Lyndiol 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)

N.V. Organon of Oss, Holland, manufactured this Lyndiol brand oral contraceptive around 1988. Lyndiol came in a 22-pill monthly dosage (instead of the customary 21) following the manufacturer’s belief that “maximum patient reliability” could be achieved if each new cycle of tablets could begin and end on the same fixed day of the week. The silver blister pack has 21 pills arranged in a circular pattern around the edge, with the last pill in the center of the package. Each pill (except the last) is labeled with the day of the week in English and Chinese. The front of the box bears a slogan in Chinese, roughly translated as “Follow your wishes and avoid getting pregnant.”

Date Made: 1988

Maker: N. V. Organon

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: Netherlands: North Brabant, Oss

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 Kiehl's Inc.

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1989.0196.203Catalog Number: 1989.0196.203Accession Number: 1989.0196

Object Name: contraceptive, oralOther Terms: contraceptive, oral; Pharmaceuticals; Contraceptive; Tablets

Physical Description: foil (blister pack material)ethinylestradiol, 50 mcg (drug active ingredients)cardboard (box material)plastic (blister pack material)paper (booklet material)lynestrenol, 2.5 mg (drug active ingredients)Measurements: overall: 1.7 cm x 7.4 cm x 10.3 cm; 11/16 in x 2 15/16 in x 4 1/16 inoverall: 4 1/8 in x 3 in x 5/8 in; 10.4775 cm x 7.62 cm x 1.5875 cm

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a9-c778-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1142001

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