The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the birth control pill on May 9, 1960, heralding a monumental shift in reproductive rights and women’s health. As the first commercially available oral contraceptive, the pill gave women unprecedented control over their fertility, contributing to profound social changes, including the women’s liberation movement, changes in marital and sexual behaviors, and shifts in workforce participation. This breakthrough remains one of the most significant public health milestones of the 20th century, impacting millions of lives around the world.
