Abortion in the USSR: history, statistics, consequences and interesting facts

In our time, the topic of prohibition of abortions is often raised. The moment is controversial. There are many opinions about why this law should be adopted, and why it should not. But in fact the USSR once became the first country in which it was officially allowed to interrupt pregnancy. The number of abortions in the USSR increased with a horrific progression and when it was banned. In this article we will talk about how all this happened.

Earlier it was possible

When were abortions permitted in the USSR? This happened in 1920. At that time there was a bad economic situation in the country and the population could not provide for themselves financially, let alone the future offspring. However, abortion statistics in the USSR at that time showed high mortality or the appearance of negative consequences for the health of a woman after the procedure. It happened because then there were no doctors of the necessary qualifications. The consequences of this procedure were not well studied. Often after it there were complications, and the woman became barren for the rest of her life. Before interrupting the pregnancy, the patients were not properly examined, and therefore could not foresee how abortion would affect their health. Therefore, taking into account this fact, and the fact that the country did not have enough financial resources to provide all the settlements with gynecological offices, it was decided to ban the production of abortions.

Why it became impossible

But not only this was the reason for the adoption of the prohibiting law. Who abolished abortion in the USSR? The Central Executive Committee and the Council of People's Commissars adopted this decision and issued a special document. He not only prohibited abortion in the USSR, but also notified about changes in divorce laws, toughened the criminal penalty for refusing to pay alimony, established state assistance to women in childbirth, large families, and 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 done, but only those women who could not be given medical birth or injured during the operation were great.

There is an explanation

Abortion in the USSR was banned. But this was done for the benefit of women. How did explain this ban? First, they tried to raise the birth rate. Human losses after the revolution were great, and they needed to be filled. In addition, the USSR was preparing new cadres that could help in the fight against capitalism, and in the event of war serve as "cannon fodder."

Secondly, at that time the institution of the family began to develop. Men in the majority thought lightly of their duties as husband and father of the family. Having conceived a child, they understood that they do not bear any responsibility for what will happen to him and the woman was forced to do an abortion. Prohibiting abortion in the USSR, they tried to make sure that the man did not walk away from material responsibility and took a conscious part in the upbringing of children. Third, they tried to make the future mother more responsible. To make a conscious choice - the birth of a child. Socialist society recognized the equality of women, and at the same time demanded a return in the form of proper education of future citizens.

There is an exit

The population at that time was low in culture and little understanding of medicine. Termination of pregnancy was considered a minor procedure, not harmful to a woman's health. Therefore, women did not try to increase their knowledge in the reproductive field, they were not interested in modern contraceptives, because they knew that pregnancy can be interrupted at any time, and nothing will happen for it. However, at that time, a lot of funds were being developed to prevent unwanted pregnancies. The country cared for the health of citizens and conducted educational and propaganda work in this direction.

Big choice

Prohibiting abortion in the USSR, thus doctors drew the attention of women and men to the fact that they have an alternative, namely, one should avoid conception using modern means of contraception. What was offered to Soviet citizens in pharmacies and stores of the time? Men were offered to use condoms, and women had vaginal rubber caps "KR", metal caps on the cervix "kafki." There were also chemical agents to protect against unwanted pregnancy. This paste "Prekonsol", "Vagilin" (vaginal balls), "Contraceptin" (vaginal). They were made at the factory "Red Rubber", as well as "Soyuzhimfarmtorg". Newspapers pages and magazines were constantly present advertising these funds. The population even warned that they could help in choosing a suitable contraceptive method in a women's consultation. 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 permitted.

Now you can

Rejoicing that again it is possible to interrupt pregnancy and not to bear any responsibility for this, the women so zealously set to work that in the mid-1960s the number of abortions produced during the year amounted to 6 million. At a time when abortion was banned, their number was significantly reduced. And in the second half of 1936, only 734 abortions were registered 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 number of pregnancy interruptions decreased, by 1991 they still produced about 4.5 million per year. Women who decided to get rid of the child were not even frightened by how they made abortions in the USSR.

Awesome procedure

They were not afraid of the consequences of this operation. Abortion was done with the help of metal tools. The cervix was expanded with special knitting needles, then the embryo was pierced with hooks and extracted outward. If the term was already long, then to extract the embryo, it was necessary to dismember it. Thus, first pulled out the leg, then other parts of the body of the embryo, which had already formed by that time. Forced erection of the cervix is a very painful procedure, but, nevertheless, women were willing to tolerate it. But such a procedure was also dangerous, because the metal walls injured the walls of the uterus, holes appeared, then it all got stuck, bleeding started. Sometimes, after an abortion, a woman died or became barren.

It is possible and in another way

But women did not stop and the ban on interrupting pregnancy. When such a law operated, clandestine abortions in the USSR flourished. And they helped a woman get rid of an unwanted fetus as doctors, arranging secret surgical, and grandmother-healers. In both cases, complications often occurred or even the death of patients. For example, in the apartment of a Leningrad doctor, the body of a deputy of the district council was found. Abortion for this woman was the last thing in her life. Criminal abortions in the USSR were punishable by imprisonment for up to 10 years.

Alternative Medicine

But if the doctor had at least medical knowledge and tools, the grandmothers who were asked for help often had neither one nor the other. They either made manipulations to interrupt pregnancy with self-made iron hooks in unsanitary conditions. Either gave the woman advice, using which she could interrupt her pregnancy on her own. In the course there were different recipes and methods of how it could be done. Often a woman used the advice of girlfriends, and as a result she still had to seek medical help after the 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, then a miscarriage will occur. At home, the ladies climbed onto the closet and landed on the floor. Sometimes they would climb stairs and fences. However, this method often gave a blunder and led to bruises. Another method was weight lifting. To do this, you had to take something heavy in your hands and start squatting, spreading your legs in your lap. Stress and pressure in the pelvic region also led to miscarriage. Those who had the opportunity to practice riding a catapult, used to train pilots, in order that the fetus come off the wall of the uterus. That's what women did in the military camps.

For medical reasons

Often, in order to consult a doctor and get directions for abortion, women killed the fetus inside. Various methods were also used for this. A common method was bathing in hot water or a long stay in the steam room. Under the influence of high temperatures, the embryo dies. Even more often women drank a variety of infusions and douche vagina, so that pregnancy does not develop. Sometimes a woman herself suffered from such poisonous trays and drinks. Drank and iodine with milk. And take this mixture could several times, which led to a burn of the esophagus. Women who want to get rid of their unborn child did not stop at anything. They brewed laurel leaves and drank this infusion, and the leaves were placed for the night in the vagina. This leads to mummification of the fetus in the uterus. Another strange way to get rid of unwanted pregnancy was the introduction of a bulb into the cervix. Then it remains only to wait for the bulb to grow and its roots entangle the fruit. 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 into the vagina of the kidney of the ficus with a sharp end towards the cervix. So it was necessary to sleep all night. Often, women died from gangrenous myometrium.

Of course, women who used such methods can not be justified. But you can understand. After all, such extreme methods have resulted in abortion bans. Although in our time there are such incredulous women who prefer not to go to doctors, but to interrupt pregnancy in the old-fashioned way. Accept the law on the prohibition of abortion or not, time will tell. But to take care of one's health is necessary now, especially since medicine has moved 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.