At the age of 26, the chemist Luis Ernesto Miramontes Cárdenas synthesized norethisterone for the first time ever. Norethisterone is a highly active progestogen with good oral bioavailability. Soon after, he patented this discovery along with Carl Djerassi and George Rosenkraz.

In 1957, norethisterone constituted the first oral contraceptive for women, considered one of the most remarkable inventions in the XX century, and marking a key point in history. While Miramontes made possible the development of the contraceptive pill, he gained less fame that his colleague Djerassi.

Paradoxically, Miramontes had ten kids, and according to them, sexual intercourse or sexuality were never discussed at home. They also mentioned that Miramontes supported equal education opportunity for women and was happy with the invention.