title: Pioneering studies of the "morning-after" pill.
abstract: Yale School of Medicine produced the first proof-of-concept study on the viability of a "morning-after" pill for human use. This study was a result of a fruitful collaboration between a pair of Yale scientists, Drs. John M. Morris and Gertrude van Wagenen, who sought a non-abortion, post-coital contraceptive. They tested a variety of hormones, hormone-based synthetic drugs, and other compounds in monkeys in an effort to uncover a compound that was non-toxic but highly effective. Unfortunately, although they were unable to identify such a drug, their initial studies inspired other scientists to further pursue the concept of a "morning-after" pill, leading to the development of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved emergency contraceptives.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Yale University, 266 Whitney Avenue, New Haven, CT 06511, USA. mary.kunjappu@yale.edu
authors.forename: Mary J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kunjappu
mesh_terms: D003270:Contraceptive Agents; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital / Q000266:history*; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D005260:Female; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D003270:Contraceptive Agents; D003281:Contraceptives, Postcoital; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol