History of Contraception

From crocodile dung to lactic acid anhydride, contraception dates back as far as ancient Egypt and Greece . Many methods, inventions and substances were used in order to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Oddly enough, using substances such as crocodile dung was never questioned! How it was used can be left to the imagination…….

Dating back to 1850 BC, ancient Egyptians were responsible for using the infamous dung in addition to the female irrigating her vagina with a mixture of honey and sodium bicarbonate. The Ancient Egyptians also developed a tampon-like object that contained lactic acid anhydride, a chief ingredient in modern contraceptive jellies. We can safely conclude that our ancestors were on the right path! According to an ancient manuscript called Ebers Papyrus, 1550 BC, women were advised to mix together dates, acacia bark and honey into a sugary paste and place it in the vulva. This method was often efficient because as the sugar ferments it is converted into lactic acid, as mentioned before, a well-known spermicide.

Commonly used and popular among young adults today is the condom. The condom has a rich history and the concept has been known for some time now. Long before condoms came in different sizes, shapes and colors, animal membranes and pieces of linen were sewn together to form a covering for the penis. The rubber condom was developed shortly after the creation of vulcanized rubber in the 1840's, by Goodyear. Vulcanized means that the rubber is subjected to sulfur and extreme heat which in turn processes the rubber into a strong elastic material. By 1930 liquid latex was used and is still what is used today to manufacture condoms. By the 1990's new technology has improved the quality an effectiveness of the condom enabling manufacturers to make them in different sizes, colors and even flavors.

The origin of the condom is still unknown but it is said that a “Dr. Condom” supplied King Charles II of England with animal tissue sheathes to prevent him from fathering illegitimate children. Public Health concerns started to win over the moralistic attitudes of the time regarding promiscuous sex, when syphilis became rampant among American soldiers in World War 1. By the second World War, military leaders had a more realistic attitude about condoms and their use was strongly enforced. Today, condoms are widely used to protect against STI's, HIV and pregnancy. The condom's effectiveness can range between 85-98%, depending on how it is used and the concurrent use of spermicide.

After World War II, the increasing rise in world population was alarming. The birth control pill was developed in order to curve this increase. In 1950 an American biologist Gregory Pincus developed the “ideal” oral contraception, which was tested on women from Haiti and Puerto Rico . In 1960 the first oral contraception, Enovid-10, was launched in the US market, known as the “pill”. Women were finally enthused about a form of contraception marketed as “safe and effective” and readily used the pill. Within two years oral contraception was used by over 1.2 million women and the numbers continued to rise.

Technology has allowed the contraception industry to flourish, coming up with many different types of contraception for females, with varying degrees of acceptance and success eg. lower estrogen birth control pills; progestin-releasing intra-uterine device; new ways to deliver spermicides – Vaginal Contraceptive Film, Advantage 24 (bioadhesive gel), Leah's Shield (a fusion of the diaphragm and cervical cap), spermicidal sponge; longer-acting hormonal contraceptives such as Depo-Provera; the female condom; the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP) (sometimes called the “morning after pill); Recently launched and quite innovative is the Evra transdermal contraceptive patch, which is worn on the abdomen area or on the back, a similar idea to the patch for quitting smoking, it slowly releases estrogen and progestin into the body. Its effectiveness is similar to the oral contraceptive pill and will be available in late 2003. Research continues to be done in the areas of contraceptive injections, pills, nasal sprays and implants for men. However there has been little interest in the drug companies developing them, perhaps due to the lack of enthusiasm from men.

There will continue to be research and development in methods of birth control. Though factors such as the high cost of developing drugs, less money for research from governments, and the concern of lawsuits for manufacturers will have a definite influence. The hope is always there for effective, safe and satisfying methods of contraception.