The Scariest Contraceptives and Condoms Ever Used

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Having sex has always been part of human (and animal) nature from the age of time. Animals and humans love sex; and people would always want to have sex. However, the same cannot be said of having children.

In order words, the desire for having children varies vastly among people, but not the desire to have sex.

Overtime and in a bid to prevent cases of unwanted pregnancies due to sex (especially indiscriminate sex), scientific and technological evolution through the ages aided man in coming up with various forms, kinds and even dimensions of birth control methods and tools – so many of which are pretty scary, to say the least.

Our modern contraceptives and birth control procedures have been greatly helpful in our time, despite their undeniable flaws. However, going through a research and compilation of contraceptive devices and methods used in the ancient times, would definitely elicit gratitude that you weren't existing around the medieval ages up to the early 19th and 20th centuries.

Some of the terrifying contraceptive tools and methods created from ancient science and technology include:

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1.) Olive Oil

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Ancient philosopher, Aristotle, wrote and recommended the use of olive oil or cedar oil in the vagina to prevent pregnancy in his book, The History of Animals VII, part 3 (350 B.C.E).

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2.) A shot of Mercury

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Women in ancient China drank a shot of mercury after sex. It did prevent unwanted pregnancies though, but it also caused sterility, kidney failure and brain damage.

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3.) Pessaries made of crocodile dung

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The Egyptian pessary is a concoction made of crocodile dung which is inserted into the vagina to block and kill sperm.
Ancient Egyptians used pessaries as the earliest contraceptive device for women. It was made of crocodile dung, honey, and sodium carbonate to pregnancies at bay.

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4.) Lemon Juice Sponge

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As part of a contraception drive in the past, women would squeeze lemon juice onto a sponge and then insert the sponge in their vagina, hoping that the juice’s acidity would serve as a sperm killer preventing pregnancies.

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5.) Breath-holding and sneezing

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Women in Ancient Greece believed that holding their breath during the deed and sneezing after, would expel the seminary fluid, making them unable to get pregnant.

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6.) Condoms made from tortoise shell or horn

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Back in Ancient Japan, condoms for safe sex were made using tortoise horn or shell.

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7.) Froth from Camel’s mouth

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To prevent pregnancy in Ancient Africa, women were told to drink the froth from the mouth of a camel.

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8.) Sheep urine or rabbit's blood

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In prehistoric times in Europe, women drank the urine of sheep or rabbit’s blood to avoid getting pregnant.

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9.) Pessaries made of Elephant dung

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In the 11th-century, pessaries made from Elephant dung was a favourite in Persia.

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10.) Goat bladder condoms

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In the Imperial Roman era, goat bladders were used to make condoms worn by men and women for safe sex.

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11.) Onion juice

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Applying onion juice to the penis before sex was another commonly practiced contraceptive method, in Ancient Egypt.

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12.) Coca Cola Douching

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As recent as the 1950s, there was the belief that douching with ‘coca-cola’ which contained the combination of carbonated water and sugar would be perfect for preventing pregnancy.

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13.) Condoms made from animal gut

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In the early 20th century, condoms were made of animal gut membrane, known as caecal. These Caecal condoms did prevent pregnancies, but since they were made of animal membrane they were porous to viruses. Hence, it did not prevent sexually transmitted infections reliably.

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14.) Contraceptive Sponge

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In the 1910s, the Society for Constructive Birth Control promoted the use of Contraceptive Sponge. The sponge is made of rubber, and it served as a cervical blockage preventing pregnancies.

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References:

• Scary contraceptives
• Medieval Contraception

Further Reading:

• History of birth-control
• Birth-control-contraception
• Craziest birth-control methods,
• History of condoms
• Women’s Heath
• Worst contraceptives of all time
• Hideous birth control methods through the ages

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