2026/02/27 by Jesse Olszynko-Gryn, Anja Suter, Edmund Bolger +1 · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · Social Sciences · #European history and politics #Historical Studies on Reproduction, Gender, Health, and Societal Changes #Medical History and Research
paper · doi:10.1002/bewi.70014
openalex publication_date 2026/02/27 · openalex created_date 2026/02/28 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22
The West German drug Duogynon was internationally marketed as a "hormone pregnancy test" (HPT) between the 1950s and 1980s. In the late 1960s it came under suspicion for inducing miscarriage, spina bifida, and a spectrum of birth defects similar to those caused by the sedative thalidomide. In contrast to thalidomide, medical consensus did not form around the teratogenicity of Duogynon and many people who identify as Duogynon-affected continue to campaign for recognition. The informal use of Duogynon as an abortion pill adds a further layer of shame, secrecy, and silence. In this article, we reflect on the value of oral history and the ethics of inclusion within a larger research project that investigates the rise and fall of HPTs, globally. We ask what collaborating with patient campaigners in a more participatory mode than is typical of archival research can contribute to the historical understanding of the Duogynon affair and other drug scandals.