Devices and Desires: A History of Contraceptives in America

Devices and Desires traces the history of contraception in America from the 1800s through the sexual revolution of the 1960s. Through extensive research and historical documentation, author Andrea Tone examines the social, medical, legal and economic factors that shaped birth control access and development. The book follows key figures in contraceptive history, from underground manufacturers and distributors to medical researchers and activists. Tone documents how contraceptives moved from illegal products sold through coded advertisements to FDA-approved medical devices, exploring the complex relationship between regulation, innovation, and public health. The narrative covers major developments including the Comstock laws, Margaret Sanger's birth control movement, the introduction of the diaphragm and pill, and changing cultural attitudes toward family planning. Original sources like court records, medical journals, product catalogs and personal letters provide direct insight into how Americans navigated reproduction across different eras. This social history reveals how access to birth control has consistently intersected with issues of class, gender, morality and medical authority in American society. Through the lens of contraception, Tone examines enduring questions about bodily autonomy, scientific progress, and the role of law in regulating intimate life.

Readers note this provides a detailed social and business history of contraception in America through primary sources and archives. Many appreciate how it reveals the underground networks and illegal markets that emerged around birth control products. Liked: - Thorough research and extensive citations - Balance of medical, social, and commercial perspectives - Discussion of advertising and marketing strategies - Coverage of both legal and black market distribution Disliked: - Dense academic writing style - Some sections focus heavily on business/industry details - Limited discussion of modern birth control methods - Could include more personal accounts/testimonials Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (12 ratings) One reader called it "meticulously researched but accessible enough for non-academics." Another noted it "fills an important gap in contraceptive history between Comstock laws and the Pill." Some found the industry focus "dry at times" but valued the "comprehensive documentation of an under-examined topic."

Birth Control in America: The Career of Margaret Sanger by David Kennedy A chronicle of Margaret Sanger's role in the development of contraceptive rights and the birth control movement in twentieth-century America.

The Birth of the Pill by Jonathan Eig The narrative follows four individuals who created and tested the first oral contraceptive, revealing the scientific, social, and political forces behind the pill's development.

America and the Pill by Elaine Tyler May An examination of how oral contraception transformed American society through changes in medicine, sexuality, gender roles, and family life from the 1950s through present day.

Fatal Misconception: The Struggle to Control World Population by Matthew Connelly The history of the global population control movement traces its evolution from birth control advocacy to international policy making.

The Moral Property of Women: A History of Birth Control Politics in America by Linda Gordon A comprehensive analysis of birth control politics in the United States from the nineteenth century through the reproductive rights movement.

🔍 During the Comstock era (1873-1915), underground entrepreneurs produced contraceptives in secret "rubber goods" factories, using elaborate code words in their advertisements to evade anti-obscenity laws. 💊 The first birth control pill, Enovid, was initially approved by the FDA in 1957 as a treatment for menstrual disorders - not as a contraceptive - to circumvent social and religious opposition. 📚 Author Andrea Tone uncovered much of her research by examining rare trade catalogs, court records, and business correspondence that had never before been studied by historians. 🏭 In the early 1900s, major pharmaceutical companies refused to manufacture condoms, considering them too controversial. This created opportunities for small, independent manufacturers who built fortunes in this taboo industry. ⚖️ Until 1965, it was illegal in some U.S. states for married couples to use contraception, as established by the Connecticut law challenged in Griswold v. Connecticut, a landmark Supreme Court case that established the right to privacy in family planning.