Around the time of WWI, after a year of trying to concieve, a relative of mine went to her doctor- an all purpose family doctor, I believe. He did something, after which, she would joke, she “couldn’t stop having babies.” She went on to get pregnant at least 14 times.
Assuming that this doctor didn’t have to tell these wacky newleywed Catholic kids any of the basics about sex, what on earth could he have done? What were any medically recognized treatments for infertility?
Bumped for the Monday office crowd.
It’s theoretically possible it was just coincidence; today they generally don’t get into intense infertility treatments until after 2 years have elapsed.
That is certainly possible, but my relative always implied that he did something. She would say, “I couldn’t get pregnant, but I went to the doctor and after that I couldn’t stop getting pregnant!”
Even if his treatment would not have worked, what could it have been? My relative and her husband, of course, are no longer around to ask.
Perhaps he told her about the rhythm method—timing your periods and ovulation with sex?
As an infertile male who spent 4 1/2 years enduring what was in 1986-1990 the state of the art in treatments, I am aware that the options 80 years ago were somewhat limited ( See below) .
I know that this is G.Q. and so factual cites are demanded, not opinions. Here are a few things to read over before believing that a Dr. of that era was technically aware and had many mechanisms at hisher disposal to do anything other than what SuperLorie has already suggested- the natural rhythm method of conception.
Brief Overview of History of Infertility
This Detailed 20th Century History of Infertility Treatments in fact shows a level of technical offerings much earlier than I’d ever imagined. This may in fact hold the answer to the OP’er.
In 1928, gonadotrophins were used to induce egg production and ovulation in anovulatory women.
1934 gave us the first successful birth of Artificially Insemination created babies.
And, so on. Sugaree, perhaps your relative had something like this done? I doubt it, because you write the OP to give the impression that she went from infertile ( sic ) to unspeakably fertile.
I still go with SuperLorie and think that your relative was introduced to the wonders of Ovulatory Body Temp differentials. She was incredibly fertile all along, but wasn’t hitting the prime temp/fertility days targets.
As for any so-called Old Wives’ Tales remedies, they’re bushwah and always have been. I tried 'em all, including oysters… :eek:
Cartooniverse
SuperLorie, that’s a possibility, but in trying to research this, I’ve read that doctors back then had a mistaken idea of a woman’s fertility cycle, linking mestruation with animal estrus. This misconception wasn’t cleared up until around 1920. Thanks for the interesting links, Cartooniverse. As far as why she conceived, I’m leaning toward MLS’s theory of coincidence rather than some revolutionary technique, as the couple in question was both poor and not living in an area known for its medical innovations.
I’m still left wondering what happened in that doctor’s office.