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Diva
updated 5 Nov 2011, 17:58
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10 ways the Pill changed women's lives

Who would have thought that a pill could change the course of human history?

Since being introduced to the world back in the 1960s, the Pill has sparked heated public debates about morality and sexuality when they were introduced, pills have
today become an indispensable part of many a woman’s life.

Today, the Pill is not just a safe and effective method of contraception and family planning, but it has a host of other benefits for the user, ranging from pain-free periods and acne-free skin.

Check out the top 10 contributions that the Pill has made to society.

1) It empowered women
The Pill gave women freedom from unplanned pregnancies. They no longer had to go through painful childbirth or risky abortions if they could help it. Sex became a reflection of desire rather than for procreation only. It gave rise to sexual equality and freed women from the fear of entering into wedlock.

2) It gave women career choices
With the ability to plan their pregnancy,  women could decide to put off having children until they were ready. Women no longer had to face years of childbearing and staying at home if they didn’t want to.

3) It changed society's perception of women
For the first time, women were no longer judged by their ability to have children and be a mother.  They had the choice to pursue further studies with greater degree of equality and for their interests, and not just to make themselves more ‘eligible’ for marriage.

4)  It lowered the number of abortions worldwide
Around 70,000 women die from the effects of unsafe abortions globally in the last 10 years. Since there were less cases of unwanted pregnancies, there were less numbers of induced abortions. Between 1995 and 2003,  the number of induced abortions worldwide declined from nearly 46 million to under 42 million; from almost 27 million to 26 million in Asia.

5) It helped manage family resources

The Pill made it possible for every child to be a planned child. A couple can plan when to have children, depending on their mental and financial readiness to welcome a new addition.
The man also did not have to be the sole breadwinner anymore, since his wife can have a career.

Resources can also be planned as couples can now space out their pregnancies.

6) The Pill is an easier option compared to other contraception methods
Women did not have to deal with messy, or riskier contraception methods, such as condoms and withdrawal. It is also less intrusive than a diaphragm, and did not interfere with the act of intercourse.

7) Regulated and painless periods
The Pill is prescribed by many gynecologists for all kinds of menstrual problems – from no periods (amenorrhea) to too many (polymenorrhea) or too few (oligomenorrhea), to decreasing heavy flow. Periods are much shorter and much lighter, and you don't have to worry about your period putting a damper on that beach holiday or if you have a sports event.

8) No more severe PMS
These days, there are Pills that reduce the hormonal fluctuations within your body that may occur with the conventional Pills. They regulate mood swings and feelings of bloatedness so you can enjoy increased work productivity and happier days.


9) It gives you clear and acne-free skin
A combination of estrogen and progestin in the Pill can control the production of androgens - which cause, acne, oily skin and excessive hair growth - by the ovaries. This means clearer and more beautiful skin!

10) It reduces certain cancer risks

The Pill does help with reducing your vulnerability to certain cancers, especially ovarian cancer (cancer of the ovaries), endometrial cancer (cancer of endometrium, the lining of the uterus) and colorectal cancer (cancer in the colon, rectum or appendix). Other health risks that are reduced include fibroids, ovarian cysts, benign breast disease, pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancies and iron deficiency. It does not have any impact on breast cancer.

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