Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main Mar 6 2026 In the 1970s, the contraceptive pill was the most frequently used method of contraception in Western countries; in Germany, for example, one in three women used "the pill." It is safe and reliable, covered by (most) health insurances, and - particularly in the 1960s and 1970s - was also regarded as an instrument of female self-determination. Over time, however, a number of side effects associated with hormonal contraceptive methods became apparent,