Hysterectomies: 2000 Years of Care & Coercion

Betwixt The Sheets: The History of Sex, Scandal & Society

History Hit

Society, Sex, Scandal, Education, History

4.8 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 8 April 2025

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Today, it is one of the most commonly performed surgeries. But when was the hysterectomy, the removal of the uterus, first performed? How has this procedure interacted with ideas such as femininity and eugenics? And WHY would a very brave woman perform this surgery on herself?

Kate is joined Betwixt the Sheets with returning guest, Dr Elinor Cleghorn. Elinor is the author of 'Unwell Women: A Journey Through Medicine and Myth in a Man-Made World'.

This episode was edited by Tom Delargy and produced by Sophie Gee. The senior producer was Charlotte Long.

If you'd like to get in touch with the show you can contact us at [email protected].

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All music from Epidemic Sounds.

Betwixt the Sheets: History of Sex, Scandal & Society is a History Hit podcast.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hi, I'm your host, Kate Lister.
0:02.4	If you would like betwixt the sheets, add free and get early access, sign up to History Hit.
0:08.7	With a History Hit subscription, you can also watch hundreds of original documentaries with top history presenters.
0:16.0	And enjoy a new release every single week.
0:19.8	Sign up now by visiting history hit.com forward slash subscribe.
0:24.8	Hello, my lovely betwixters.
0:26.7	It's me, Kate Lister.
0:28.1	How the hell are you doing?
0:29.6	Well, I'm fine.
0:30.3	Thank you very, very much for asking.
0:31.8	And I'm so glad that you're here.
0:33.1	Thank you for dropping by once again.
0:34.9	You are listening to Betwixt the Sheets. But before you can
0:38.2	keep listening, I do have to tell you that this is an adult podcast, spoken by adults to other
0:42.6	adults, about adulty things in an adulty way, covering a range of adult subjects and you should be an adult too.
0:46.5	Today is actually a bit of a spicy one. We are looking at the history of the hysterectomy.
0:53.0	So we are going to be covering very gruesome medical procedures.
0:57.2	Like, it's out there, guys. It really is.
1:00.6	There will be discussion about life-changing illnesses, fertility,
1:04.7	and just about everything that you can imagine
1:06.8	that is going to go with this particularly gruesome history.
1:09.8	But if your game, then I am game.
	...

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