Contraception — And Abortion From The Ancient Wor...

In the absence of a social safety net, family size was strictly managed to prevent poverty.

Wealthy women had access to "professional" midwives and discreet herbalists, while the poor often relied on dangerous folk remedies. ⚠️ A Note on Safety Contraception and Abortion from the Ancient Wor...

Under the Roman Empire, late-term abortion was sometimes penalized—not as murder, but as a "fraud" against the husband who was being deprived of an heir. In the absence of a social safety net,

In some cultures, women drank solutions containing toxic metals. While they prevented pregnancy, they often caused organ failure or death. ⚕️ Abortion: Surgical and Chemical In some cultures, women drank solutions containing toxic

While it contains a line against providing "pessaries to cause abortion," historians debate if this was a total ban or a specific rejection of dangerous, invasive methods. 🏛️ Social and Legal Context