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.
The Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical of Raritan, New Jersey, produced this Ortho-Novum 7/7/7 oral contraceptive around 2000. The pills are contained in a peach and white plastic compact. There is a black arrow in the center that points to the various days of the week around the wheel. This allowed the user to set the day of her first pill and track her daily use from there. The prescription includes directions for use. The 7/7/7 in the brand name referred to the three weeks of taking active pills. Each week consisted of varying doses of norethindrone and ethinyl estradiol, followed by seven inert pills to finish the 28 pill cycle. Each week of pills is differentiated by color.
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.