The British Museum is known for its remarkable collection of artifacts, but among them lies a hidden gem: a thousands-year-old ostracon adorned with Ancient Egyptian sick notes. While these ancient excuses, ranging from “drinking with Khonsu” to “scorpion,” might not have convinced modern employers, there’s one method that likely did: pregnancy testing.
According to a blog post by Harvard’s Science In The News, Ancient Egyptian women employed a rather unconventional method for pregnancy testing. They would urinate on barley or wheat seeds, and if the seeds sprouted quickly, it indicated pregnancy.
At first glance, this ancient practice may seem absurd to modern sensibilities. However, a 1963 study on the topic revealed surprising results: the tests were accurate around 70-85% of the time. While not as precise as modern pregnancy tests, which boast a 99% accuracy rate when used correctly, the ancient method proved to be far more effective than many would have assumed.
The earliest mention of this method dates back to a papyrus from 1350 BCE. Sofie Schiødt, a former PhD student from the University of Copenhagen who researched this topic, noted that references to the Egyptian-style pregnancy test persisted as late as 1699 in a German document.
The question remains: why did this unconventional method work? While scientists can only speculate, it appears to operate on a similar principle to modern pregnancy tests. Today’s tests detect the presence of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in urine, indicating pregnancy. The ancient test, on the other hand, may have been influenced by elevated levels of estrogen in a woman’s urine, which could have promoted seed growth.
This revelation is not the first time seemingly implausible advice has proven to be true. Previous studies have validated ancient associations between various symptoms and medical conditions, including the link between a “salty” taste on a baby’s brow and cystic fibrosis, as well as the correlation between intense morning sickness and female babies.
While the ancient Egyptian pregnancy test may elicit laughter or disbelief, it serves as a fascinating reminder of the ingenuity of our ancestors and the enduring principles that underpin modern medicine. Nonetheless, for those seeking certainty in matters of pregnancy, modern pregnancy tests remain the preferred choice.
