On the history of abortion from antiquity to the present day, with a focus on Central Europe and Germany
Abstract
The question of how to deal with a pregnancy, whether desired or unwanted, is a complex biological, ethical, social, and medical issue going back for millennia. Every form of regulatory approach to this issue is culturally and temporally specific and is therefore subject to continuous change. Our look at its history and the medical, legal, and religious background begins in ancient times, progresses through history, and ends with a focus on the second half of the nineteenth century and especially the twentieth century in Germany. These ethical, moral, and medical questions are likely to have been discussed in a similar way in other parts of the Western world.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Historical Studies on Reproduction
Gender
Health
and Societal Changes
Reproductive Health and Contraception
Medical History and Innovations
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics
- Volume
- 313
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 12–12
- Publication date
- 6 January 2026
- Language
- EN