Early forms of birth control were revolutionary but look scary

Roman, 200 BCE-400 CE

Bronze pessary. A pessary in this context is a way of blocking the cervix. The gap allows a rod to be placed into the cervix to hold the pessary in place. While it could remain in place during intercourse, such intercourse could be painful.

Image: Science Museum, London / Creative Commons via Wellcome Images>

Editor's note: Mashable does not recommend using outdated forms of birth control, like some of the methods featured in this article. Consult your doctor about effective birth control regimens.

Contraception, birth control, family planning — it's nothing new. 

Ancient Egyptians used a mixture acacia leaves, honey and lint as a block inside the vagina to keep out unwanted sperm. In Ancient Greece, so popular was the plant silphium (a.k.a. Laserwort) as a contraceptive that it became extinct in Greece.  Read more...