Prostitution before contraception

[Stu in USA]

What was the first method of contraception and how did prostitutes try to prevent pregnancy prior to this? Sorry if this is the wrong section.

[delboy3]

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.

Yummy.

[jno]

withdrawal, probably.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contraception#His tory

[mrspask]

I liked the Roman version.Can you still get these when you visit Italy

[Stu in USA]

Thanks for your answers. I assumed that withdrawal would have been the first, but doubt that it was a practical method for prostitutes to employ.

[Octavius]

Some more history here:

http://www.afn.org/~afn32612/Contraception.htm

[JonnyBoy12]

Not sure as was not around at this time and do not use protitutes anyway. Heard that there was a very early form of condom make from catgut, and the Romans use to put marbles in the aforementioned orafice. This would work in a similar method to today's coil as it would part the vagina.
Another thought on this as that as people were not keen to wash in those days that they could not get pregnant due to lack of hygiene, and possible malnutrition. They were not fit enough to get pregnant. Don't quote me on this though.




Or maybe they just had really ugly prostitutes.......

[Stu in USA]

Sorry to quote you JohnnyBoy, but I doubt that lack of hygiene and malnutrition would prevent pregnancy. Those awful images of famine victims with starving babies seem to prove otherwise.

[s10driver]

Herbs, maybe?

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/061013.htm l

[UK_Pagan52]

The Egyptians had a form of contraception using herbs.

[fletcher.5]

During Roman times normal sex produced children, however for sexual purposes only, the male would enter a different orifice

[kujawski]

erm, they probably took it up the bum