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Position:Home>History> Before modern contraception how did prostitutes stop themselves getting pregnantQuestion: Before modern contraception how did prostitutes stop themselves getting pregnant!? Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Many prostitutes (even in this day and age) contract gonorrhea early on in their careers!. Left untreated (and there really weren't any effective treatments until the advent of penicillin), this disease leads to scarring of the Fallopian tubes and, ultimately, sterility!. Of course, there were also herbs that, in a proper mixture, could induce a spontaneous abortion!. The problem with these remedies (as well as a visit to the local abortionist) is that you could never be certain that the fruit of conception would be totally expelled (or removed)!. If it wasn't, infection set in which often resulted in the death of the mother!.Www@QuestionHome@Com There were various ways!. A natural sponge soaked in vinegar had a pretty good success rate!. The vinegar was to acidic for the sperm and they died!. There were also various herbs and seeds that could prevent pregnancy!. also there were herbs that could be taken to cause miscarriage!. or spontaneous abortion!. These were dangerous and had to be used early in pregnancy!. Nothing was fool proof!. A lot of brothels turned out children to the streets or worse, kept them!.Www@QuestionHome@Com They used a douche, which didn't usually work!. also condoms made from all sorts, pig skin being the oldest kind known, amongst other things!. They have been in use for centuries!. Abortions could said to be bought on by drinking a tea made from Pennyroyal (a herb) or could be illegally performed!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Samuel Pepys mentions somewhere in his diary having sex with a prostitute using a clumsy form of condom!. But, in fact, I guess they didn't stop getting pregnant!. That's why cities were full of waifs and strays!.Www@QuestionHome@Com A little piece of sponge soaked in vinegar, put where the sun don't shine!. Condoms have been around since Roman times, I believe, made of some sort of animal skin!. Www@QuestionHome@Com I thought there was a deal whereby she would press her thighs together and the client would penetrate between the thighs!. I read about that being done sometimes!. Though naturally I have forgotten my source!.Www@QuestionHome@Com To add to the other excellent answers - Some of the girls and women of the streets had so many venereal diseases (STDs) and abortions they became infertile!.Www@QuestionHome@Com I know in Ancient Egypt they used watermelon as a natural form of birth control!. Www@QuestionHome@Com They offered special discounts for non-penetrative sex!?Www@QuestionHome@Com they didnt swallow they spatWww@QuestionHome@Com maybe putting some kind of barrier in-or abortionWww@QuestionHome@Com i think it was just a combination of timing, and back street abortionsWww@QuestionHome@Com they didn't they just went to back street surgeons for an abortionWww@QuestionHome@Com they didn't!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com Chastity belts!.Www@QuestionHome@Com |