Gräfenberg rings. Powerhouse Museum
collection

Early IUDs

An object placed in the uterus prevents pregnancy. People have known this for a long time, although why it happens is not fully understood. According to folklore, this form of contraception dates back to the ancient Arabs, who placed a stone in the uterus of their camels to prevent them from becoming pregnant during long journeys.

Today, the device used in this method of contraception is the IUD (intra-uterine device). The first modern IUDs were developed in Germany between 1910 and 1930. Ernst Gräfenberg experimented with various designs and materials, including silkworm gut. Eventually he came up with a ring of coiled silver wire.

Some doctors, especially in Europe, strongly criticised the Gräfenberg ring but it became very popular in Melbourne. It was used until the 1960s when it was replaced by plastic IUDs. Recently, doctors overseas have begun to prescribe the Gräfenberg ring again. Unlike plastic IUDs, it does not have a thread, and so may be safer because infections can sometimes travel up the thread and into the uterus.

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