Conversation

The strange truth about the pill

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20180822-the-birth-control-pill-can-have-male-side-effects

We’ve known about these side effects for decades.

In the 40's-60's pregnant women sometimes took norethindrone in large doses to help prevent miscarriage. But it also caused some unsettling changes to their bodies.

The women were sweatier, hairier and spottier. Some noticed that their voices had deepened. Nearly one in five baby girls born to mothers taking it had masculinised genitals. Some of these unlucky children required surgery.