Contraception has a fascinating history that spans for centuries with various methods used to prevent pregnancy.
In this blog we are going to dive into the past and follow the journey of contraception from ancient methods to modern advancements.
Ancient Times:
In ancient civilizations, people used various of unusual methods to prevent pregnancy. Herbal remedies were widely used by women, which usually involved mixing herbs and then soaking them on a piece of cotton or other plant fibre and then inserting in the vagina (e.g. acacia and honey). Other herbal methods required women to mix herbs and smear them on their genital area, such as pomegranate, crocodile excrement or juniper berries.
Another common contraceptive method was drinking silphium or liquid lead and mercury. Silphium was used as a natural contraceptive or in other cases it would be mixed, soaked on cotton and inserted in the vagina. Liquid lead and mercury were a more dangerous method due to the serious side effects, but women made sure they drank enough to prevent them from conceiving and not enough to kill them.
Middles Ages:
During this time, methods like animal intestines as condoms and development of herbal potions were prevalent. Similarly, to the ancient times, women still relied on mixtures that were inserted inside their vaginas that acted as spermicides.
The catholic church also had a big influence on people’s views during the Middle Ages, and it even acted as form of contraception. Some would commit to celibacy, but others would avoid sex before marriage. However, in other cases if a woman would get pregnant out of wedlock they would be condemned by the church. Although a less preventative method, women would conceal their pregnancy and birth.
Additionally, women learned to manage their cycle. Through this method they could ensure whether the contraceptives were effective, but since they could not determine the exact moment of conception, a range of remedies for abortion were widely used. The ingredients usually consisted of household or easily accessed resources.
19th Century:
This century witnessed advancements in methods of contraception, as well as shaping societies attitudes towards family planning and reproductive health. Physicians and scientists studied and improved people’s knowledge on menstrual cycle. This allowed women to identify their fertile and infertile periods, as well as giving couples power over conception.
Rubber condoms were a revolutionized contraceptive method as people had a more reliable and effective barrier method to prevent them from unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. At the time, these condoms were washed and reused, but they were often expensive despite their availability.
Diaphragms were also a new development which was less accessible and there was less knowledge about it, therefore it was not very common. These were devices that were inserted inside the vagina to block sperm from reaching the uterus. They were available in different sizes and had to fitted by a doctor or midwife.
Withdrawal was common even during the Middle Ages, as well as in modern times. This involves the man pulling out his penis from the woman’s vagina before ejaculation. Thought this is not the most effective or reliable method.
20th Century:
This Century was a turning point in revolutionizing contraception. Condoms and diaphragms became more reliable once latex was introduced in the 1920s.
The development of hormonal contraception, such as the birth control pill was the biggest step forward to safer and more effective methods. Margaret Sanger founded and educated women about the birth control pill. Later after her death, Planned Parenthood funded research into the birth control pill and was later approved in 1960.
Other methods like intrauterine devices (IUDs) also gained popularity. In 1988, the copper coil which is a non-hormonal method was first made available to the public, and later in 2000 the Mirena, the first hormonal IUD was introduced.
Recent advances:
In recent years, we’ve seen more advancements in contraception methods. Forms such as birth control patch, vaginal ring, the implant and further developments on IUD’s give women the opportunity to find something more suitable for them.
From unusual methods, herbal remedies and religious beliefs, it is amazing to see how far we’ve come to revolutionising contraceptive methods for women.
For more information makes sure to check out the website links below:
Comments