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Mala-N Oral Contraceptive

National Museum of American History

Object Details

Indian Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
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.
Indian Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Ltd. of Dundahera, Gurgaon, India, produced this Mala-N oral contraceptive in 1989. Mala-N came in a 28 pill blister pack (missing from the object) that was contained in a yellow paper envelope with pouch. The inside of the envelope contains instructions for use, and an instruction leaflet is inside the pouch.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Dr. Linda S. Potter
before 1989-04
ID Number
1997.0360.12
accession number
1997.0360
catalog number
1997.0360.12
Object Name
contraceptive package, oral
oral contraceptive
Physical Description
norethisterone acetate B.P., 1 mg (drug active ingredients)
ethinylestradiol B.P., 30 mcg (drug active ingredients)
paper (envelope material)
paper (insert material)
Measurements
overall: 5.9 cm x 11.1 cm x .3 cm; 2 5/16 in x 4 3/8 in x 1/8 in
overall: 2 3/8 in x 4 3/8 in x 1/8 in; 6.0325 cm x 11.1125 cm x .3175 cm
place made
India: State of Haryāna, Dundahera
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Medicine
Health & Medicine
Birth Control
National Museum of American History
Subject
Birth Control/Contraception
Women's Health
Record ID
nmah_688327
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a5-00cd-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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