Dr. Elsimar Metzker Coutinho was born in the city of Pojuca, in the interior of Bahia, in 1930.
Graduated in Pharmacy and Medicine from the Federal University of Bahia. Graduated
in endocrinology at the Sorbonne University in Paris and at the Rockefeller Institute,
in New York. As a teacher, researcher, and scientist, he made his most notable discoveries.

In the 1960s, after observing for the first time the benefits of suppressing menstruation, he made an extraordinary revelation to humanity: the first injectable contraceptive for prolonged use. Soon thereafter, Dr. Elsimar launched other important contraceptive methods, including injectables, pills for oral and vaginal use, and subcutaneous hormonal implants. The latter allowed the unprecedented continuous and personalized release of hormones in the treatment of menstruation suppression and contraception. In the 1970s, the doctor generated another significant controversy after presenting, at the World Population Congress in Bucharest, Romania, the male contraceptive.

In 1996, with the publication of his fifth book “Menstruation, useless bleeding”, Dr. Elsimar Coutinho divulged to the world what he considers his greatest contribution to humanity: the thesis that the phenomenon of menstruation is harmful and superfluous. He realized that the suppression of menstruation could contribute to ensuring the preservation of women’s health and self-esteem. Four decades later, recognition came: the elimination of menstruation was considered one of the 10 greatest medical advances of all time. His entire medical and scientific career generated contributions that transformed humanity in the areas of sexuality, assisted human reproduction and hormone replacement. Thousands of lives have benefited through the scientific knowledge of their research and studies.