wtfhistory reblogged
To Serve and Protect: Historical Contraceptives
- Pessaries (medical devices inserted into the vagina) made from crocodile dung (Egypt, 1300 BC)
- Swallowing 16 tadpoles fried in quicksilver immediately after intercourse (female) (China, 900 BC)
- Eating mashed pomegranate mixed with rock salt and alum (Arabian peninsula, 200 BC)
- Spitting 3 times into the mouth of a frog, or to eat bees, immediately after intercourse (female) (Dominican Church, 1100)
- Drinking raw onion juice (female) (Italy, 1400)
- Cabbage, taken orally after intercourse (France. 1600)
- Applying tobacco juice to the genitals (female) (Germany, 1650)
- Islamic women are advised to jump backward 7-9 times immediately after sex (1700)
- Condoms made from animal offal (internal organs and entrails). The original condoms were made from sausage skins by slaughterhouse workers. (Europe, 1750)
- Casanova swears by placing 3 gold balls inside his partner (1750)
- Rubber is vulcanized and will later be used in making condoms. The Japanese, however, continue to use sheaths made from leather or tortoiseshell (1843)
Source: 5 People Who Died During Sex and 100 Other Terribly Tasteless Lists
Casanova also used sheepskin (read: intestine) condoms. Those are still available today, mostly for people with latex allergies. But they have small holes so they aren’t as effective, especially not against STDs, so be aware.
….As for the rest of these, just because they USED to do it does NOT mean you ought to. Tadpoles in mercury and bees? Really? Really? Where did you ever come up with that?!