When the revolutionary medication mifepristone (RU486) was introduced in the late 1980s, extremist groups fought tooth and nail to block its development.

They wanted to keep it locked out of the United States—not because of science, but because of politics. That is where we came in. As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we are incredibly proud of our unique legacy. It is rare for a feminist non-profit to be a core participant in strict medical research, but we have never been a traditional organization. From our early days with the Reproductive Health Technologies Project through to the present day, we have broken through conservative barriers to push for safe, non-surgical healthcare options. For 50 years, we have fought to ensure that healthcare options are dictated by data, medical science, and bodily autonomy. Take a look back at these archival pieces from our early days— And support us as we continue this vital work for the next fifty years!