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The history of contraception in Hungary
Prof. Nándor Ács
Head2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Semmelweis University
It is an ancient wish of mankind to makedecisions on family
planning, thus toprevent becoming pregnant when it is
not desireable.
Ancient Egypt
- pomegranate seed grist
- linen condom
- crocodile stool balls (Kahun Papyrus)
-tampon with a coction of honey and acacia
The settlem ent of M agyars in Hungary895-900 AD
• A half-nomad, militant nation, with primitive medication•
Healing was in the hands of magicians, shamans and wise-
women• Familiar with contemporary family planning:
interrupted coitus, stuffing of the vagina with herbs, rosinsand
plants
Under the Kings from the house of Árpád(1001-1301)
• Spreading of Christianity – cloisters founded, the main aimwas
the promotion of childbirth, not contraception• Prostitution began
to spread – first brothel in Buda set
up in 1279• King László IV – decree in 1279: „…everybody
will
be anathematized who… evilly causes early birth orabortion”
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Late Middle ages - Renaissance
• Obstetrics in the hand of midwives• Abortive agents used:
roots of
hollyhock, lavender, juniper, parsley, marjoram
• Queen Beatrice: her sterility was alsodue to an induced
abortion.Severe consequences on Hungarianhistory
• The Law Book of Buda (1425): thebanishment of people who
performedabortion. If the mother died theaborteur was sentenced to
death. Death was also the fate of those whosterilized a woman K in
g M a th ia s
Austro-Hungarian Em pire(from 1526)
• S m a l l H o u s e h o ld D ic t io n a r y o f M e d ic in
e
( 1 7 9 7 ) : „ … th e m a n c r u s h e s th e b e r r i e s o
f t h e
s p in d le b e r r y t r e e a n d g iv e s th e p o w d e r to
th ew o m a n to d r in k … h e r b lo o d w i l l s t a r t ”
• S im i l a r f o r m u la s …
• C o r p u s J u r i s H u n g a r i c a e in 1 6 7 5 : a g a
in s t a n y
a c t iv i t y o f p e r f o r m in g a b o r t i o n . M id w
iv e s h a d to r e p o r t p r e g n a n t w o m e n to th e a u
th o r i t i e s .
• T h e s e n t e n c e o f a b o r t i o n w a s im p r i s o n
m e n t
f r o m o n e m o n th to f iv e y e a r s
19-20th century
• Condoms• Pessaries• Sponges• Cervical caps• Home made
spermicide
lavages
Modern ages
• Under the communist era abortus was abandoned between1949 and
1953
• Childless people had to pay extra tax
• Around 100,000 illegal abortions / year !!!
• Legal abortion made easier in 1956
Types of contraception in Hungary, 1958–1993(%)
A fogamzásgátlás fő módja
1958a/ 1966a/ 1977a/ 1986a/ 1993b/
Megszakított érintkezés 52 63 23 11 8Naptár módszer 7 4 4 3
3Condom 21 17 5 5 11Pesszárium 4 6 1 0 –Méhen belüli eszköz, IUD –
0 13 26 24Orális szerek, tabletta – 0 49 54 52Egyéb módszer 16 10 5
1 2Összesen 100 100 100 100 100
100 nő közül védekezik 59 67 72 73 73 nem védekezik 41 33 28 27
27
a/ 15-39 éves házas nőkb/ 18-41 éves párkapcsolatban élő nők
év
Keresztmetszeti vizsgálatok
Types of contraception in Hungary, 1989–2001(%)
A fogamzásgátlás fő módja
1989a/ 1990b/ 2001c/
Megszakított érintkezés 4 10 4Naptár módszer 3 4 4Condom 11 12
17Pesszárium – 1 –Méhen belüli eszköz, IUD 23 36 23Orális szerek,
tabletta 58 36 49Egyéb módszer 1 1 3Összesen 100 100 100
100 nő közül védekezik 67 68 73 nem védekezik 33 32 27
a/ 6 évvel a házasságkötés utánb/ 16 évvel a házasságkötés
utánc/ 10 évvel a házasságkötés után
Házassági longitudinális vizsgálatok
év
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• Condoms got their name froma british doctor in the 16th
century, doctor Condom.
• He produced a linen condomfor King Charles II who wasinfamous
for his debouchery.
• They tried to prevent the birth of any more bastard childrenof
him.
The origin of „condom s” Condoms
The use of modern condoms becamepopular after Goodyear invented
thevulcanisation of rubber
Condomproduction in Hungary
• Magyar Ruggyanta és Gumigyár• MRG• „Emerg锕 Exporting to
France and other western
countries• World power in condomproduction !
• IUDs became popular in Hungary in the 1960ies-
1970ies.• Various types on the market• The most popular was
the
Szontágh-loop
IUDs in Hungary
Ludwig Haberlandtin Innsbruck
Gedeon Richterin Budapest
An OC, named Infecundin was ready to be produced in the
1930ies
History of OC in Hungary
1966. Infecundin
1970. Bisecurin
1980- modern, low dose oralcontraceptives
OC history in Hungary
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OCs in Hungary1 9 6 6 I n f e c u n d in
1 9 7 0 B i s e c u r in1 9 7 4 C o n t in u in
1 9 7 6 O v id o n
1 9 7 9 R ig e v id o n1 9 8 5 A n te o v in
1 9 9 0 T r i - R e g o l
1 9 9 7 R e g u lo n a n d N o v y n e t t e1 9 9 9 T r i - R e
g o l F e , R ig e v id o n F e , R ig e s o f t
2 0 0 3 L in d y n e t t e 2 0 , L in d y n e t t e 3 0
2 0 0 4 E s c a p e l l e2 0 0 5 M i l l i g e s t
2 0 0 7 A z a l i a
2 0 0 9 V o l in a2 0 1 0 S y m ic i a
2 0 1 2 B e l a r a , R e z i a , M i s t r a l
Thank you for your attention !
