What methods did women use to prevent pregnancy in ancient times?

There are still many ways for women to prevent pregnancy, such as taking birth control pills, wearing condoms, or vaginal spermicide. Each method is scientifically reasonable and has a very good contraceptive effect. However, it was not so easy for women in ancient times to prevent pregnancy. The methods they used were often risky and could even threaten their lives, and the contraceptive effect was not very good.

Ancient India: Animal feces as a contraceptive. In addition, in India and Egypt more than 3,000 years ago, the feces of animals such as crocodiles and elephants, which were believed to have mysterious powers, were also used in contraceptive prescriptions. In fact, because these animal feces are highly acidic, they do have a certain spermicidal effect. However, Godheide said that the strong smell of animal feces would obviously affect the "sexual interest" of ancient couples.

The prototype of the modern condom: sheep intestine. In the Middle Ages, many superstitious methods were also used to prevent pregnancy, but these methods were obviously ineffective. For example, some medieval European women made amulets out of small bags containing mule earwax, weasel testicles, and black cat bones, and tied them around their bodies during sex in the hope of achieving the effect of contraception.

In addition, some ancient contraceptive methods are very dangerous to the human body. For example, ancient people used to drink graphite or mercury to achieve contraceptive effects, but this dangerous method could easily lead to death. In the 1930s, Westerners also invented a small hexagonal wooden block - something similar to a "diaphragm" to prevent women from getting pregnant, but this contraceptive tool was later called a "device for torturing women."

Among the museum's collections are condoms made from sheep intestines by ancient people, which are apparently somewhat close to the prototype of modern condoms. The ancient Greeks and Romans inserted all sorts of objects into women's vaginas. For example, block honey, cedar gum, and even crocodile poop.

In ancient China and Japan, silk oil paper, rags, and sponges were inserted into the female vagina as a barrier. The ancient Chinese also used fish bladders as condoms. As you can imagine, it is not easy to find a suitable fish bladder since men's penises are of different sizes.

Through the above introduction, everyone is clear about the methods used by ancient women for contraception. The topic of contraception will not disappear with the changing times. Sexual intercourse is natural and is the most basic physiological need of human beings at all times. Therefore, we still need to take the issue of contraception seriously and not threaten our own health.