Dark History: Episode 177 - "They Used Nun Urine For What?! The Dark History of Getting Pregnant"

Release Date: July 23, 2025

Bailey Sarian delves deep into the fascinating and often bizarre history of fertility practices across various cultures and eras. This episode, titled "They Used Nun Urine For What?! The Dark History of Getting Pregnant," explores the lengths to which humans have gone to overcome infertility, blending historical anecdotes with scientific breakthroughs.

1. Introduction to Fertility Practices

Bailey opens the episode by highlighting the perennial human desire to procreate, emphasizing that throughout history, people have resorted to unconventional methods to aid conception.

Bailey Sarian [00:00]: "From urine cocktails to pussy demons. Buckle up, it's gonna be a ride."

2. Ancient Fertility Rituals

a. Ancient Egypt and the Anasurma Ritual

Bailey recounts the Egyptian fertility ritual known as anasurma, where the goddess Hathor would lift her robe to cheer up the sun god Ra, believing such acts would promote fertility and abundance.

Bailey Sarian [XX:XX]: "People truly believed that if you lifted up your skirt and you showed your lower regions to the gods, it would encourage fertility and abundance."

b. Greek Fertility Festivals

She touches upon similar practices in ancient Greece, where unconventional public acts were believed to enhance fertility.

3. Pliny the Elder and Roman Fertility Methods

In ancient Rome, Pliny the Elder's Naturalis Historia became a pivotal source for various medical and fertility practices. Pliny advocated for the consumption of specific types of urine to boost fertility.

Bailey Sarian [XX:XX]: "Pliny was all about urine. He didn't see it as like some sort of filter system. Instead, he writes about how urine can be used as medicine and even be life-saving."

a. Use of Eunuch Urine

Pliny suggested that urine from eunuchs could help women conceive, leading to widespread but peculiar practices.

Bailey Sarian [XX:XX]: "Women in ancient Rome were absolutely finding eunuchs and drinking their pee. It's how the yellow Gatorade came to be."

b. Alternative Sources

When eunuch urine was unavailable, Pliny recommended horse, bull, and boar urine as alternatives to enhance sexual arousal and fertility.

4. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Edible Bird's Nest (EBN)

Bailey explores the Chinese belief in Edible Bird's Nest (EBN), derived from the saliva of swiftlets. EBN was revered for its supposed health benefits, including enhanced fertility and youthful appearance.

Bailey Sarian [XX:XX]: "In traditional Chinese medicine, swiftlet nests were believed to nourish the yin, AKA your feminine energy. And yin was linked to fertility, menstruation, and childbirth."

a. Harvesting and Cost

Collecting EBN was labor-intensive and expensive, leading to the establishment of bird spit farms to meet the high demand.

b. Royal Endorsement

Empress Siqi was a notable patron, consuming EBN to maintain her youth and health, thereby endorsing its efficacy.

5. Japanese Legend of the Pussy Demon and Kanamara Matsuri

Bailey narrates a Japanese legend where a woman cursed with a vaginal demon hindered her fertility. Through ingenious methods, she defeated the demon, leading to the creation of the Kanamara Matsuri—a festival celebrating fertility with symbolic iron phalluses.

Bailey Sarian [XX:XX]: "This shrine became known as the Kanama shrine and it was dedicated to fertility... people started coming here from all over to pray for fertility, easy childbirth, and marital harmony."

6. The 1950s Breakthrough: Pergonal and Nun Urine

Transitioning to modern history, Bailey discusses Dr. Bruno Lunenfeld's groundbreaking work in the 1950s Italy. Seeking a reliable source of hormones to treat infertility, Dr. Bruno collaborated with postmenopausal Catholic nuns, leveraging their hormone levels without the risk of pregnancy.

Bailey Sarian [XX:XX]: "Dr. Bruno and his team decided to work with postmenopausal Catholic nuns because their celibate lifestyle guaranteed there would be zero risk of contaminated... pure, steady hormone."

a. Discovery of hMG

Through extensive research, Dr. Bruno isolated human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) from the urine of these nuns, a hormone pivotal in inducing ovulation.

Bailey Sarian [XX:XX]: "Dr. Bruno had discovered the golden ingredient for the first fertility drug in modern medicine."

b. Impact on IVF

The development of Pergonal was instrumental in advancing in vitro fertilization (IVF), setting the stage for future fertility treatments.

7. The Birth of Louise Brown: The First IVF Baby

Bailey chronicles the journey of Dr. Patrick Steptoe and Dr. Robert Edwards, pioneers in IVF technology, leading to the birth of Louise Brown in 1978.

a. The Procedure

Leslie Brown, the first IVF patient, underwent a novel procedure involving egg retrieval, fertilization in a petri dish, and embryo implantation.

Bailey Sarian [XX:XX]: "They collected Leslie's egg, mixed it with John's sperm in a petri dish, let it fertilize outside her body, and then implanted the embryo back into her uterus."

b. Public Reaction and Myths

Louise's birth was met with both amazement and fear. Myths abounded, ranging from misconceptions about the technology to unfounded rumors about the child's well-being.

Bailey Sarian [XX:XX]: "There were like, wild rumors that IVF babies wouldn't have souls or they would come out with horns or that, like, Louise would grow up sterile, insane, or that she would literally glow in the dark."

c. Catholic Church's Stance

Initially, the Catholic Church criticized IVF for separating procreation from traditional marital sex and for the destruction of unused embryos.

Bailey Sarian [XX:XX]: "The Catholic Church condemned IVF, saying children should be conceived through natural marital intercourse."

d. Louise Brown's Legacy

Contrary to the fears, Louise grew up healthy and became an advocate for IVF, dispelling many of the early myths surrounding the procedure.

8. The Modern Fertility Industry

Bailey concludes by discussing the contemporary fertility landscape, highlighting its growth and the persistence of infertility stigma despite technological advancements.

Bailey Sarian [XX:XX]: "In 2023, the global fertility services market was valued at approximately $42.23 billion. The fertility industry is projected to grow to over $70 billion by 2030."

a. Cost and Accessibility

IVF remains expensive, often costing between $15,000 to $30,000 per treatment, and is typically not covered by insurance, making it inaccessible for many.

b. Alternative Treatments

With the high costs and emotional toll of IVF, many turn to alternative methods—from hormone supplements to unconventional fertility hacks like the Mucinex anecdote Bailey mentions at the episode's start.

9. Conclusion

Bailey wraps up by reflecting on the enduring challenges of infertility and the lengths to which societies have gone to overcome them, underscoring that despite technological advances, the quest for effective fertility solutions continues.

Bailey Sarian [XX:XX]: "We have come a long way from drinking eunuch pee and showing our hoo ha to Ra. But that's history for you, you know, I mean, really, like nothing has changed."

Key Takeaways

• Historical Depth: Human attempts to overcome infertility are as old as civilization itself, involving a mix of superstition, ritual, and emerging science.

• Scientific Progress: Breakthroughs like Dr. Bruno’s Pergonal and the development of IVF have revolutionized fertility treatments, yet challenges like high costs and ethical debates persist.

• Cultural Influence: Societal beliefs and religious doctrines have significantly impacted the acceptance and development of fertility technologies.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Bailey Sarian [00:00]: "From urine cocktails to pussy demons. Buckle up, it's gonna be a ride."

• Bailey Sarian [XX:XX]: "Pliny was all about urine. He didn't see it as like some sort of filter system."

• Bailey Sarian [XX:XX]: "Dr. Bruno had discovered the golden ingredient for the first fertility drug in modern medicine."

• Bailey Sarian [XX:XX]: "There were like, wild rumors that IVF babies wouldn't have souls or they would come out with horns."

Note: The exact timestamps (XX:XX) are placeholders where specific times from the transcript would be inserted.

This episode of "Dark History" offers a comprehensive look at the lengths humanity has gone to address infertility, blending historical practices with modern scientific achievements. Bailey Sarian effectively intertwines storytelling with factual information, providing listeners with both entertainment and enlightenment on a topic that profoundly affects many lives.