The Chemistry of Contraceptives

Annika Young and Quincy Parkes

What is a contraceptive?
contraceptive (adj.)

1. (of a method or device) serving to prevent pregnancy

2. a device or drug serving to prevent pregnancy

Before the 20th century, contraceptives were a crime

Early forms of contraceptives & abortion techniques
Spit into a frogs mouth
Copper salt solutions
Eating the kidney, uterus, or burned/castrated testicles of a mule
Mercury poisoning
Quicksilver fried in oil
Brewed herbal teas
Spiders eggs or snake
History & Creation of Contraceptives
Antibiotics & antiseptics

Lower mortality rates

Search to limit family size

Russell Marker

Steroid isolation to allow research

Dioscorea yam, lots of sapogenin, now commercially in Mexico

Russell Marker
University of Maryland

Rockefeller Institute in Manhattan

Pennsylvania State College

Sarsaparilla (sarsasapogenin, sarsasapogenin)

Marker degradation

Dioscorea (Diosgenin)

Syntex & Botanica-Mex

Structures of sapogenins

sarsasapogenin diosgenin

progesterone
The Mothers of the Pill
Margaret Sanger

Founder of International Planned Parenthood

Put in jail (1917)

Katherine McCormick

One of the first women to receive a degree in Biology from MIT

Helped Margaret Sanger
The Pill and the Independence of Women
Many people associate the rise of feminism and the independence of women at

the time with the invention and distribution of contraceptives

Pregnancy became a choice

Sexual revolution of the 1960s

More women in the workplace

Breakdown of traditional family life

Progesterone, Estrogen, and Testosterone
The 3 most prominent hormones in the body

Progesterone: Hormones of pregnancy

Testosterone: Principle male sex hormone

Estrogen: Female sex hormones

Norethindrone
First oral contraceptive

AKA The Pill

Artificial progestin

Missing methyl group and added triple bonded carbon

How does this work?
Conception
Fertilized egg
Attaches to uterus

Progesterone
Uterine lining
Pregnancy- constant progesterone
Prevents ovulation
Changes cervix
Changes lining
Hormonal Birth Control
Most forms of birth control involve manipulation of hormones

Progesterone

Forms of hormonal birth control include:

The Pill

IUDs

Injections (male [new] and female)

Vaginal Ring
The Pill
$0-$50 a month
Oral hormone control
Progestin (estrogen)
More than 99% effective (proper use)
89% effective (improper use)
Thickens cervical mucus
Stops ovulation
May thin the uterine lining
Different dosage for the pill
IUDs & IUSs
Small T-shaped device in uterus

Copper or hormonal

$0-$1000

12 years (3-5 IUS)

Very effective

Oligodynamic effect
Vaginal Ring
Otherwise known as the NuvaRing

Inserted onto the cervix

Releases estrogen and progestin

Inhibits ovulation
Injections
$0-$100 per injection

8-13 weeks (depending on brand)

Very effective

Progesterone

Cervix mucus

Uterine lining

Release of egg
Vasalgel
First form of male hormonal contraception

Polymer gel injected into the septum

Same principal as a vasectomy

More easily reversible

Lasts for up to a year

Diaphragm
Shallow cup inserted on the cervix

Coated in spermicide

Can be used for 2 years

Possible to use during menstruation

Similar to the sponge

The Patch
$0-$80 monthly

Patch once a week, 3 weeks, w/ break

Progesterone

Prevents ovulation

Thickens cervical mucus

Very effective
Plan-B (Morning-After Pill)
Taken 24-72 hours after unprotected sex

More effective the sooner you take it

Blocks progesterone

Levonorgestrel
RU-486
AKA Mifepristone

Misoprostol

First 50 days- 95%

Effective in second trimester

USA- use up to 70 days (10 weeks)

Blocks progesterone- uterine lining shed

Spermicide (Nonoxynol-9)
One of the most ineffective forms of birth control

More effective when used with another contraceptive

Can cause skin irritation

Sponge
$0-$15, 3 sponges

Foam sponge

Contains spermicide

Covers cervix, blocks sperm

More effective in women without children

Male Condoms
$0.50 to $1.00

Thin sheath that covers the penis during intercourse

98% effective

Very expandable

Latex and non-latex condoms

Latex
Latex is an emulsion (stable dispersion)

Polymer microparticles in an aqueous medium

Primarily found in plants

Female Condoms
~$4 each

Pouch inserted into the vagina

One closed end

Prevents sperm from entering uterus

95% effective
Implanon
Plastic device in bicep area

Implanon or Nexplanon

Up to 3 years

Progestin

Prevents ovulation

Thickens cervical mucus

More than 99% effective

Contraceptives
Catalyzed the independence of females

Made pregnancy a choice

Revolutionized the synthesis of hormones

Primarily hormonal, some just inhibiting

Important to virtually everyone