The Ancient Roots of Gendered Medicine

For millennia, women’s health has been dictated by male authorities who viewed female biology through a lens of suspicion and disdain. The foundations of this thinking trace back to Aristotle, who infamously declared women “deformed men,” framing their bodies as flawed versions of male anatomy. Female organs were described as “leaky vessels”—a reference to menstruation, lactation, and emotional expression—all seen as signs of inherent weakness.

Central to this belief was the uterus, blamed as the root of most female ailments. Ancient medical texts, including the Ebers Papyrus (1550 BCE), depicted the womb as a wandering, mischievous organ that required control. This idea persisted for centuries, shaping oppressive and often absurd medical interventions.

The Era of “Wandering Wombs” and Smell-Based Cures

The concept of hysteria—derived from the Greek hystera (uterus)—emerged in the 19th century, but its origins stretch back to antiquity. Symptoms ranged from fainting to sexual dissatisfaction, all attributed to a “displaced” uterus. Treatments were equally imaginative:

– Foul vs. Fragrant Therapy: If the uterus supposedly rose too high, women were instructed to sniff revolting substances (like rotting meat) to drive it downward. Conversely, sweet-smelling herbs near the vagina would “lure” it back. Victorian women carried smelling salts, hoping to reset their rebellious wombs—and prevent fainting spells.

Surgical Brutality: Ovaries and Clitorises Removed

The 19th century saw the rise of invasive “cures” for hysteria:
– Oophorectomies: Surgeons removed ovaries without consent, claiming it would stabilize women’s moods.
– Clitoridectomies: Dr. Isaac Baker Brown championed removing the clitoris to curb “excessive” female desire, even operating on his sister. This practice, a form of female genital mutilation, persisted into the 20th century. One 1944 patient dryly noted, “They tried to stop me from masturbating. It didn’t work.”

Fertility Quackery: From Nitrates to Garlic Tests

Infertility was universally blamed on women, leading to dangerous and bizarre remedies:
– Red Nitre: Hippocrates prescribed a paste of saltpeter (used in gunpowder and pickling) to forcibly dilate the cervix.
– The Garlic Test: Rubbing garlic on a woman’s genitals was believed to prove fertility if the scent reached her breath. Another “test” involved aniseed water: if her navel tingled the next day, she was deemed fit for motherhood.

Animal-Based “Cures”: Hyena Feet and Goose Semen

Pliny the Elder’s 1st-century Natural History offered grotesque obstetric advice:
– Hyena Foot Magic: A hyena’s right paw placed on a pregnant woman supposedly eased labor (the left caused death).
– Goose Semen and Weasel Uterus Fluids: Ingestion was recommended for pain relief. Pliny also proposed delivering babies using gloves made from dog placentas.

Medieval “Wisdom”: Eagle Dung and Weasel Testicles

The Trotula texts, attributed to 12th-century Italian physician Trota of Salerno, included:
– Eagle Dung Elixir: A white substance from bird droppings was touted as a labor aid.
– Weasel Testicle Contraception: Tying a castrated weasel’s testes to a woman’s chest with goose skin allegedly prevented pregnancy—a method as ineffective as it was humiliating.

Legacy and Modern Reflections

These “treatments” reveal a dark pattern: the medicalization of misogyny. Women’s pain was dismissed, their autonomy ignored, and their bodies pathologized. While modern medicine has advanced, echoes remain—from the dismissal of menstrual pain to the over-prescription of hysterectomies.

Understanding this history underscores the importance of centering women’s voices in healthcare today. The wandering womb may be a myth, but the fight for equitable treatment is far from over.