• 3 bottles of Depo-Provera slow-release contraceptive and a plastic syringe, 1979-1981.

  1981-1436 (Science Museum)

  

  3 glass bottles of Depo-Provera and a plastic syringe. Depo-Provera is a slow release contraceptive containing a hormone that is similar to the body� s natural progesterone. It is given by injection by a doctor every three months. These examples were prepared by Upjohn Ltd., in Crawley, Sussex, England. The syringe was made by Gillette and is disposable.

  • Date made: 1979-1981

• Femidom condom

  95.525/14 (Museum of London: Exploring 20th Century London)

  

  Condoms for women were launched in 1992 as both a contraceptive and to prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

  • Creator: Chartex International plc
  • Date made: 1994-1995

• Extract: Interview with Claire Rayner

  97.70/EX1 (Museum of London: Exploring 20th Century London)

  Claire describes the ignorance surrounding sexual health and contraceptive advice even in the medical profession. She also recalls her own difficulties in obtaining contraception as a young woman.

  • Creator: Rayner, Claire; Dunn, Liz
  • Date made: 1996-06-03; 1950-1959

• Vaginal douche, tampon, contraceptive sponge and contraceptive sheath, early 20th century.;

  A626876; (Ingenious)

  

  This item is illustrated on the far right and is a condom made out of animal gut. John Bell and Croyden Ltd., London supplied it. The other objects in the image are, left to right: A626884 (contraceptive sponge); A626910 (vaginal douche); A606555 (medicated tampon).

  • Place made: In Collection of:
  • Creator: John Bell and Croyden Ltd
  • Date made: 1901-1930;

• 'The Pill', 1965;

  1983-5236_DHA7038; (Ingenious)

  

  A photograph showing a factory line of women packing boxes containing the contraceptive pill, taken by Chris Barham in 1965 for the Daily Herald newspaper. 8 million birth control pills were produced weekly at G.D. Searle's High Wycombe pharmaceutical firm. This particular brand has the trade name 'Ovulen'. The contraceptive pill was first distributed in Europe in 1961- recommended solely for regulating menstrual disorders in married women. By the late 1960s, however, 'the Pill' had come to symbolise social change, sexual liberation and women's fight for equal rights. This photograph has been selected from the Daily Herald Archive, a collection of over three million photographs. The archive holds work of international, national and local importance by both staff and agency photographers.

  • Date made: 1965-12-17;

• Poster

  1995.0001.0142 (National Museum of Australia)

  A poster with text that reads "Because woman's work is never done and is underpaid or unpaid or boring or repetitious and we're the first to get the sack and what we look like is more important than what we do and if we get raped it's our fault and if we get bashed we must have provoked it and if we raise our voices we're nagging bitches and if we enjoy sex we're nymphos and if we don't we're frigid and if we love women it's because we can't get a 'real' man and if we ask our doctor too many questions we're neurotic and/or pushy and if we expect community care for children we're selfish and if we stand up for our rights we're aggressive and 'unfeminine' and if we don't we're typical weak females and if we want to get married we're out to trap a man and if we don't we're unnatural and because we still can't get an adequate safe contraceptive but men can walk on the moon and if we can't cope or don't want a pregnancy we're made to feel guilty about abortion and ... for lots and lots of other reasons we are part of the women's liberation movement."

  • Material: Paper