Ovral Oral Contraceptive

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)

Wyeth Laboratories Inc. produced this Ovral brand oral contraceptive around 1982. The 21 pills are in a blister pack that is inserted into a white plastic holder. The holder has the days of the week embossed around the perimeter. The pills come with a carrying sleeve decorated with flowers and a butterfly. The pill pack includes a paper insert with instructions for the user.

Date Made: ca 1981

Maker: Wyeth Laboratories Inc.

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

Subject: Birth Control/ContraceptionWomen's Health

Subject:

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

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Gift of Gladys Abell and Lester D. Johnson, Jr., M.D.

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1981.0760.042Accession Number: 1981.0760Catalog Number: 1981.0760.042

Object Name: contraceptive, oralOther Terms: Contraceptives; Patent Medicines; Drugs; Non-Liquid

Physical Description: norgestrel, 0.5 mg (drug active ingredients)ethinyl estradiol, 0.05 mg (drug active ingredients)plastic (pouch material)plastic (blister pack material)foil (blister pack material)paper (leaflet material)Measurements: overall: 14.2 cm x 5.4 cm x 1 cm; 5 9/16 in x 2 1/8 in x 3/8 inoverall: 2 1/8 in x 5 1/2 in x 1/4 in; 5.3975 cm x 13.97 cm x .635 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-9ea8-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_730790

Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.

If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.