Infertility in History

Trying to conceive is an important issue for couples today – but it also has a long history. Our research investigates the history of infertility in the years 1200-1700 and how people experienced difficulties with fertility. As part of our research, we are sharing examples of people in the past who struggled to conceive, their emotional experiences, and the remedies they sought. We hope these will resonate with people today to help mitigate feelings of isolation and grief, creating a sense of empathy and community.

Fertility support organisations emphasise the importance of sharing stories to help counter feelings of shame and isolation experienced by those encountering fertility challenges. Our historical research contributes towards mitigating such feelings by situating modern experiences in a long history of stories about fertility, infertility, and childlessness. This poster presents some of the stories and fertility-related objects and remedies, showing different ways that people in the past have dealt with their experiences of fertility and its lack.

Please explore this site for some historical experiences of infertility…