Ad for Ergoapiol, treatment for painful or missing menstrual periods or
other irregularities of the menstrual cycle - or for abortion,
1904.
Read Malcolm Gladwell's riveting New Yorker magazine article about
the invention of the birth control pill.
See early contraceptive sponges disguised for other
uses.
 
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An early (1964) birth control pill (the Pill): Enovid-E
(in a package labeled "Physician's professional sample"), U.S.A.
Birth control pills were first offered for approval to the Food and
Drug Administration (read
more here) in 1957 not as contraceptives but as a way to treat menstrual
disorders and infertility. Only in 1960 did the manufacturer submit the
same oral contraceptive (Enovid) for approval to the FDA to explicitly prevent
conception and therefore babies. ("Pill" is often capitalized
when referring to a birth control pill.)
But read Malcolm Gladwell's New Yorker magazine article
about the controversy and tragedy around the development of the Pill, involving
the scientists, the public and the Roman Catholic Church.
A woman who has donated other items to MUM kindly donated this package
to the museum. Thanks!
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Above: The package holding the
Pills and insert. The top flap, which holds the Pills
on the other side, arrived at MUM separated along the perforations. The
top and bottom parts fold over to form a package.
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NEXT page || Interior
of the package with Pills - The product insert explaining composition,
usage, precautions, contraindications and side effects (pages 1-3,
10; 4-7) - family planning booklet: covers & pp. 2-3, pp. 4-7,
8-11, 12-15, 16-"inside back cover," 19-20
| See early contraceptive sponges
disguised for other uses. Ad for Ergoapiol, treatment for painful or missing menstrual periods or
other irregularities of the menstrual cycle - or for abortion, 1904. Patent medicine at this museum.
© 2004-8 Harry Finley. It is illegal to reproduce or distribute
any of the work on this Web site in any manner or medium without written
permission of the author. Please report suspected violations to hfinley@mum.org
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