History of women in surgery: an overview

The history of women as medical and surgical practitioners stretches back to at least 3500 B. C. Wall painting in tombs and temples of ancient Egypt show them performing surgical procedures and there is also evidence that women surgeons were practicing in ancient Sumeria, Babylon, Greece and Rome. During the middle ages as per formal decree issued by the church in the twelfth century monks were prohibited from "blood-letting" or performing operations. This effectively relegated wound treatment, bleeding and bone-setting to barbers and women. Women were particularly valued for their skill in obstetrics and midwifery. In this way an overview with regard to the history of women in surgery is presented here in chronological order.