In our time, the topic of the ban on abortion is often raised. This point is debatable. There are many opinions about why this law should be passed, and why it should not. But once the USSR became the first country in which it was officially allowed to terminate a pregnancy. The number of abortions in the USSR increased with a terrifying progression even when it was forbidden to do so. In this article, we will talk about how it all happened.
It used to be possible
When was abortion allowed in the USSR? It happened in 1920. At that time, the country was in a bad economic situation and the population could not financially support themselves, not to mention future offspring. However, abortion statistics in the USSR at that time showed a high mortality rate or the occurrence of negative consequences for a woman's he alth after this procedure. This happened because at that time there were no doctors of the required qualification. The consequences have not been well studiedthis procedure. Often complications arose after it, and the woman became barren for the rest of her life. Before terminating a pregnancy, the patients were not properly examined, which means that they could not predict how the abortion would affect their he alth. Therefore, taking into account this fact, and the fact that the country did not have enough financial resources to provide all settlements with gynecological rooms, it was decided to ban abortions.
Why it became impossible
But not only this was the reason for the adoption of the prohibition law. Who canceled abortion in the USSR? The Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars made such a decision and issued a special document. He not only banned abortions in the USSR, but also announced changes in divorce laws, toughened criminal pen alties for refusing to pay alimony, established state assistance to women in childbirth, large families, regulated the expansion of nurseries, kindergartens, and maternity hospitals. This regime operated from 1936 to 1955. When abortions were banned in the USSR, they were still performed, but only for those women who could not give birth for medical reasons or the damage to their he alth during the operation was great.
There is an explanation
Abortion was banned in the USSR. But it was done for the benefit of women. How was this ban explained? First, they sought to raise the birth rate. The human losses after the revolution were great, and they had to be replenished. ToIn addition, the USSR was preparing new personnel who could help in the fight against capitalism, and in case of war, serve as "cannon fodder".
Secondly, at that time the institution of the family began to form. Men, for the most part, thoughtlessly treated their duties as husband and father of the family. Having conceived a child, they understood that they did not bear any responsibility for what would happen to him next, and the woman was forced to terminate the pregnancy. By banning abortions in the USSR, they tried to make sure that the man did not escape financial responsibility and took a conscious part in the upbringing of children. Thirdly, they tried to make the future mother herself more responsible. So that she makes a conscious choice - the birth of a child. The socialist society recognized the equality of women, and at the same time demanded a return in the form of the correct education of future citizens.
There is a way out
The population at that time was low cultured and little versed in medicine. Termination of pregnancy was considered a minor procedure that did not harm the he alth of a woman. Therefore, women did not try to improve their knowledge in the reproductive field, they were not interested in modern contraceptives, because they knew that pregnancy could be terminated at any time, and there would be nothing for it. However, at that time, many means were produced to protect against unwanted pregnancies. The country cared about the he alth of citizens and carried out educational and propaganda work in this direction.
Great selection
By banning abortions in the USSR, doctors thereby drew the attention of women and men to the fact that they have an alternative, namely, to avoid conception using modern contraceptives. What was offered to Soviet citizens in pharmacies and shops of that time? Men were offered to use condoms, and women were offered to use vaginal rubber caps “KR”, metal caps for the cervix “kafka”. There were also chemical means to protect against unwanted pregnancy. This is a paste "Preconsol", "Vagilen" (vaginal balls), "Contraceptin" (vaginal remedy). They were made at the Krasny Rezinshchik plant, as well as Soyuzkhimfarmtorg. Newspaper pages and magazines were constantly present with advertisements for these funds. The population was even warned that antenatal clinics could help choose the appropriate method of contraception. Gradually, the level of culture of the population increased, the volume of production of contraceptives increased, the standard of living of the population increased, and abortions were again allowed.
Now you can
Rejoiced that it was possible to terminate a pregnancy again and not bear any responsibility for it, women set to work so zealously that in the mid-60s the number of abortions per year amounted to 6 million. At a time when abortions were banned, their number was significantly reduced. And in the second half of 1936, only 734 abortions were recorded in Moscow. At the same time, the birth rate in this city was growing. In 1935, this figure almost doubled from 7 to 136 thousand. Although gradually the numberabortions were declining, by 1991 there were still about 4.5 million a year. Women who decided to get rid of the child were not even afraid of how abortions were done in the USSR.
Terrible procedure
They were not afraid of the consequences of this operation either. Abortion was done with metal instruments. The cervix was expanded with special needles, then the embryo was pierced with hooks and taken out. If the period was already long, then in order to extract the embryo, it was necessary to dissect it. Thus, first the leg was pulled out, then other parts of the body of the embryo, which had already formed by that time. Forced opening of the cervix is a very painful procedure, but, nevertheless, women were willing to endure it. But such a procedure was also dangerous, because the walls of the uterus were injured with metal instruments, holes appeared, then it all suppurated, bleeding began. It happened that after an abortion a woman died or became infertile.
It can be done differently
But the ban on abortion did not stop women. When such a law was in effect, clandestine abortions flourished in the USSR. And they helped the woman get rid of the unwanted fetus, both doctors, equipping secret operating rooms, and grandmother healers. In both cases, complications often occurred or even the death of patients occurred. For example, the body of a district council deputy was found in the apartment of a Leningrad doctor. Abortion for this woman was the last thing in her life. Criminal abortions in the USSRwere punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years.
Alternative Medicine
But if the doctor at least had medical knowledge and tools, then the grandmothers who were asked for help often had neither. They either performed abortion manipulations with homemade iron hooks in unsanitary conditions. Or they gave the woman advice, using which she could terminate the pregnancy on her own. In the course there were different recipes and methods of how this could be done. Often the woman used the advice of her friends, and as a result she still had to seek medical help after the onset of complications.
Physical methods
If a woman did not want to take any infusions, she could start jumping or lifting weights. It was believed that if you jump from a height, you will have a miscarriage. At home, the ladies climbed onto the closet and landed on the floor. Sometimes they climbed stairs and fences. However, this method often failed and led to bruises. Another method was weight lifting. To do this, you had to take something heavy in your hands and start to squat, spreading your legs at the knees. Tension and pressure in the pelvic area also led to miscarriage. Those who had the opportunity practiced riding a catapult, used for pilot training, in order for the fetus to break away from the uterine wall. This is what women did in military camps.
Medicated
Often in order to see a doctor and get a referral for an abortion, womenkilled the fetus inside. Various methods have also been used for this. A common method was bathing in hot water or staying in a steam room for a long time. Under the influence of high temperatures, the embryo dies. Even more often, women drank various infusions and douched the vagina so that pregnancy did not develop. Sometimes the woman herself suffered from such poisonous baths and drinks. They also drank iodine with milk. Moreover, they could take such a mixture several times, which led to a burn of the esophagus. Women who want to get rid of their unborn child stop at nothing. They brewed bay leaves and drank this infusion, and the leaves themselves were placed overnight in the vagina. This leads to mummification of the fetus in the uterus. Another strange way to get rid of an unwanted pregnancy was the introduction of a bulb into the cervix. Then it remains only to wait for the bulb to germinate and entangle the fruit with its roots. Then the bulb is simply removed with it. However, this method leads to severe bleeding and in most cases, doctors have to remove the uterus. Another extreme method is the introduction of a ficus kidney into the vagina with a sharp end towards the cervix. So I had to sleep all night. Often women died from gangrenous myometritis.
Of course, women who used such methods cannot be justified. But you can understand. After all, abortion bans led to such extreme methods. Although in our time there are such incredulous women who prefer not to go to the doctors, but to terminate the pregnancy in the old fashioned way. Prohibition law passedabortion or not, time will tell. But you need to take care of your he alth now, especially since medicine has stepped far ahead compared to the beginning of the 20th century, modern means of protection against unwanted pregnancy have appeared. Modern people should be able to manage their reproductive system.
