A couple of recipes were from #PlinyTheElder. One was a contraceptive potion that included rue, but #Soranus mixed his w/attar of roses & aloe. He also suggested that men smear their penises w/cedar gum to kill sperm & close the opening to the uterus. HowSexGotScrewedUp.com

#Soranus advised spreading spermicides onto the labia or into the vagina. One w/old olive oil, honey, & juice from the balsam tree or cedar resin. Another included a pessary made of soft wool soaked in wine & dissolved w/stone-pine bark & the tanning agent from Venice sumac.

DYK #abortion & #BirthContol were common in ancient Rome? Potions in #Soranus’ “Gynaikeia” incuded one w/papaya juice, rue seed, wax, & Cyrenaican juice. One w/wallflower seed, myrtle, myrrh, & white pepper dissolved in wine. One w/sour honey, gillyflower seeds & cow parsnip.