Ancient Contraception

[sweetalyssm.livejournal.com]

A brief list of contraceptive methods used the ancients.

• The oldest known methods of contraception comes from around 1500 BC in Egypt. Written in Ebers papyrus, which is a compilation of medical texts. One method describes a pessary made of crocodile dung and/or honey would be placed in the vagina. It is believed that it would prevent semen from entering her womb.
• A more effective would be to alum or lactic acid into the vagina--a natural spermacide.
• Another variation of this ancient method involves putting a sticky resin or oil on the cervix. Olive oil and honey were the most common substances used.
• One of the best suppositories used by ancient women would be a cloth soaked in vinegar. The acids would kill the sperm. A variation of this method would be to soak a sea sponge in lemon juice and then place it in the vagina before intercourse.
• The pre cursor to the vasectomy was the sub-incision. A small hole would be drilled into the base of the penis, so semen would exit there instead of through the natural end of the urethra. In order to keep from urinating all over himself, he would have to hold a finger over the hole.
• Hippocrates' writings referenced that objects placed in the Uterus could stop pregnancy. The mother of the modern IUD, I suppose.
• Withdrawal, of course.
• Oftentimes, mystical beliefs surrounded as to how pregnancy actually occurred. Some ancient women would perform rituals that were thought to impair pregnancy. Throwing apples into a well at a magical hour was thought to be effective. I see why this method isn't in use anymore.
• Condoms were invented in the 17th century. They were usually made of some kind of animal membrane. Some were even made of fabric, although I don't know how they could be effective. Since the 1800's most condoms were made of vulcanized rubber, and latex since the 1930's.
• Barrier methods were also used (e.g. diaphragms). The precursor to today's modern barrier methods were extremely uncomfortable to use. It consisted of a block of wood with a concave carved into it. This block would have to be fitted over the cervix.
• Plants have been used over the ages. An extremely effective, but now extinct plant called Silphium was well in use before 370 BC. I guess they used it a lot!

  Other Plants that are/were believed effective:

  • Queen Anne's Lace (believed to produce abortions)
  • Wild Carrot
  • Pennyroyal (very toxic taken internally...produced abortions)
  • Asafetida (cousin to Silphium)
  • Artemisia
  • Rue
  • Date Palm
  • Pomegranate skins
  • Juniper (causes Uterine contractions)
  • Acacia gum (forms lactic acid in the vagina -- works as a mild spermacide)