On Thursday, August 16th, a small group of about fifteen women and two men came together for a community forum on The History of Women & Fertility.  The forum speaker was Angela Ogle, who has been researching the topic for 13 years.  Her open dialogue brought an intimate atmosphere as valuable information was shared with the group.

Control and knowledge were the dominant themes as Angela pointed out women have always held some control over their fertility.  But women have not always been able to pass on their knowledge of fertility.  So where do women stand in modern times?  Are we better off now with our new technologies, or are we still disconnected from fully understanding our bodies and reproduction?

As Angela delved into ancient cultures’ fertility practices and then described the transition from feudal to capitalist society with the changes it wrought on women’s fertility, I realized how unaware I have been of this history.  The public education I received was clearly inadequate, and I doubted any women in my family knew this information either, or else they would have shared it.  Sitting there I wondered if the majority of women today are also in the dark.

Despite popular opinion, the birth control methods we use today are nothing new.  In ancient times, women developed barrier methods to control menstruation which led to using these methods as birth control.  It was amazing to hear about the natural objects and plants that ancient women used, and to find out that vitamin C is a natural spermicide.  They even developed the first IUD’s, metal or ivory balls or pebbles were implanted in a woman’s uterus which ensured she would not bear children again.  These women had methods for abortion, and also utilized plants and herbs to prevent pregnancy much like our modern birth control pills.  Studies show these plants had endocrine system affecting properties, inhibiting estrogen levels, etc.  A nomadic woman, who could not risk becoming pregnant on a long migration, would use these herbal concoctions as long as she could carry her plants with her.  Some of the plants and fruits are still common today, such as mint and pomegranates.  But today women are unaware that these foods have such properties.

These ancient women were able to pass on their fertility knowledge through oral tradition and midwifery.  But in Europe, once feudal society shifted to capitalism, society’s values changed, requiring women to reproduce.  A steady supply of workers was needed, and along with a shift in church doctrine, the Inquisition, and negative associations with women healers or “witches,” women lost the fertility and birthing knowledge previous generations had.  Sadly, this is also seen in post-colonial countries to this day as women lose their fertility knowledge. 

Angela then discussed a 17th century midwife’s work in the French countryside teaching rural women how to give birth and effectively lower the infant mortality rate.  She developed the first gynecological model out of bones, cloth and sponges, and dedicated her life to teaching women about fertility.  But as the medical industry developed, midwives were in competition with a growing number of male doctors.  These male counterparts did not practice the hygiene methods of midwives, resulting in more women dying from fever in childbirth than anything else.  Though people are now aware of bacteria and hygiene, today’s medical industry is still dominated by males.

Angela concluded with staggering contemporary statistics.  In 2005, 95% of US women gave birth in a hospital.  Though initially one would think this is good, the infant mortality rate in the US does not decrease in relation to this.  Also in 2005, 93% of US women had a fetal monitor strapped around their bellies during birth, while studies show these have no benefit for the mother or baby.  Caesarian sections are the most common surgery in the US today and hysterectomies are the second most common.  In 1975, less than 15% of women had caesarian sections, while today more than 32% of women have the procedure.  The percentage of caesarian sections and episiotomies (when an incision is made to the vaginal opening during childbirth to prevent tearing) performed in the US are astronomical compared to other developed nations.  And it all seems unnecessary as studies show no benefits from the regular or systematic use of these procedures.  The hospital environment, conditions and standard requirements lead to more stress for a pregnant woman in labor and correlates with the rise in c-sections performed.  While many claim our healthcare is great in the US, we are ranked 40th among developed nations for the lowest infant mortality rate.  That is the second highest infant mortality rate among developed nations.

Women in the US today maintain a level of control over their fertility, but we have not yet fully regained our knowledge despite our technology and advancements in medicine.  Though standard health classes teach us about our anatomy and reproduction, I believe change in our society’s values and view of women is required to gain more beneficial knowledge of fertility, birthing, and even motherhood.  The education of girls and boys is not equal; as our society still views females as bearing the primary responsibility for spreading disease and overlook the necessity for males to be as aware and responsible for their health and fertility as women are.  Also, the control women have over their fertility is still based on economic and social factors, as affluent women have more access to birth control, quality healthcare, abortions, and education.  With the continual threat to overturn Roe v. Wade, and the practice of state sanctioned sterilizations on ethnic women that occurs to this day while being ignored by most media and people, the control women have over their fertility is not definite. 

Only with continued efforts to educate the community, both women and men, and spread awareness of our history and present conditions can women increase their control and expand their knowledge of fertility.  So let’s have more forums, more group discussions, and one-on-one conversations about the subject.  Until women can collectively say that we have maximum control over our fertility and possess enough knowledge of our past and present to pass on to future generations.


-Genevieve