User:Danimo2021/John Rock (scientist)

The Pill Trials
The initial clinical trials were codeveloped by John Rock and were funded by Katherine McCormick, a collaborator of Margaret Sanger who dreamed for the creation of a female-controlled contraceptive method. With this funding, Gregory Pincus joined John Rock to observe contraceptive effects of progesterone on Rock's female patients.

In 1954, the two doctors began their first trials on 50 women in Massachusetts. Rock and Pincus used an oral contraceptive pill containing synthetic progesterone supplied by a pharmaceutical company, Searle. These trials occurred under what appeared to be considered a fertility study, as contraception was illegal in Massachusetts. The pill containing progesterone, was taken by women for 21 days followed by a 7-day break. Rock and Pincus wanted to give the body an opportunity for menstruation, so that this drug would not conflict with the natural biological processes in women. The concluding results revealed no ovulation occurred in any of the women during drug administration.

Rock's written scientific research explained how this drug succeeded to inhibit ovulation, but skepticism remained present in authorities. In order to provide further evidence of their developed oral contraceptive pill, Pincus and Rock moved their studies to Puerto Rico to conduct their trials on a larger scale in 1956. The pill was reported successful regarding preventative purposes but brought too many side effects for legal consideration, which was stated by the medical director of the clinical trials in Puerto Rico. While Pincus believed that only a few, mild side effects would come about, roughly half of the participants in the study dropped out due to side effects like severe headaches, nausea, and vomiting.

It was noticed after that the transportation of pills from Searle was contaminated, due to a mixture of synthetic estrogen with the progesterone. This was an obstacle for the two doctors, but their further research and testing revealed the addition of estrogen in combination with progesterone can help reduce menstrual comfort.

In 1960, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of the oral contraceptive, developed by Rock and Pincus. This female-controlled contraceptive method, known as the Pill, became a rapid, nationwide use for protection against pregnancy.