of children a woman has it has also had an effect on what is now the typical age a woman gives birth. Before the pill was around there were many more teen births. These days it is more common for a woman to be in her 30s or even her 40s before she has first child. Women are now choosing to spend their 20s doing other things such as going to college or working on their career before they even consider trying to have a baby. While this can be a good thing, the pill has also been considered for being responsible for the increase of infertility around the world. Since women are choosing to wait till later in life to have their babies they are missing out on the most fertile time of their lives (typically their 20's). As women wait till later and later in life their chances of conceiving decrease greatly. Even when women turn to fertility treatments doctors warn them they may not be as effective due to maternal age.

Another significant change that has come around thanks to the pill is that women are earning way more money. With women being able to control more when they get pregnant more job opportunities and career opportunities have become available over the past 50 years. Much of this also has to do with women being able to spend more time preparing for their careers and attending college to obtain more degrees. These days many women are already secure in their career before they have kids.

Besides all the life changes it has made in women's lives it has also changed the physical part of their lives as well. It has really helped many women who once suffered from bad menstrual problems. Not only does it help regulate periods but it can also help women who take the pill correctly and regularly to go on to have lighter periods with less cramping and less bleeding.

Finally the pill has changed the world in the fact that it opened up a whole new world for women to control their fertility. Besides the birth control pill there are now hormonal IUD's, a birth control patch, a shot as well as a special ring that can be inserted. Women have options now. They can opt for the traditional birth control pill, when if taken correctly is more than 99% effective or one of the other above mentioned birth control methods. There are even studies going on for a birth control pill for men to take.

With so much having changed in the past 50 years thanks to the pill it will be interesting to see what will be available in the next 50 years and what an impact it will have on the world then.