IVF fertility treatment is working better and better:the chance of pregnancy is increasing. Our ancestors already knew the necessary remedies to give little happiness a hand.
“Whoever thinks he is enchanted because he cannot make love should carry a magnetic stone with him. Then it's over', according to a fifteenth-century magical recipe book. Also taking St. John's wort, red cabbage or vine would help against impotence.
Those who married in the Middle Ages had better ensure that they had children. In the religious society of that time, the pressure from the church to procreate was great. But there were also concrete benefits to having children. This way your offspring could take care of you when you got old:those who didn't have children could forget a quiet old age.
In the case of reproductive problems, doctors at that time were already investigating whether the man or the woman was infertile. To do this, they filled two jars with urine and bran. The pot that contained worms after ten days told the partner with the problem. The attending physician could then prescribe medication. The man was given a drink of honey, almonds and pine nuts. The woman had to rinse her vagina with an infusion of myrrh.
Spiritual leaders did not believe that these drugs worked:people had better trust in God. Some saints, such as Mary and her mother Anna, even specialized in fertility problems. By praying a lot and giving generously to the church, a woman could still get pregnant. But just like now, the sadness was great if it didn't work out after all.