10 key medtech moments in women’s health

1896 Sanitary towel created

Johnson & Johnson introduces the first sanitary product Lister’s Towels. Not commercially successful, the concept was revisited in 1921 by Kimberly-Clark as Kotex.

1916 Birth control clinic opened

Margaret Sanger opens the first birth control clinic in Brooklyn, New York. In 1921 Marie Stopes opened the first birth control clinic in London.

1960 The Pill lands

The FDA approves the Pill. After being available for two years, it was used by 1.2 million in the US.

1964 the start of cervical cancer screening

Doctors began using the Pap test for cervical cancer screening in the UK. A screening programme was introduced in the 1980s while an alternative DNA test to screen for the human papilloma viras (HPV), was introduced in 2014.

1965 Hormone replacement therapy introduced

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) become available to UK women

1969 low radiation mammograms for women

The introduction of low radiation mammography. A digital mammography machine was approved by the FDA in 2000.

1971 Rubella vaccinations

Vaccination in the UK against rubella / German measles which can damage an unborn baby if contracted during pregnancy.

1999 Morning After Pill approved

FDA approves the Morning After Pill. In 2006 the drug was made available over the counter.

2008 Cervical cancer vaccinations

Vaccination against HPV - which has been linked to cervical cancer – begins in the UK.

2018 new test for Down’s Syndrome

Pregnant women in the UK to be offered a new more accurate test for Down’s Syndrome. The non-invasive prenatal test is set for rollout by the NHS this year.