Marvellous secrets: birth control in European short fiction, 1150-1650

Area of Science:

• Historical studies
• Sociology of reproduction
• Cultural history

Background:

• Medieval and Renaissance literature offers insights into historical sexual practices.
• European narratives from this era frequently discuss methods of birth control.

Observation:

• Writings from Italy and France are particularly explicit regarding contraception and abortion.
• These practices were often framed as 'secrets' or esoteric knowledge obtained from specialists.
• Concealment of pregnancy is depicted as a secondary birth control strategy, employed when other methods failed.

Findings:

• The use of birth control was predominantly featured within the context of premarital relationships.
• Towards the end of the Renaissance period, some French texts show married women utilizing contraception.

Implications:

• These literary accounts illuminate historical attitudes towards reproductive control and sexual agency.
• The narratives highlight the social and cultural contexts surrounding family planning in medieval and Renaissance Europe.