Such an interesting topic and read! I once studied up on Aletta Jacobs, the first female doctor in the Netherlands and how she introduced women to the pessary. (https://www.europeana.eu/en/exhibitions/pioneers/aletta-jacobs). You make me want to write about this, too.
Brilliant, Claire. I hadn't heard of Aletta Jacobs. What a pioneer. That must have taken a lot of guts at that time. Made me think of Marie Stopes (1880–1958), but Aletta was born even earlier in 1854.
Fascinating and incredibly entertaining read- thanks so much for sharing not only your grannies pessaries but your history with contraception. I might have to save this and share it with the pharmacy students!
You're very welcome to share it with pharmacy students, Lauren! I found it fascinating to research the pessaries, and realised that overall I had a centuries-worth of contraception to report on, if I added in my own experience!
Edit to say I just realised you’re the same person that I just commented on your other story. As I was reading I did think it strange to come across two people who ended up with triplets through contraceptive failure!
Fascinating! Also - that photo of Ada the Footballer, wow. Disgusting that women were banned from playing football for 50 years, even into our lifetimes.
This is amazing. Why did she keep them, I wonder?? This makes me think I really need to get rid of my fanny HRT tablets and the Museum of Canesten before I die 😂
Haha! Gah, I know! Declutter your personal items, ladies!
My sister read this and said she disposed of her redundant Mooncup only last week, ironically, after finding it lurking in an ancient washing basket. It was not sparking joy.
My nana kept everything, and so did my mum, so there it was in my hoarded childhood home. I am determined to break the cycle. But I am keeping those museum-worthy pessaries!
Thank you, Lauren! I wish I’d known more about her while she was alive. Maybe not the pessaries, but playing on a football team during WW1?! Who knew! I do remember her being quite nifty at dribbling a football in her seventies but had no idea where the skill came from.
Thanks for remarking on the pessaries after the Teddy bear eyes post. Those prompts are so helpful in overcoming writing inhibitions. I was a bit scared nana was looking over my shoulder, but heck, she can’t tell me off now!
Thank you Andrea. I hadn't really thought about what family planning was like for my grandparents' generation, so I learned a lot from this one! Love a bit of social history!
Fantastic post. And thank you for the shout out! I did find my mother’s Kama Sutra sex guide that my son’s girlfriend ran with, squealing around the loft, and then took with her back to college. Mimi (my mother) was all about her liberation…
Thank you, Margaret. More Adas! Lovely name. Yes, my Nana was in Rockferry. I used to visit Liverpool sometimes when I stayed with her.
Yes, I had my hands full with triplets, as everyone remarked at the time. Wonderful young women of 38 now, with children of their own. And my son’s 22.
Yeah I recently started today’s version of the microgynon pill… I think it’s given me some waves of fatigue but then again that cd be a toddler waking me up at odd times… doing OK on it so far.
This is what happens when you go digging into the past. Grannies pessaries turn up as historical artefact and family history of contraceptive use unfurls.
Such an interesting topic and read! I once studied up on Aletta Jacobs, the first female doctor in the Netherlands and how she introduced women to the pessary. (https://www.europeana.eu/en/exhibitions/pioneers/aletta-jacobs). You make me want to write about this, too.
Brilliant, Claire. I hadn't heard of Aletta Jacobs. What a pioneer. That must have taken a lot of guts at that time. Made me think of Marie Stopes (1880–1958), but Aletta was born even earlier in 1854.
Fascinating and incredibly entertaining read- thanks so much for sharing not only your grannies pessaries but your history with contraception. I might have to save this and share it with the pharmacy students!
You're very welcome to share it with pharmacy students, Lauren! I found it fascinating to research the pessaries, and realised that overall I had a centuries-worth of contraception to report on, if I added in my own experience!
Edit to say I just realised you’re the same person that I just commented on your other story. As I was reading I did think it strange to come across two people who ended up with triplets through contraceptive failure!
Ah, glad you found both pieces, Lauren! I will look at your Substack properly asap. Good to meet you here!
Fascinating! Also - that photo of Ada the Footballer, wow. Disgusting that women were banned from playing football for 50 years, even into our lifetimes.
Thanks, Ros. And absolutely. The photo of Ada in her football kit inspired me to write about the history of women's football the week after!
https://wendyvarley.substack.com/p/will-england-bring-it-home-at-the
This is amazing. Why did she keep them, I wonder?? This makes me think I really need to get rid of my fanny HRT tablets and the Museum of Canesten before I die 😂
Haha! Gah, I know! Declutter your personal items, ladies!
My sister read this and said she disposed of her redundant Mooncup only last week, ironically, after finding it lurking in an ancient washing basket. It was not sparking joy.
My nana kept everything, and so did my mum, so there it was in my hoarded childhood home. I am determined to break the cycle. But I am keeping those museum-worthy pessaries!
Thanks for commenting, Lucy!
Wendy this is fascinating!! I'm so glad you dived deep (so to speak). And Nana Ada sounds like a legend.
Thank you, Lauren! I wish I’d known more about her while she was alive. Maybe not the pessaries, but playing on a football team during WW1?! Who knew! I do remember her being quite nifty at dribbling a football in her seventies but had no idea where the skill came from.
Thanks for remarking on the pessaries after the Teddy bear eyes post. Those prompts are so helpful in overcoming writing inhibitions. I was a bit scared nana was looking over my shoulder, but heck, she can’t tell me off now!
Wonderful read Wendy! The contraceptives of that era are new to me. Love the stories these are inspiring in you.
Thank you Andrea. I hadn't really thought about what family planning was like for my grandparents' generation, so I learned a lot from this one! Love a bit of social history!
wow! also love the classic typesetting on the package and instructions
Me too, Andrea. I love looking at old packaging and branding. This is such a treat.
Also, congrats on this killer headline
Thank you! Had fun with that.
Fantastic post. And thank you for the shout out! I did find my mother’s Kama Sutra sex guide that my son’s girlfriend ran with, squealing around the loft, and then took with her back to college. Mimi (my mother) was all about her liberation…
Did you write about finding the Kama Sutra, Eliza? I'm going to dive into some more of your essays. Just wondering if that gem is in there yet?!
Nope. Just in this note. :)
Maybe one to expand on!
Thank you, Eliza. Oh wow, that Kama Sutra was a find!
Fascinating - women's histories are rarely told, even when they are the making and unmaking of generations.
Thanks Georgina. It‘s true. I think of myself as quite clued up on women‘s emancipation, but researching this was a revelation!
It's great - what a cool glimpse into the past!
An amazing find and a really interesting story with glimpses into history of ‘sexual health’.
I hated Microgynon too.
My Grannie was Ada, in Liverpool just over the water from your Nana Ada(I named my daughter after her).
And triplets! Heavens.
Thank you, Margaret. More Adas! Lovely name. Yes, my Nana was in Rockferry. I used to visit Liverpool sometimes when I stayed with her.
Yes, I had my hands full with triplets, as everyone remarked at the time. Wonderful young women of 38 now, with children of their own. And my son’s 22.
Also, I know the dosages of the combined Pill were a lot higher back then. Expect it's less nausea-inducing nowadays.
Yeah I recently started today’s version of the microgynon pill… I think it’s given me some waves of fatigue but then again that cd be a toddler waking me up at odd times… doing OK on it so far.
Good luck with it, Alex! Hope this wasn’t too much info :D
Fascinating ... we pass it on ...
I am overwhelmed by your sharing my poem - edit, should read others' ... Thank you for your kindness.
Thank you Cherry. Corrected the typo and also put in curly apostrophes while I was at it! Really loving your own writing.
This is what happens when you go digging into the past. Grannies pessaries turn up as historical artefact and family history of contraceptive use unfurls.
I was so glad you helped prompt this bit of research, Jill!