Contraception feminine : poire vaginale

Contraception feminine : poire vaginale. 1900-1940. Photographie. Contraceptives, Female Omega Spray vaginal douche, 1900-1940. This type of apparatus is used to force water or another solution into the vaginal cavity to flush away vaginal discharge or other contents. Women traditionally used vaginal douches following sexual intercourse to help avoid pregnancy. However douching is neither a contraceptive, nor an effective preventative measure against catching sexually transmitted diseases or other infections. In fact, regular douching can alter the chemical balance of the vagina and make a woman more susceptible to infections such as pelvic inflammatory disease - a chronic condition which can lead to infertility. This douche, made of rubber and vulcanite, was manufactured by Ingram in England and patented by Raine.; ©SSPL/Science Museum