Female Contraceptives through the Ages and its Implications.The use of contraceptives has been one of the most controversial issues in history, and this controversy continues in some sectors today.

The use of contraceptives has been one of the most controversial issues in history, and this controversy continues in some sectors today. Some people support the idea of contraceptives as a way of family planning, especially in areas that are already densely populated, and where there is a need to control the population. Others oppose the use of contraceptives, especially because of religion. People have realized the importance of birth control for a long time. People realized that they enjoy being intimate with each other, while at the same time control their families and prevent unwanted pregnancies when doing so. One of the most commonly used methods traditionally was withdrawal. It did not require any instruments, applications, or any resources. The only requirement was a strong will on the part of the man, in knowing when to withdraw. Men have traditionally been responsible for birth control methods, because of the use of methods such as withdrawal and the use of condoms.

Discussion

The issue of birth control has continued to interest many people over the years, and this has led to the development of different contraceptive methods. Some of the methods used traditionally may seem crude in modern times, but the people used them because of necessity. Other methods that have been used have posed grave danger to both the man and the woman. Advances in science, technology, and medicine have led to the development of safer and more effective methods. However, the evolution of the contraceptives seems to have placed greater responsibility on the female. The development of contraceptives have given women a greater choice regarding their sexuality, but many of the methods used continue to have different side effects, which have affected women’s health negatively.

A contraceptive is a device used in the prevention of conception. The contraceptives methods used before involved abstinence and withdrawal (coitus interruptus). Before the advance in medicine, many women took the initiative of developing their own contraceptives. Some women inserted objects into their reproductive systems before having sex. Depending on the substance used, the objects would either block or kill the sperm. Some of the objects reduced the motility of the sperms. Some of the women used pastes made from different substances, such as gum, honey, animal dung and acacia shrub. Some women used plugs such as fabric, different parts of plants, paper, wood, seaweed, and tampons soaked in a solution of salt, oil, and identified acids, which they inserted into their vaginas (Engelman 3).

Many women used the resources that were available in their regions. Others ensured that they washed and douched immediately after sexual intercourse, as a way of preventing intercourse. Some women made teas from different herbs and plants, which served in preventing pregnancies or which induced abortions. They would use poplar, hawthorn bark, and ivy, as they believed that these were sterilizing agents. Some women often used dangerous products such as lead, strychnine, and products containing arsenic, and this often resulted to their deaths (Zoumbaris 119). Others tried to create an unfavorable environment for the sperm by taking water, which had been boiled with copper, or which they got from the cooling buckets of blacksmith. The water contained chemicals that killed the sperms.

Other crude methods used for birth control included using cedar gum to cover the genitals, inserting pomegranate seeds in the vagina, and using vaginal sponges that were soaked in wine (Zoumbaris 120). The first condoms developed were uncomfortable because of the material used for their manufacture. They were made in the sixteenth century, though people had used sheaths as a covering and a form of protection earlier. The initial intention of their development was to prevent venereal diseases. Manufactures made them using skins and bladders from animals or linen. They changed the material to rubber in the nineteenth century, and this led to their mass production. This made them cheaper, and people began using them as contraceptives (Engelman 3-4).

Most of the methods used were harmful, and some of them were obviously painful to the women. There was great reliance on different plant products as contraceptive methods. However, with time, and especially during the industrialization period, many people began looking for ways of developing more effective, less cumbersome, and safer contraceptives. They began searching and experimenting with different materials which could serve as contraceptives. With each subsequent development, people interested in developing contraceptives had to deal with the social and religious pressures, which hindered their efforts. There was much objection from religious people, who saw pregnancy avoidance as a sin, since marriage was often meant to lead to procreation. Many religious people did not advocate for premarital sex then. There was much sexual repression and the people had limited sexual freedom. Many people were able to overcome the barriers they faced, and they continued developing more contraceptives. Moreover, many of the researchers realized the greater commercial value of selling the contraceptives. Many people were willing to try the different contraceptives in the market, because they wanted to enjoy sexual intercourse without any pregnancy concerns.

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