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First Women's Clinic Opens in Warsaw
The clinic primarily provides information on home contraceptive remedies or natural contraception, such as kalendarzyk/the rhythm method, or coitus interruptus. -
Act Establishing the General Medical Chambers
The GME is tasked with establishing rules of medical ethics for the Polish government. -
CEFARM Formed
CEFARM, or Centralna Farmaceutyczna/Central Pharmacy, becomes the company at the center of the national drug distribution. -
Drug Factories Centralize
All drug production become absorbed into the CEFARM umbrella. -
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Post-WWII Brings in High Population Growth
Birth rates skyrocket in the post-war environment -
Government Dissolves the General Medical Chambers
Ethics decisions become directly absorbed under State purview. -
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Polish Doctors Go West For Contraceptive Training
Despite restrictions on socialist-capitalist interactions, twenty Polish doctors are sent to London to learn about contraceptive technologies. -
Pharmaceutical Industry Unionizes
Pharmaceutical management is renamed to POLFA. -
Executive Order on the Admissibility of Abortion
The Polish government permits doctors to perform state-sponsored abortions on the basis of socioeconomic concern. -
Society for Conscious Motherhood is Formed
SCM provides basic birth control and "family planning" advice at a small cost. -
Ministry of Health Endorses SCM
While SCM remains separate from the Ministry, they begin to receive financial support from the Polish government. -
Ministry of Health Liberal Abortion Statement
The Ministry of Health sends a note to physicians, encouraging "a liberal interpretation of the [abortion] law." -
SCM Becomes Affiliated with IPPF
IPPF, or the International Planned Parenthood Federation, remains an endorser of the organization to this day. -
Physician's Note Waived in Abortion
Women are now only required to give written consent. -
Executive Order Simplifying Abortion
The doctor is obliged to follow abortions with contraception treatment and information. -
Domestic Experiments Begin on Hormone Technology
Famous Polish gynecologists, such as Jan Lesinski, use chemical estrogen and progesterone to build a Polish oral contraceptive. They also test contraceptives available on the market, such as Enovid, Ortho-novum, Anovlar, and Lyndiol. -
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Polish Drug Market Is Closed to Foreign Competitors
This means all products, especially healthcare ones, must be sourced in-house. -
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Barrier Methods Become Increasingly Popular
Diaphragms and condoms are among some of the newest contraceptive crazes. -
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SCM Clinics Are Partially Funded Via Government Subsidies
An estimated 70% of all clinic costs are covered by the Ministry of Health -
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Abortions Are Reported As More Common Than Artificial Contraception
In terms of contraception, the rhythm method "kalendarzyk" is reported as most common. -
Securitas Begins Producing Spermicides Domestically
In 1957, spermicides were among one of the most popular "chemical" contraceptives. Securitas would be the first company to produce the technology in Poland, reducing import dependency. -
ZET Experiences A Misinformation Campaign
ZET Foaming Tablets is named for the Polish "zaufanie," meaning trust. The tablet's name makes people believe that the technology is one of the best in the world. The physician endorsement of ZET allows individuals to believe it is effective on its own in preventing unwanted pregnancies, despite this not being true. Additionally, ZET broke down rubber barriers, which were common in Polish condoms. -
1/3 of Polish Diaphragms Are Reported As "Broken"
This is despite mail-order availability coming about two years earlier and the diaphragm being the most popular artificial contraception for women at the time. -
The Subcommission of the Polish Episcopate Begins to Respond to Family Planning
The organization collaborates with regional doctors to discourage contraceptive use. -
95% of Drug Demand is From Polish Supply
Foreign products must be paid with foreign currency. Because Poles lack foreign currency, they are confined to domestic options. -
Ministry of Health Imports Lyndiol
Lyndiol is a foreign-produced contraceptive pill. The Ministry of Health begins to import the drug to keep up with EO requirements. Access to Lyndiol is stratified — the drug can only be purchased with foreign current -
POLFA Purchases East German Oral Contraceptive Recipe
East Germany begins to distribute Ovosiston, an oral hormonal contraceptive. POLFA buys the recipe and uses it in their own clinical trials. -
Polish Catholic Church Offers Official Statement Against Artificial Contraception
The statement indicates the interruption of procreation as against Church values. -
Femigen Forte Becomes the First Polish Oral Contraceptive
The pill becomes immediately popular, despite the skepticism about artificial methods in the general population. -
Polish Catholic Church Institutionalizes Marriage
In its "Instructions to Priests on the Preparation of the Laity for the Sacrament of Marriage and on the Chaplaincy of Families," the Polish Catholic Church solidifies marriage for the purpose of procreation. -
Polish IUD Spiran Becomes Available
To this day, it remains the primary IUD option in Poland. -
Femigen Mite Is Released
The Mite contains a lower dose of estrogen, resulting from complaints of thyroid complications with the Forte -
Edward Gierek Becomes the New Leader of the PRL
PRL, or Polska Rzeczopospolita Ludowa/Polish People's Republic, relies on secular leaders to achieve their prerogatives. Gierek is an open Catholic sympathizer, and begins to support messaging on the Polish family. -
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SCM Loses Public Funding
Pro-natalism becomes increasingly popular, leading the Ministry of Health to withdraw their subsidies. -
SCM Becomes the Society for Family Planning
The name change corresponds with increased family planning sympathies. -
Report Indicates Polish Contraceptives as Unpopular
The report specifically notes that "Polish bodies are not tolerating domestic contraceptives well." -
Government Withdraws the Provision of Paper
As a result, the SFP is unable to collect donations. -
1,700,000 Oral Contraceptive Pills Are Produced
This amount is enough for 140,000 women... in a population of ~39 million. -
SFP Becomes the Society for Family Development
It remains the SFD to this day. -
Solidarność Reinvigorates the Polish Catholic Church
Solidarność/Solidarity forms as a Polish trade union, ultimately encouraging the fall of the Socialist government. They rely heavily on partnerships with the Catholic Church, popularizing their view on family and reproduction -
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Private Offices Outnumber Clinics
The mass privatization of healthcare is unprecedented for a Socialist nation. -
The General Medical Chambers Are Re-Established
This is conducted at the National Congress of Physicians. -
PRL Officially Dissolves
1989 marks the last year of a Socialist Poland. -
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Neoliberalization of Reproductive Care
The Polish government cuts maternity leave, lowers childcare subsidies, reduces family benefits, and eliminates daycare. -
Governmental "Emergency Groups" Form To Discuss "Catholic Medical Ethics"
Catholic physicians are specifically sought for these "emergency groups." -
Bishops Lobby for De Facto Ilegal Abortion
Women now must receive the approval of two gynecologists, a family doctor, and a church-approved psychologist to get an abortion. -
Anti-Abortion Bill Fails in the Sejm
The Sejm is the representative arm of the Parliament, equivalent to the U.S. House of Representatives. Despite passing in the Polish Senat/Senate on October 1990, the bill fails. -
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Report Demonstrates Artificial Contraception Uptake
In the time period, contraceptive use increased from 19% to 56%. Kalendarzyk/the rhythm method decreased from 51% to 11% in that same time. -
The New Code of Medical Ethics Removes Article 37
Article 37, in past renditions of the Code, referred to the admissibility of abortion. The move suggests progress towards an abortion ban. -
Abortion Is Illegal With Few Exceptions
The "difficult living conditions" clause is removed, allowing abortion only in cases of rape/incest, serious threats to health, and severe fetal disability. -
Amendment to the Law on Family Planning
Amendment re-permits abortion in socioeconomic contexts, a by-product of a parliamentary election that favored left-leaning representatives. -
Conscience Clause Becomes Law of the Land
Klauzula sumienia/Conscience Clause refers to the ability of doctors to deny care based on ethical qualms. It becomes a part of Article 39 of the Act on the Professions of Doctor and Dentist. -
High Estrogen Pills Only Remaining Subsidies
Poland removes subsidies for seventeen of the twenty available oral contraceptives. The remaining three are high-estrogen recipes, which have shown to come with potential health complications. -
Pro-Family Program Models the Vatican's Family Right Charter
The program language speaks to women's role in the home, and disincentivizes them from the workforce. -
Minister of Health Cautions Institutional Conscious Clause Use
Klauzula sumienia/Conscious Clause is not intended to be used institutionally, but whole hospitals and clinics have been shown to use it to eliminate abortion treatments. Marek Balicki, Minister of Health, set a letter to discourage this course of action, to no avail. -
Poland Joins the European Union
As a result, the Polish standards for "human rights" must match EU law. -
UN Sounds Alarm Against Polish Abortion Laws
The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health calls for the removal of abortion barriers. Two years earlier, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women criticized the same point, especially given Poland's new status within the EU -
Polish Medical Workers Declare the "Primacy of Faith"
In a public declaration, over 3,000 people, predominantly of medical background, declared the centrality of the Catholic religion in their work. -
Government Official Equates Emergency Contraception to Abortion
Deputy Prime Minister Jarosław Gowin is quoted as calling emergency contraception "express abortion." This quote would shape how the ruling party considered the drug in the following years. -
Far-Right Party Takes Control of Entire Government
Prawo i Sprawiedliwość/Law and Society (PiS) gains control of both legislative bodies, as well as the positions of Prime Minister and President. -
Government Approves Tribunal Amendments
The new law only requires seven tribunal members to adjudicate out of fifteen, in comparison to the old thirteen-member requirement. Court cases can now be decided via a two-thirds majority instead of a simple one. -
Parliament Rejects Near Total Abortion Ban
The bill intended to remove extreme fetal disability from permitted abortion circumstances fails. -
Civil Servants Promoted Based On Party Recommendation
The new law amendment prompts a third of high-ranking officials to leave civil service or be demoted. -
Government Consolidates Media Under the State
Telewizja Polska (TVP) comes under the purview of the ruling party. -
Emergency Contraception Receives Prescription Requirement
President Andrzej Duda signs a bill ending prescription-free access to emergency contraception. The effect reverberates across the country, especially in rural areas. -
New Judges Are Elected to the Tribunal
All three come from a direct political background with PiS, which some argue is illegal under Polish Tribunal law. -
Press is Bought By Government Company
PKN Orlen, a state-controlled petroleum company, takes over Polska Press, leading to even fewer independent Polish journals. -
President Is Controversially Re-Elected
Andrzej Duda is once again declared the President of Poland. The results are met with controversy and conspiracy about election fraud. -
Fetal Disability is Removed From Abortion Provisions
Poland is now said to have the strictest abortion laws in Europe. -
European Commission Brings Corruption Charges Against Poland
In particular, the EC targets Poland for tribunal corruption. From 10/2021 to 05/2023, the EC fined the country one million euros per day of non-compliance. Since then, that number has been lowered to 500,000 euros. Poland is still not in EC compliance. -
Activist Is Sentenced After Sending Abortion Pills
Justyna Wydrzyńska, an activist from Aborcyjny Dream Team/Abortion Dream Team, is charged with facilitating an abortion by sending another Polish citizen abortion pills. She currently faces up to three years in prison. -
Court Drops Case Against Conscience Clause in a Pharmacy
In 2021, a pharmacist outside of Kraków refuses to issue emergency contraception on the basis of her religious beliefs. While the court denied the claim to her using the klauzula/clause to cause "social harm," conservative organizations are seeking to have her exonerated.