# 8 Surprising Secrets of The Pill

- Link: https://stayathomemum.com.au/family/before-the-bump/8-surprising-secrets-of-the-pill/
- Published: 2015-08-30T18:00:17+10:00
- Author: Kate Davies

## _It is known around the world simply as ‘The Pill’._

Women take it for all manner of reasons, the number one being to prevent pregnancy.
But there are a few secrets the pill has kept to it itself, like any proper lady
would!

### Here are the eight most surprising secrets about the Pill..

### **One.**

It started with a rabbit (ironic). Scientists discovered progesterone, the Pill’s
main ingredient, in rabbits in 1928. While the researchers immediately realised 
its potential, it originally could only be extracted from animals “� a costly process
indeed. In 1943, researcher Russell Marker found an alternative source in Mexican
yams, or more commonly known as sweet potatoes.

### **Two.**

Although the original developers always had birth control in mind, the Pill was 
first approved in 1957 for “severe menstrual problems” “� and came with a mandatory“
warning” that the drug would prevent pregnancy.

![Birth control pill pack for contraception and family planning](https://i0.wp.com/
stayathomemum.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Birth-Control-Pill.jpg?resize=554%
2C368&quality=89&ssl=1 "Contraceptive Pill Pack")

### **Three.**

The Pill was the first drug to be developed purely for social uses.

### **Four.**

Water treatment plants can’t break down the synthetic hormones found in Pill. According
to one study conducted in Paris, a hormone found in birth control pills accounted
for 35 to 50 percent of the estrogen found in rivers there.

### **Five.**

A growing body of research is suggesting that the Pill may adversely affect mate
choice because it induces a hormonal state that mimics pregnancy, and when a woman
is pregnant, they theoretically gravitate toward people genetically like herself“
� but these are not the people she would normally want to mate with!

### **Six.**

The last week of pills in a monthly pack does not contain hormones, at least for
most varieties of the birth control. The original developers of the Pill included
this placebo week to “enable” women to have their monthly period “� a decision that
was mostly about marketing.

[⌊Woman using her phone with a man in bed in the background highlighting intimacy
and health⌉⌊Woman using her phone with a man in bed in the background highlighting
intimacy and health⌉[

thedailybeast.com

### **Seven.**

Some manufacturers include iron in the last week’s pills.

### **Eight.**

The Pill can be used to treat an array of medical issues, from polycystic ovary 
syndrome and endometriosis to anemia and acne. It is even used to treat bulimia.

**Health experts agree that various forms of birth control including oral contraceptives,
intrauterine devices, and skin patches are the safest and most effective way to 
reduce the risk of unintended pregnancies. **

#### _However, women should learn all there is to know about birth control before starting it. Perhaps, a trip to the doctor first?_

## _What other facts do you know about ‘The Pill’?_

![author avatar](https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/618eeb66e4c8c68f0267043afa2f6ab340315c0c0d27d550bf91c1b06e2a722b?
s=300&d=mm&r=pg)

 Kate Davies

 Senior Journalist & Features Editor. As the modern-day media hunter-gatherer, Journalist
Kate Davies is harnessing 10 years in the media to write engaging and empowering
articles for Stay At Home Mum. Her years of experience working in the media both
locally and nationally have given her a unique viewpoint and understanding of this
dynamic industry. Hailing from a small town in Tasmania and spending many years 
travelling the world, Kate now calls the Sunshine Coast home alongside her husband
and one-year-old son.

 [See Full Bio](https://stayathomemum.com.au/author/katedavies/) [  ](https://stayathomemum.com.au/author/katedavies/)