Norlestrin Fe 1/50 Oral Contraceptives

Description (Brief):

The popularity of “the Pill” created a new market for pharmaceutical companies. For the first time, healthy women would be taking medication for an extended period of time. Pill manufacturers developed unique packaging in order to distinguish their product from those of their competitors and build brand loyalty. Packaging design often incorporated a “memory aid” to assist women in tracking their daily pill regimen, as well as styled cases to allow pills to be discreetly carried in bags and purses. The National Museum of American History’s Division of Medicine and Science’s collection of oral contraceptives illustrates some of the changes that the packaging and marketing of the Pill underwent from its inception in 1960 to the present.

Description (Brief)

The Parke Davis Corporation of Fajardo, Puerto Rico, produced these Loestrin Fe 1/50 brand oral contraceptives around 1981. The white and green box contained five green plastic compact cases. There is an embossed image of a woman with long hair imprinted on the front of each compact. Each compact contains a gold blister pack holding a monthly prescription of 28 pills and a pamphlet with directions for use. The monthly dosage was arranged in four rows of 7, with 21 yellow hormonal pills and 7 iron pills. Some companies included a fourth week of iron supplements to keep women in the habit of taking a daily pill.

Date Made: ca 1981

Maker: Parke-Davis Laboratories

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: Puerto Rico: Fajardo, Fajardo

Subject: Birth Control/ContraceptionCollection: Georgetown PharmacySubject: Women's Health

Subject:

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Medicine, Health & Medicine, Birth Control

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Gift of Matthew E. Donahue, M.D., in memory of Francis Donahue

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 2002.0136.033Accession Number: 2002.0136Catalog Number: 2002.0136.033

Object Name: contraceptive, oralOther Terms: contraceptive, oral; Contraceptives

Physical Description: plastic (blister pack material)paper (box, leaflets material)ethinyl estradiol, 50 mcg (drug (yellow tablet) active ingredients)plastic (dialpak material)norethindrone acetate, 1 mg (drug (yellow tablet) active ingredients)ferrous fumarate, 75 mg (drug (brown tablet) active ingredients)foil, aluminum (blister pack material)Measurements: overall: 6.7 cm x 9.4 cm x 4.5 cm; 2 5/8 in x 3 11/16 in x 1 25/32 inoverall, box: 2 3/4 in x 3 3/4 in x 1 3/4 in; 6.985 cm x 9.525 cm x 4.445 cmoverall, pill case: 2 1/2 in x 3 5/8 in x 1/4 in; 6.35 cm x 9.2075 cm x .635 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746aa-a4c5-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1215773

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