Learning with Patient Campaigners About a German Drug Scandal**

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Authors: Jesse Olszynko-Gryn, Anja Suter, Edmund Bolger, Birgit Nemec
Cited by: 0
References: 6

Abstract

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.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Historical Studies on Reproduction Gender Health and Societal Changes Medical History and Research History of Science and Medicine

Publication details

Journal / source
Berichte zur Wissenschaftsgeschichte
Volume
49
Issue
1
Pages
50–65
Publication date
27 February 2026
Language
EN