The History of Birth Control

Written by: luminoUS, Editor at Large

 

The pill. The patch. The 3-month shot. IUD. Withdrawal. Abstinence. We have all referred to one or more of these idioms when speaking about birth control (or BC, as some of my friends would say in order to not be overt about what is being discussed), but many of us know little about the history of birth control. Birth control is just that: a regimen, device or sexual practice used to reduce or prevent pregnancy. The earliest and oldest form of birth control can be traced back to the Egyptians who used vaginal suppositories made of acidic substances and lubricated with oil or honey. The acid assisted in killing sperm cells. The women of Asia are believed to have used oiled paper as a cervical cap and the women of Europe have been thought to use beeswax.

 

The most highly effective form of birth control is total abstinence. This is by far the only way to ensure that a woman will not get pregnant.

 

As with anything dealing with reproduction and birth, a lot of religious organizations have varying attitudes when it comes to birth control and a lot of social societies feel the same. Russia made birth control available to both men and women, although there was a nationwide ban. The women of France helped end the ban on birth control in 1965.

 

Condoms made of animal intestines weren’t invented until the 17th century and, up until then, most relied on the withdrawal method. The withdrawal method consists of the man withdrawing his penis before he reaches the point of ejaculation, but this is thought to be the least effective because it is believed that most men cannot accurately gauge or control their releases. There were also plenty of herbal mixtures taken by women that weren’t beneficial for reason of harsh side effects. The intrauterine device (IUD) was introduced in 1928 and was used by a great number of women.

 

The earliest and oldest form of birth control can be traced back to the Egyptians who used vaginal suppositories made of acidic substances and lubricated with oil or honey … Condoms made of animal intestines weren’t invented until the 17th century and, up until then, most relied on the withdrawal method.

 

As studies progressed, the rhythm method was introduced. The rhythm method works on the notion that a woman ovulates once a month and calculates her most fertile days. It is during these days that sex is avoided. As the years and studies have cumulated, a variety of methods became more readily available to any man or woman not seeking to start a family anytime soon. The barrier method prevents sperm from entering the female reproductive system. Both female and male condoms fall under this method, along with the contraceptive sponge, the cervical cap, the diaphragm, and spermicide, which is a chemical barrier. The pill, the patch, the vaginal ring, and injections fall under the category of hormonal methods. All of these hormonal items contain synthetic hormones, such as estrogen and progestin. Sterilization is a form of tubal ligation where the fallopian tubes of a woman are tied to prevent the egg from joining with the sperm. But, the most highly effective form of birth control is total abstinence. This is by far the only way to ensure that a woman will not get pregnant.

 

One should always do eXtensive research and prove oneself knowledgeable when it comes to this topic, as it will affect your life. Both men and women need to know the pros and cons of all methods to accurately gauge which will work best in their situation. It is also a good idea for men to become more knowledgeable because a lot of women bank on the fact that men know nothing about birth control and reproduction and use this to their advantage and become pregnant when it was not the guy’s intention. Also, study proves beneficial to combat the numerous urban legends, one of which is that toothpaste is an effective form of contraception. Be wise people: wrap it up to prevent the spread of STDs, but also research the various forms of birth control as to not get yourself into a bind that could easily be avoided.

 

Much peace, love and light.

 

 

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