Hey everybody,

We have removed literally every comment in this thread so far, for not answering the question.

If you're coming here to comment, ask yourself:"does my answer actually answer the question of how prostitutes in the American West prevented pregnancy? Am I substantially certain of my facts? And can I answer follow up questions and provide supporting evidence?"

If the answer you give yourself to any part of that is "no," then don't comment here.

Thanks!

-- the AH mod team

I found a few threads:

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/y6nt8/how_did_people_protect_against_pregnancy_before/

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/15nark/how_did_prostitutes_deal_with_pregnancy_and_stds/

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1923cl/how_did_prostitutes_of_the_past_prevent_pregnancy/

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1zfhrz/how_did_prostitutes_deal_with_birth_control_issues/

I have not studied the "old west" but I have studied contraceptives. The vulcanization of rubber in 1843 soon brought both condoms AND diaphragms to the commercial market. Condoms no longer had to be manufactured from linen or animal parts. And best of all, they were reusable, as was the diaphragm. Prior to rubber, diaphragms were also made from similar products, or things as simple as a lemon wedge. On the east coast, some form of the diaphragm was the most popular form of birth control among sex workers, so I imagine it would have been similar out west.

My favorite piece on the topic is Devices and Desires: A history of Contraceptives in America by Andrea Tone