The rst days of modern birth control

Vasudevan Mukunth ◣ QUESTION 1

On May 9, 1960, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it would specify ‘birth control’ as one more indication for a drug called ◣. With the approval in June, ◣ became the world’s first oral contraceptive pill to be o„icially approved in a country. Name ◣.

◣

QUESTION 2

◣ (from Q1) is a combination drug consisting of Y and norethynodrel. Y is available as a drug only in a few countries today but used to be more common. Inside the body, Y is metabolised to ethinylestradiol, an oestrogen. Name Y. ◣ QUESTION 3

Researchers found that Y (from Q2) is also a powerful male contraceptive, but CM

YKdeemed it unfit for commercial use because it caused ____________, the abnormal growth of breast tissues in men. Fill in the blank. ◣ QUESTION 4

The use of ◣ (from Q1) as a birth control pill caused many women to gain weight and develop problems with their heart and mental health. In 1970, U.S. Senator _______ ______ organised a now-infamous hearing in which he sought to address allegations against the pill by having a series of men testify on its safety. Name the senator. Hint: He also founded Earth Day. ◣

QUESTION 5

One of the first human clinical trials of ◣ (from Q1) involved women in ______ ____ (a country) in 1955. Name this country. These women weren’t fully informed of the pill’s e„ects nor could avail it once it was approved.

Answers to May 7 quiz: 1. Third star in the Spring Triangle and a ‘Harry Potter’ character – Ans: Regulus 2. Asterism composed of Arcturus, Spica, Denebola, and Cor Caroli – Ans: Great

Diamond 3. Asterism known as “navigator’s triangle” – Ans: Summer Triangle 4. Asterism composed of primary stars of Canis Major, Orion, and Canis Minor –

Ans: Winter Triangle 5. Country whose national flag shows stars in Q1, Q2, and Q4 – Ans: Brazil

Visual: Northern Cross

First contact: ViswanadhaRao Batchu | Shiva Nigam | K.N. Viswanathan

ANNA HANKS Visual: Name this American singer whose 1975 song The Pill is famous for popularising the virtues of reproductive autonomy in the rural U.S.