Loestrin Fe 1.530 Oral Contraceptives

Loestrin Fe 1.5/30 Oral Contraceptives

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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.
The Parke Davis Corporation of Fajardo, Puerto Rico, produced these Loestrin Fe 1.5/30 brand oral contraceptives around 1981. The white and orange box contained five white plastic compact cases. Each compact contains a gold blister pack holding a monthly prescription of 28 pills and a pamphlet containing directions for use. The monthly dosage was arranged in four rows of 7, with 21 green hormonal pills, and seven iron pills. Some companies included a fourth week of iron supplements to keep women in the habit of taking a daily pill.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
contraceptive, oral
Other Terms
contraceptive, oral; Contraceptives
date made
ca 1981
maker
Parke-Davis Corp.
place made
Puerto Rico: Fajardo, Fajardo
Physical Description
paper (box, insert material)
plastic (dialpak material)
plastic (blister pack material)
norethindrone acetate, 1.5 mg (drug (light green tablets) active ingredients)
ferrous fumarate, 75 mg (drug (brown tablets) active ingredeints)
ethinyl estradiol, 30 mcg (drug (light green tablets) active ingredeints)
foil (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 in
overall, box: 2 5/8 in x 3 3/4 in x 1 3/4 in; 6.6675 cm x 9.525 cm x 4.445 cm
overall, pill pack: 2 1/2 in x 3 5/8 in x 1/4 in; 6.35 cm x 9.2075 cm x.635 cm
ID Number
2002.0136.032
accession number
2002.0136
catalog number
2002.0136.032
Credit Line
Gift of Matthew E. Donahue, M.D., in memory of Francis Donahue
subject
Birth Control/Contraception
Georgetown Pharmacy
Women's Health
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Medicine
Health & Medicine
Birth Control
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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