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Happy Birthday, Predictor!

Dear John,

Today marks the 50^th birthday of one of the most important inventions in the history of reproductive rights – the at-home pregnancy test.

Exactly 50 years ago today, DIY pregnancy tests named “Predictor” were launched in pharmacies the UK, placing the medical technology of pregnancy testing directly in a woman's hands for the first time. Prior to its invention, women had to rely on doctors, chemists, or labs to confirm a pregnancy, and this could take a number of weeks.

The DIY test was not universally welcomed. The British Medical Association warned that without the supervision of a doctor, women might “react to the tests in ways which could severely endanger their health”, and Boots refused to stock it.

The inventor, Margaret Crane, was not credited for her role in its development for decades, and has only recently started to get the recognition she truly deserves.

We see many parallels between the discussion and anxieties around the first at-home pregnancy test and reproductive technologies today, from emergency contraception to pregnancy screening to abortion medication.

We all owe a debt of gratitude to Margaret, and if you would like to thank her yourself (well, via Zoom), and explore wider debates about autonomy, trust and reproductive technology, join our online event, Monday 8th November, which features a keynote speech from Margaret herself.

Find out more about the event– and get your tickets here!

#MyResultMyResponse

If you were to watch any pregnancy test advert, you would think that every single person who takes a test is hoping for – and will get – a positive result.

But how many pregnancy tests are anxiously bought in the hope of a negative? And how many results bring not joy, but sadness or uncertainty?

To challenge the current narrative, we want to share the myriad of emotions attached to pregnancy testing. If you want to take part in our #MyResultMyResponse campaign by sharing your experiences of taking an at-home pregnancy test, please email [email protected] for more info.

Don’t forget to raise a toast to Margaret and her incredible invention today!

Best wishes,

- The BPAS Team

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