Methods of contraception used in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome Essay Example

Methods of contraception used in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome Essay Example Methods of contraception used in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome Paper Methods of contraception used in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome Paper Methods of contraception used in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome differed in their nature and degree of effectiveness. They ranged from scientific methods that are still used nowadays to quasi-scientific and barely effective to dangerous and futile. In ancient Egypt, females used a mixture of honey and sodium bicarbonate to irrigate their genitalia. Another invention was a tampon-like object with acid anhydride. Acid anhydride is still used as a chief component of contemporary contraceptive jellies. Manuscript titled Ebers Papyrus, from 1550 BC, contains an advice about mixing dates, acacia bark and honey into a paste to be placed the vagina. The effectiveness of this method was considerable for the reason that sugar ferments were converted into lactic acid, a spermicide (Chauhan, 2003). While some substances that were used did not have any specific qualities to have a chemical effect on the sperm, ‘the insertion of substances like honey or crocodile dung into the vagina could have effectively blocked a males semen because of its thick consistency’ (Habiger, 1998, ‘Pregnancy,’ para. 4). Barrier methods were also widespread: women in ancient Egypt used vaginal suppositories as a method of contraception (Hearthstone Communications, 2007). As for men in Ancient Egypt, in 1000 BC they used fabric condoms both to protect themselves from disease (which is believed to be the primary reason) and avoid having undesired children. Women used celery seed as an oral contraceptive, as a recipe written in the Berlin Papyrus from Egypts Nineteenth Dynasty (1300 BC) advices (Riddle, 1999). As concerns Ancient Greece, by the 2nd century CE, gynecologist Soranus developed a theory that female fertility was limited to ovulation period; however, he made an incorrect assumption that ovulation happened during menstruation, not before it. Yet the origins of the rhythm method that is still practiced nowadays and is proven to be effective (although not as effective as condoms or other newer methods) can be traced back to those times. Soranus also promoted a variety of ineffective quasi-scientific methods, such as holding the breath and drawing the body back during the intercourse to prevent the sperm from penetrating the mouth of the uterus, jumping backwards seven times after sex to dislodge the sperm by, or sitting down on bent knees to cause sneezing. Regrettably, some advices by Sofranus were not only inefficient but also detrimental to women’s health, like an advice to drink the water that blacksmiths used to cool hot metals (Nottingham, n/d). Squirting cucumber and pomegranate were other methods used, and, as recent animal tests show, they had a contraceptive effect (Riddle, 1999). While the aforementioned methods are connected to female contraception in Ancient Greece, men were also experimenting with some methods of birth control to avoid having illegitimate or undesirable children. Aristotle believed that homosexual relations could be regarded as a population control method. Two methods that are still used nowadays and can be described as having a limited degree of reliability were coitus reservatus (withholding ejaculation) and coitus interruptus (ejaculating outside the vagina) (Nottingham, n/d). Speaking of Ancient Rome, females also used a variety of ineffective methods that were, in fact, mere superstitions, like wearing a leather pouch with a cats liver on their left foot during the intercourse or spitting in the mouth of a frog three times. The Roman men wore condoms made of animal intestine (Nottingham, n/d). Both in Ancient Greece and Rome, the juice of the silphium plant was a commonly used method of oral contraception that enjoyed a certain degree of effectiveness. Women had to take it once a month. However, the plant grew in one place in Cyrene and was extinct by the 1st century CE because of over-harvesting and failure to cultivate it in other places, although attempts to do so were persistent. This plant is believed to be one of the most effective contraceptives used in the ancient times, as the contemporary research shows: ‘Modern researchers tested plants of the same genus (Ferula) and found anti-fertility effects ran in the family. Crude alcohol extracts of asafetida and a related plant (Ferula orientalis) were found to inhibit implantation of fertilized eggs in rats by 40% (asafetida) and 50% (F. orientalis)’ (Zeus, 2007, para. 5). Another method of female contraception was prolonged breast feeding, which can prevent ovulation, sometimes until a child was three years old (Nottingham, n/d). Therefore, it is possible to conclude that there was a variety of contraception methods known in the Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. Some of these methods were relatively reliable and are still practiced nowadays (like the rhythm method or interrupted coitus), whilst others were based on mere superstitions and had zero effectiveness or involved practices harmful for women’s health. References Chauhan, J. History of Contraception. 2003. November 12, 2007. mcmaster.ca/health/hwc/Student%20Writers/hx_contraception.htm Habiger, P. Early History: Menstruation, Menstrual Hygiene and Womans Health in Ancient Egypt. 1998. November 12, 2007. mum.org/germnt5.htm Hearthstone Communications Ltd. Birth Control Guide. 2007. November 12, 2007. epigee.org/guide/ Nottingham, V. History of Female Contraception. N/d. November 12, 2007. medhunters.com/articles/historyOfFemaleContraception.html Nottingham, V. History of Male Contraception. N/d. November 12, 2007. medhunters.com/articles/historyOfMaleContraception.html Riddle, J. M. Eves Herbs: A History of Contraception and Abortion in the West. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1999. Zeus, S. The Ancient Worlds ‘Birth Control Pill.’ 2007. November 12, 2007. sisterzeus.com/Silphio.htm