What were the ancient methods of contraception?

In the eyes of modern people, contraception is a very simple thing. As long as men wear condoms during sexual intercourse or women take oral contraceptives, accidental pregnancy can be completely prevented. Even if contraception fails, the chance is relatively small. Relatively speaking, contraception in ancient times was much more troublesome. Not only were the methods unreasonable, but the operation was also very troublesome. So what were the contraceptive methods in ancient times?

The ancient residents of Sumatra actually used opium as a contraceptive. We don't know how they did it, perhaps they made the opium into a sticky ointment and wedged it into the women's bodies. But please don't do it because we don't know what the side effects will be.

By the sixteenth century, most people had realized that dried feces and hard metal were not suitable for female body parts. Many people were inspired by seeing a lemon cut in half and hollowed it out to make a "cervical cap". Perhaps the first person to use this contraceptive tool was a man. Modern scientific research shows that the acid contained in citrus fruits can kill sperm. This method is safer, more convenient, and also more refreshing and fragrant.

Using expensive materials such as gold, silver and ivory as contraceptives may sound good, but it is actually very cruel. Thousands of years ago, people made "uterine sheaths" based on the shape of the female uterus. Rich families could use materials such as gold, silver or ivory to make them, and then wrap them with oil paper or beeswax. Obviously, these things sound very scary, and this contraceptive tool was later called "an instrument for torturing women." Sometimes, these things can even cause toxic shock in women, cause all kinds of unpleasant odors from the body, and even cause infections, but they are not very effective in preventing pregnancy.

The ancient Greeks believed that molten iron could also be used as a contraceptive. Although we don't know who invented this method, it is a fact that lead is contained in the iron water. During World War I, women who worked in lead-producing factories suffered abnormally high rates of infertility. Scientific research has found that drinking hot metal can cause neurological diseases, kidney failure, coma, and even death. Its function seems to be similar to that of mercury.

Through the above introduction, everyone has a general understanding of the ancient methods of contraception. It is not difficult to find that these methods not only have many defects and are not scientifically reasonable, but also pose considerable health risks. To be precise, it is a kind of destruction to the female body, and in serious cases it can put women's lives in danger.