Desogen 28 day Oral Contraceptives

Desogen 28 day 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.
Organon International of Oss, Holland, produced this Desogen oral contraceptive at their American subsidiary in West Orange, New Jersey, around 2002. The purple foil wrapper contains a professional sample consisting of a 28-day monthly regimen of pills, including 7 inert pills. Many companies included a fourth week of inert pills so women could maintain their routine of taking a daily pill.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
oral contraceptive
contraceptive, oral
date made
ca 2002
maker
Organon Inc.
place made
United States: New Jersey, West Orange
Ireland: Fingal, Swords
Physical Description
desogestrel, 0.15 mg (drug active ingredients)
ethinyl estradiol, 0.03 mg (drug active ingredients)
Measurements
overall: 13 cm x 6.4 cm x.9 cm; 5 1/8 in x 2 1/2 in x 3/8 in
overall: 3/8 in x 2 1/2 in x 5 1/8 in;.9525 cm x 6.35 cm x 13.0175 cm
ID Number
2004.3030.21
nonaccession number
2004.3030
catalog number
2004.3030.21
subject
Birth Control/Contraception
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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