Guinea pigs or pioneers? How Puerto Rican women were used to test the birth control pill.

This news is not subtle with one of the first advertisements for birth control pills. Andromeda, one of the Greek myths, raises her face and binds her wrist. The accompanying title ends with the promise of 4 words "Release from her chain".

Contraceptives have given us more control over our bodies and fertility since the 1960's, but this 'freedom' can have a significant loss on women's health. Unfortunately, several generations of women are used as guinea pigs and many of the dangers of contraceptives are exposed. The adverse effects of oral contraceptives are beyond the range of contraceptives, stroke and cancer. Another problem is that pills are increasingly being used to treat problems such as acne or polycystic ovary syndrome without addressing the causes of these problems (food intolerance, high sugar content, lack of sleep, stress, etc.) It is supposed to be done.

The housing project in Puerto Rico is the most extensive human trial of contraceptives. The women who participated in the trial - about 1,500 in a few years - did not know about the possibility of side effects. Doctors - John Rock and Gregory Pincus - Also, since the pill was simply tested in humans in a failed test in Boston. Normal side effects are nausea and dizziness, but occasionally thrombus can cause death, but the dose of oral contraceptive hormone is much higher than present. The FDA approved the pill in 1960 and warned hypertensive patients in 1962, but the three women died in the Puerto Rican exam and did not undergo necropsy

For example, clinical trials of contraceptives were conducted in the 1950's, Puerto Rican women were sterilized unethical (without consent). Puerto Rican women were not informed about contraceptives and many women died during the trial. Puerto Rico's US Naval Base (built on the land they confiscated, many residents and farmers lost their homes and became unemployed) have tested chemicals (oranges, naphtha etc.) and bombs for decades and used cancer And live with other diseases. (Here, here and here, as to how the US uses Puerto Rico and its citizens as guinea pigs). The United States has nothing to do with the island, but established a waiver of federal regulation, but planted a governor who denied responsibility. Well, there is another example of inserting the "external experts" administrative institution designated by the United States. This has considerable autonomy over the economy of the island.