This part i love: June 23, 1964 : Pope Paul VI creates the Papal Commission on Population, the Family and Natality, informally known as the "Birth Control Commission." This is the year of Vatican II and monumental reforms in the Catholic Church. Many within the church support the use of the Pill. Both clerics and the laity are extremely hopeful that the Pope will approve the use of the Pill for Catholics. Vatican II comes to an end and the Roman Catholic Church implements some reforms -- but a decision on the Pill is not made
pbs.org
1980s
| In spite of the Pope's ruling against the Pill and birth control, almost 80% of American Catholic women use contraceptives, and only 29% of American priests believe it is intrinsically immoral.
New versions of low-dosage oral contraceptives are introduced. These products vary the amount of progesterone and estrogen in the drug during the 21-day cycle. Only 3.4% of birth control pills on the market are the original high-dosage pills.
1982
| The Pill's impact on women in the work force is significant. With highly effective birth control now at their disposal, 60% of women of reproductive age are employed in America.
| 1984
| December 4: John Rock dies at the age of 94 in Temple, New Hampshire.
An estimated 50 to 80 million women worldwide take the Pill.
| 1988
| At the FDA's urging, drug companies remove the original high-dose oral contraceptives from the market.
Surveys show that birth control has disappeared from the list of medical research's 35 top priorities.
| 1990
| According to the annual FDA Consumer report, the Pill is considered safe and effective by the government, medical establishment and public.
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