THE KNACK OF MISCARRYING
Displacement of Womb.—In many instances the primary cause of the displaced womb was some energetic, muscular effort, made while the victim was yet a girl,—probably before menstruation began. Whatever act first caused a slight tilting of the womb, must necessarily have been an unusual physical effort, and as girls are getting more and more strenuous we may look for more trouble in this direction in the future. Inasmuch as a slight tilting of the womb gradually gets worse it is a reasonable expectation to believe that sterility is a natural sequence to displacement. The girl may have been the victim of painful menstruation which was neglected, because not quite painful enough to compel medical relief, which is sought for only as a last resource unfortunately under the circumstances. Intercourse may also have been more or less painful,—a condition which again is mistakenly and imprudently borne in silence and left to take care of itself. But when persistent sterility faces her, the woman seeks medical assistance and her trouble is discovered. As the displacement is found to be the cause of her sterility, its correction, which is a comparatively easy medical problem, not only cures the barrenness but happily relieves her of the menstrual distress and all other pain.
The treatment for displacement consist of placing medicated pieces of wool or cotton, called tampons, in the vagina in such a position as to hold the womb, as nearly in its proper place as is possible. After a time nature will so strengthen the ligaments that they will hold the womb and a cure is, therefore, affected. The length of time necessary to cure depends upon the length of time the displacement has existed. It may take, from two to four months. When the displacement is of long standing and is accompanied with more or less inflammation, adhesions sometimes grow between the womb and the adjacent organs. It is necessary to resort to surgery in such cases, but the result is always good and the danger practically nothing.
Disease of the Womb, Ovaries or Fallopian Tubes.—Disease of the womb, ovaries, and fallopian tubes, which renders the victim sterile, is as a rule the direct result of infection. Such infection is conveyed by the husband to the wife. This is quite a common condition. The simple fact that such conditions exist leads us to hope that the time is not far distant when it will be compulsory for all participants in the marriage ceremony to submit to a thorough physical examination. By this means, and by this means only, will the innocent be protected. No one can conceive, unless he has been identified, as a physician, with one of the large metropolitan hospital clinics, of the extent of this class of disease, and of the frightful suffering caused, and innocent lives ruined, by infection conveyed in this way. It is a tragic corollary to the marriage vow "for better or for worse."
If a woman is fortunate enough to fall into the hands of an honorable physician, who will tactfully explain to her the serious significance of her condition and obtain her consent to treat her until she is cured, which in all probability will include a surgical operation, and will do so with diligence, without regard to the size of the bill, she will indeed be a lucky woman. It is from women who are suffering with such diseases,—most of them without the slightest idea of what ails them,—that the venders of advertised nostrums reap their fortunes, and it is from the same victims that most of the advertised medical "quacks" look for their blood-money. The great difficulty, however, lies in the failure of the woman to appreciate the seriousness of her condition, and as a consequence she fails to understands why it should take so long to cure her. She loses confidence in her physician, she buys certain "cures" recommended to her by Mrs. Busybody and later tries other physicians and ends by losing faith in herself. Meantime she grows worse and worse. There are thousands such. It may be here stated without fear of contradiction that if the public in general would repose more confidence in the medical profession, there would be much less suffering, much less sorrow, fewer regrets, fewer irresponsible "isms," and cults, because there would be fewer disappointed individuals to support them. If the medical profession would condescend to employ the tactics and devices of those questionable, fashionable agencies that claim the power to cure human suffering, it could quickly reap the profit and the laudation that it now escapes because it keeps the faith.
The way to be cured of any disease, if it is curable, is to engage a reputable physician and follow his instructions implicitly. Let him understand you expect him to see you through your trouble and let him know you have confidence in him. There isn't one physician in a thousand who will cheat you under these circumstances.
Malformation.—Under this heading are all those cases of sterility resulting from imperfect generative organs. These are products of a failure on the part of nature to furnish or develop the structures participating in the propagation of the species. The entire generative organs are sometimes wanting. The womb may have failed for some reason to grow with the rest of the body, it remains (as it is known) as an "infantile womb." Occasionally the womb grows together, that is, it is solid instead of being a hollow organ. The mouth of the womb may be too small, representing what is called "a pin head opening." The natural opening is large enough to admit a lead pencil, a "pin head opening" would not be larger than the lead in the pencil. The latter condition is quite a common cause of sterility and is readily amenable to treatment. Most of the malformations which produce sterility are impossible to cure.
Lacerations or Tears in Mouth of Womb.—This subject is fully discussed on another page of this volume.
Tumor.—A tumor may be so situated as to prevent conception, or it may involve the body of the womb constituting a reason in itself for sterility.
Leucorrhea.—Leucorrhea or "the whites" may be of such an acid character as to kill the spermatozoa in the vagina, or it may be of such volume as to render impregnation impossible. The treatment of this condition is discussed elsewhere.
Physical Debility.—When the general health is bad, no matter from what cause, sterility usually exists. This lack of vitality may be due to chronic disease, or it may have been caused by a very severe acute illness, such as typhoid fever. One's mode of living, if unhygienic, may be responsible for continued bad health and a consequent sterility.
Obesity.—Very fat women are usually barren. If a woman rapidly accumulates fat after marriage she as a rule does not have more than one or two children. Women often become stout immediately after the child bearing age ceases.
Special Poisons.—Certain special poisons in the blood cause sterility by producing miscarriage.