"Hysteria, and Controlling Female Sexuality Throughout History" By Sara Pelletier

Arguably one of the most bizarre medical beliefs held throughout history; female hysteria was once a very common medical diagnosis although it was only diagnosed in females. While it is no longer a recognized medical illness, the notion of female hysteria has been around for thousands of years. Symptoms included and were not limited to: fainting, nervousness, outbursts, loss of appetite for food or sex, and even sexual desire- surely something that only women experience, right? It was not until the 19th-20th century that it was proven that hysteria was not a strictly female diagnosis. But why was this believed in the first place?

The history of female hysteria goes all the way back to ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. As if the so called symptoms of female hysteria weren't fishy enough, at one point female hysteria was thought to be the cause of a wandering womb. In Ancient Greek text the womb was compared to a creature that was thought to be able wander through a woman's body and interfere with normal functioning of the brain and body. Seems legitimate...

In the mid 18th century, almost every ailment was added to the list of symptoms for female hysteria. It was believed that a quarter of all women suffered from hysteria. In terms of curing this disease, methods included a pelvic massage/ vibrator stimulation to cause an orgasm, or being hosed down. While pelvic massage cures dated all the way back to pre Renaissance times, massages were practiced by many medical establishments in the Victorian age. Vibrators were invented, not for the purpose of pleasure, but rather to control the sexual appetites of women that were believed to be a symptom of hysteria. Vibrators were advertised as massagers for the body, as seen below. 

 Enter the late 19th to 20th century. At this point in time, far less women were being diagnosed with hysteria, and the term became associated with diseases that affect both genders such as schizophrenia and anxiety due to necessary developments in the medical world. These developments include a greater understanding of the psychology of disorders such as hysteria, and the understanding that the term hysteria does not need to be gender specific.

Female Hysteria: Top 7 Crazy Things People used to believe about the Ladies' Disease: By Catherine Pearson http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/21/female-hysteria_n_4298060.html

Women and Hysteria and the History of Mental Health: ByCecilia Tasca,1 Mariangela Rapetti,1,2 Mauro Giovanni Carta,2,* and Bianca Fadda1http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3480686/

The Yellow Wallpaper Summary and Analysis: By Charlotte Gilman http://www.gradesaver.com/the-yellow-wallpaper/study-guide/section7/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_hysteria