Up until recently, Metrodora was not known to science history. How can the woman who has advanced obstetric techniques, treated sterility, and cured hundreds of gynecological diseases become unknown to history?
Was it because ancient Greece did not accept her contributions as a woman or that her work did not survive the prejudice she faced?
Born between 200 A.D. and 400 A.D, Metrodora was a Greek female physician of Egyptian origins. She is one of the most renowned gynecologists and has been ignored for a really long time. She was also successful in other fields such as cosmetics. Apart from her daily practices, she also was an alchemist that treated many disorders such as sterility.
Metrodora is famous for her manuscript“The Diseases and Cures of Woman”, but it only came to light many years later as Galen, a fellow gynecologist, was enlightened by her knowledge and advancements in the field and included pieces of her work in his practice.
She starts her manuscript with ‘Because women’s diseases are many and various and as we say all of them, are connected to the uterus, it is necessary to write about them as well as the symptoms that occur in these diseases; because some of them are intricate to treat and others are fatal, by these notes we will recognize each one’.
Just like today, women in the past also suffered with difficult labor, for which Metrodora suggested the application of almond oil for facilitation of labor. She also demonstrated the proper way of breastfeeding. She also treated menorrhagia and metrorrhagia with specific solutions. She also introduced surgical techniques to remove ovarian and uterine cancer.
Another important gynecological discovery is that she showed how to determine sexual assaults. She also suggested applying potato porridge as a method of contraception.
Aside from her gynecological discoveries, Metrodora proposed treatments for alopecia (it was said that she treated Julius Caesar's Alopecia), rash and fungal infections. She even reportedly cured people of leprosy.
Such an amazing woman, with many advancements in many fields, was doomed to disappearance simply because she was a woman. Women's achievements weren’t meant to be celebrated. Or maybe her work got scattered after repeated wars only to be rediscovered by Galen and recorded. Currently it can be found in Laurentian Library in Florence.
This shows a glimpse of the many hidden women, who never came into light, and who couldn’t relish more discoveries because they ought to be kept hidden.
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