Birth Control

Birth Control. Ah yes, birth control.

This refers to condoms (male and female), "the pill", abstinence, IUD, "the shot", "the ring", diaphragm, natural family planning and withdrawal method. Let me know if I have forgotten any.

The first contraceptive history dates back to 200 AD. There was a greek gynecologist named Soranus who thought that women ovulated during menstruation. His suggestions were to smear pomegranate pulp, ginger, olive oil around the vagina to kill sperm. Also, jumping backwards 7 times after sex to dislodge sperm.

Ever wonder where the word condom originated from? According to Buzzle.com, it derives from the latin word Condus, which means a vessel or container. This word was probably chosen because it was first aimed to hold the semen and bacteria/and or viruses that are sexually transmitted. In 1880, latex condoms were first produced. As time went on, there was a double standard for condom use. Men were prescribed condoms to prevent themselves for disease for premarital sex while women could not get condoms to prevent pregnancy.
A man named Dr. Gregory Pincus developed the first oral contraceptive in the 1950s. The first birth control pill did not appear till 1960. "The first oral contraceptive contained 100 to 175 mcg of estrogen and as much as 10mg of progestin, significantly higher levels of both hormones than in today's pill. (35mcg of estrogen and .25mg norgestimate)"(http://imr.bsd.uchicago.edu) Later on in 1970, something called the "mini-pill" was introduced. It was an oral contraceptive containing only progestin. The mini pill worked by creating changes in the cervix and uterus that make it difficult for a sperm and egg to unite.