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.
