It's hard to imagine that there is so much controversy over reproductive rights.
If this list proves anything, it's that people have been trying to avoid having kids for thousands of years. Or at least people have wanted some control over when to have them. Unfortunately, this has led to some downright awful, terrible, crazy birth control practices. Some of them are silly and superstitious, while the majority of them are dangerous.
Who knows what some of these cultures were thinking when they decided they could prevent pregnancy with household items and animal parts? Let's just say this was a less scientifically advanced world. Hey, someone had to make these mistakes so that we could learn from them, right? Thank goodness we know much more about the body today than we did say even a few decades ago. 'Cause these birth control methods are seriously WTF!
Please do not try any of these at home. We are begging you.
1. Douching With Coca-Cola
It was previously believed that carbonation and sugar would act as spermicide. So naturally, in the 1960s, women used Coca-Cola as post-coital douches.
2. Clogging The Cervix With Honey
The Ancient Mesopotamians would put honey and acacia leaves in their vaginas to block sperm.
3. Inserting Crocodile Poop
Ancient Egyptians would insert a pessary of crocodile poop into the vagina.
4. Drinking Mercury
Thousands of years ago, Chinese women would drink mercury after sex. While this may have successfully prevented pregnancy, it also resulted in sterility, brain damage, and kidney failure.
Click to the next page to see what bizarre — and disgusting — concoction some women used to drink!
5. Beaver Testicle Moonshine
In the 16th century, Canadians drank moonshine with ground-up beaver testicles in it. Yum!
6. Metal Diaphragms
Around 300 AD, women used diaphragms made of gold, silver, and ivory. These women were no strangers to toxic shock syndrome and infections.
7. Weasel Testicle Anklets
In the Dark Ages, European women strapped weasel testicles to their legs. Such a beautiful and functional accessory!
8. Lemon Diaphragms
In the 1700s, lemon diaphragms were quite common. Women would cut the lemon in half, insert it into their cervix to “catch the sperm,” and then the citrus would presumably kill the sperm. Sounds legit.
Want to know what the oldest known condom was made out of? Click to the next page!
9. Pig Intestine Condoms
One of the oldest known condoms is made from pig intestines.
10. Olive Oil and Lead
In 350 B.C.E., Aristotle instructed women to rub the “womb” with cedar oil, lead, incense, and olive oil to prevent pregnancy.
11. Opium Diaphragms
Ancient Sumarians made diaphragms of opium because it sounded like a great idea at the time.
12. Drinking Toxic Blacksmith Water
Folks would drink blacksmith water — yes, the water blacksmiths would use to cool their materials — because the delicious (and toxic!) lead was believed to make them sterile.
Let’s all be thankful science has evolved past these 12 unbelievable birth control methods…and SHARE this article with everyone you know!
