Through A Narrow Chink: An Ethical Dilemma
by Pablo Baez
Chemistry 104
Prof. Holme
In 1951 Carl Djerassi, with the Mexican pharmaceutical company Syntex, developed the first oral contraceptive by synthesizing and altering the natural hormone Progesterone into a superpotent, highly effective oral progestational hormone called 'norethindrone'.
Admittedly, the dynamics and importance of this find were astounding, since before this the only means of contraception was abortion, and even that was not legalized at the time.
The race to produce this synthetic agent was highly competitive, bein…
