history

Did ancient Egyptians use crocodile dung as a contraceptive?

šŸ’” The Answer

  • Ancient Egyptian medical texts, like the Kahun Papyrus, describe contraceptive recipes.
  • One recipe involved mixing crocodile dung with honey and inserting it as a pessary.
  • The dung was thought to have spermicidal properties, though it likely caused infections.
  • This practice dates back to around 1850 BCE, showing advanced knowledge of birth control.

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