oral contraceptive: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As	birth control pill • the pill

Photos and Videos

Close-up of a blister pack of pink contraceptive pills labeled with days of the week in red text.

A blister pack of oral contraceptive pills arranged in a circular pattern, with days of the week labeled below each pill.

Blister pack of 28 oral contraceptive pills arranged in four rows, with 21 white active pills followed by 7 orange inactive pills. Arrows indicate the order for taking pills.

History and impact of the birth control pill

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Topics

Today in History—October 15: Putting the Power of Birth Control in a Pill morning-after pill Depo-Provera How Do Birth Control Pills Work?contraception sterilization intrauterine device condom

Key People

Dr. Gregory Pincus

Gregory Pincus

American endocrinologist

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George Washington Corner

American anatomist and embryologist