Birth Control from 1800 to present

Birth Control from 1800 until now

November 2, 2010

Birth Control is defined as the process or many ways that we use to stop pregnancy. It also helps women plan for the birth of their children at the best time. Birth Control has been of interest to people for thousands of years. As you read you will see the changes in Birth Control and its safety.

Even though many women had an interest in Birth Control before the early 1800’s, not many women used anything because the death rate in children was very high. They felt if they had many children at least a few would live. There have been many changes in Birth Control and laws since the early 1800’s.

Through many years and a lot of research Birth Control has changed and is safer. The Comstock Law passed in 1873, made it illegal to give out information or anything to prevent pregnancy. That law made Birth Control illegal for about the next 60 years. In 1972 the Supreme Court legalized birth control. So let’s look at Birth Control from 1800 until now.

Birth Control before early 1800 were things like sea sponges, quinine, rock salt, alum, and mixture of crocodile dung and honey put in the vagina to help prevent pregnancy. “Soranus suggested women try jumping backwards seven times after intercourse to expel sperm, drink water that blacksmiths used to cool metals and smear ginger, tobacco juice, olive oil or pomegranate pulp around the vagina to kill sperm.” Condoms were made of animal intestines, linen, and tortoise shells. Some of these were safe, but many were not.

As child death rates began to drop women began to be concerned about Birth Control this was in the early 1800’s. As research began to find new ways of Birth Control it was met with resistance from groups and religious leaders.

Until Charles Goodyear invented the “vulcanization of rubber” in 1839, they were still using condoms made of animal intestines and old methods of birth control. The first rubber condom was made in 1844. They were used to help prevent pregnancy and also to prevent sexually transmitted diseases. Rubber manufactures also began to make “douching syringes” and “womb veils,” and what amounted to “IUD’s.” Women could buy “chemical suppositories, vaginal sponges, and medicated tampons” in pharmacies by 1870. Women were encouraged to put these items into their bodies by advertisements and doctors.

The Comstock Law of 1873 controlled access to Birth Control and information for about the next 60 years. This made it even illegal for doctors to give out Birth Control or information out also. People would bootleg Birth Control. Julius Schmidt came to the U.S.A. in 1882 from Germany with no money. He made condoms from animal intestines; he was arrested because of the Comstock Law. After he was released he made a fortune selling the “Sheik and Ramses brands.” They got around the law by “advertising in euphemisms (rubber goods for gents 25 cents each, married women’s friends) and using aliases, 26 of them in one case.”

So during the 1800 research was beginning. Condoms were getting better and there were a few safer choices, but the laws were keeping research and progress slow. People had to keep Birth Control sales and information hidden or risk going to jail.

Birth Control in the early 1900’s was condoms, douching, diaphragms, and abortion. In 1918, there were worries of the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. Judge Crane in New York rules that condoms could be sold legally “for prevention of disease only.” By early 1930 they were producing 1.44 million condoms a day. Other laws were helping to weaken the Comstock Law.

Since Birth Control was an illegal business they began selling items as “hygiene products” not Birth Control. They advertised vaginal sponges as protection from “germs” instead of sperm. From 1930 to 1960 Lysol disinfectant was advertised as a douche hygiene product not birth control.

In 1972 the Supreme Court legalized Birth Control. The first Birth Control Pills were available in 1960. The pill is almost 100 percent effective if taken right. There are risks but mainly for those women over 35 who smoke. Two big risks associated with the pill are heart attacks and strokes.

So during the 1900’s a big change Birth Control became legal in 1972. After it became legal they could quit with false advertising to get around the law.

Today most men do not worry about Birth Control; they leave these decisions to the women. Two-thirds of all condoms bought are bought by women not only for Birth Control, but for use to prevent sexually transmitted disease.

With all the choices we as women have almost half of all U.S. pregnancies are not planned. Over 12 million people are affected yearly with new sexually transmitted diseases. The CDC reports that over 65 million U.S. residents now have sexually transmitted diseases that have no cure. Today we have many choices, and the pill is very popular. Below are nine other Birth Control options for women to pick from.

The condom has been around along time. It also helps to stop the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. They are only about 85 to 98 percent effective on preventing pregnancy, so it would not hurt to use another method along with the condom.

The IUD or Intrauterine devices are over 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. An IUD can last from 5 to 12 years and still be reliable and safe to use. It does not protect from sexually transmitted disease though.

A Birth Control implant can protect you from pregnancy for up to 3 years. It is around 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. You would have a flexible rod put in your arm under the skin surgically. In around 3 years you would need to have it surgically removed and another one put in. It will also not protect you from sexually transmitted disease.

A vaginal contraceptive ring is 92 percent effective against pregnancy when used correctly. You would insert it into the vagina and keep it there for three weeks. You than remove the ring wait one week and insert a new ring. This method does not prevent sexually transmitted disease either.

A very popular choice today is the drug Depo-Provera. You get one shot every three months. It is over 99 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. Many women gain weight with this method. It does not protect from sexually transmitted disease though.

The transdermal patch is only about 92 percent effective to stop pregnancy. You apply a patch once a week for three weeks than you remove the patch. You have one patch free week and than put on a new patch. This method will not stop the spread of sexually transmitted disease.

 

A diaphragm is only 84 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. You need to be fitted for yours by a doctor. You will put it in and remove it as needed. This method will not stop the spread of sexually transmitted disease.

The contraceptive sponge if working right provides 24 hours of protection against pregnancy. It does not work effectively 16 to 32 percent of the time. This is not a very good method, because it is only effective 68 to 84 percent of the time. It will not protect from sexually transmitted disease.

Finally surgical sterilization is almost 100 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. This procedure is called tubal ligation and should only be done as a permanent solution. In some cases this procedure is reversible but not all the time. Reversal is expensive and not covered by most insurance. It will not protect from sexually transmitted disease either.

I have learned some interesting facts on Birth Control and its history. Today we as women have so many more choices; it’s legal, and safer. With all these choices available today if sexually active women become pregnant she has no one to blame but herself.

The other issue is sexually transmitted disease and the best way to protect from these is to use condoms. If you as a woman are going to be sexually active carry protection yourself do not depend on the man.

The only way to be 100 percent sure that you will not become pregnant or get a sexually transmitted disease is abstinence. Most people today do not want to hear that word, but it is the only 100 percent guarantee that will keep you safe from both of these. It may not be a popular decision but it is the safest and best choice that we as women have. With pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases at such high numbers, we as women need to help get these numbers down.

“Hooray for Choice”, but lets each choose wisely.

Sources:
Fitzgerald, Jeanne T., Rayburn, William F.M.D., Zuspan, Frederick, P.M.D., Every Woman's Pharmacy, (The C.V. Mosby Company, 1983), pages 99-114, 209, 213, 214.

Vecchio, Thomas J., M.D., F.A.C.P., Birth Control By Injection, (Vantage Press, 1993), pages 1-21, 32-35, 134-145.

EHow, "What is Artifical Family Planning," http://www.ehow.com,9/20/2010.

Free Essays, "Birth Control," http://www.freeessays.cc, 9/20/2010.

MS Magazine, "Hooray for Choices! 10 Birth Control Options Besides The Pill," http://www.msmagazine.com, 9/20/2010.

New York Times, "The Secret History of Birth Control," http://www.nytimes.com, 9/20/2010.

The Medicine Cabinet, "A History of Birth Control," http://www.medicinenet.com, 9/20/2010.

Images from the Web:

http://contraception.about.com, date consulted 11/06/10. (Image 1, 3, 5, 6, 7)

Images used for student project.

http://kingcounty.gov, date consulted 11/06/10. (Image 2, 4, 8)

Images used for student project.