Liston is most known for a tale about how multiple deaths resulted from one of his surgeries. But that means that his entire biography as a surgeon is dominated by the apocryphal events of one day. So today we’ll unpack his career and ethics.

 Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com

Liston is most known for a tale about how multiple deaths resulted from one of his surgeries. But that means that his entire biography as a surgeon is dominated by the apocryphal events of one day. So today we’ll unpack his career and ethics. Learn more about your ad-choices at <a href="https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com">https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.com</a>

Join Holly and Tracy as they bring you the greatest and strangest Stuff You Missed In History Class in this podcast by iHeartRadio.

Stuff You Missed in History Class

Robert Liston, Surgical Pioneer

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/862ab8a3-8761-408c-ad27-ae28003a9eeb/transcript

This 2021 episode shares how in the U.S., the idea that people should know about the risks involved with the drugs that they are taking is tied directly to the complicated and often troubling history of oral contraceptives. 

This 2021 episode shares how in the U.S., the idea that people should know about the risks involved with the drugs that they are taking is tied directly to the complicated and often troubling history of oral contraceptives.&nbsp;

SYMHC Classics: Nelson Pill Hearings

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/54cda5f7-5d20-4255-938c-b413013e38f6/transcript

Tracy talks about a "Molly of Denali" episode that references Elizabeth Peratrovich. She then shares her own experience with IUD insertion.

Tracy talks about a "Molly of Denali" episode that references Elizabeth Peratrovich. She then shares her own experience with IUD insertion.

Behind the Scenes Minis: Alaska and Contraceptives

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c9d94406-1c71-4dab-b55c-b4130055e4a3/transcript

IUDs are under the umbrella of long-acting, reversible contraceptives, and they’re the oldest one of these in use today. 

Research:
Baldauf, P et al. “A Report on the Hysteroscopic Removal of a Gräfenberg Ring After Almost Fifty Years in Utero.” Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde vol. 74,11 (2014): 1023-1025. doi:10.1055/s-0034-1383130. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4245252/
Case Western Reserve University. “Intrauterine device (IUD).” https://artsci.case.edu/dittrick/online-exhibits/history-of-birth-control/contraception-in-america-1950-present-day/intrauterine-device-iud/
Cooper, James Fryer. “Technique of contraception: the principles and practice of anti-conceptional methods.” Day-Nichols Inc., Publishers. 1928, 1930. https://archive.org/details/techniqueofcontr0000jame/
Corbett, Megan and Brandy Bautista. “A History: The IUD.” Reproductive Health Access Project. 3/20/2024. https://www.reproductiveaccess.org/2024/03/a-history-the-iud/
Curtis, Kathryn M. et al. “U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use, 2024.” Centers for Disease Control. 8/8/2024. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/rr/rr7303a1.htm
Dickinson, Robert L. et al. “Contraception: A Medical Review of the Situation.” American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 1924-11: Vol 8 Iss 5. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.50850/page/n585/
Edwards, Baylee A., "Ernst Gräfenberg (1881–1957)". Embryo Project Encyclopedia ( 2022-11-17 ). ISSN: 1940-5030 https://hdl.handle.net/10776/13358
Fallas, Rebecca and Helen King. “IUD or not IUD? Did the Hippocratics invent the first intrauterine device?. Mistaking Histories. 7/18/2017. https://mistakinghistories.uk/2017/07/18/iud-or-not-iud-did-the-hippocratics-invent-the-first-intrauterine-device/
Fotinos, Diane J. “Gold Stemmed Pessaries: A Shadow of the Past.” UT Health. 9/11/2019. https://library.uthscsa.edu/2017/09/gold-stemmed-pessaries-a-shadow-of-the-past/
Goldstuck, Norman D. “Reducing Barriers to the use of the Intrauterine Contraceptive Device as a Long Acting Reversible Contraceptive.” African Journal of Reproductive Health / La Revue Africaine de la Santé Reproductive, December 2014, Vol. 18, No. 4 (December 2014). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24362040
Goodhue PA. The Dalkon Shield debate. Conn Med. 1983 Mar;47(3):138-41. PMID: 6851548.
Haubacher, David. “The Checkered Past and Bright Future of Intrauterine Contraception in the United States.” Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health , Mar. - Apr., 2002. Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3030213
Homei, Aya. “Why did the Japanese Government take so long to approve the intrauterine contraceptive device?.” Reproductive biomedicine & society online vol. 6 45-54. 16 Oct. 2018, doi:10.1016/j.rbms.2018.09.002
Hubacher, David. “The Checkered History and Bright Future of Intrauterine Contraception In the United States.” Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health. Vol. 34, Issue 2. https://www.guttmacher.org/journals/psrh/2002/03/checkered-history-and-bright-future-intrauterine-contraception-united-states
Hutchings, Jane E. et al. “The IUD After 20 Years: A Review of Worldwide Experience.” International Family Planning Perspectives, Vol. 11, No. 3 (Sep., 1985). https://www.jstor.org/stable/2947998
Jones, R. W., et al. “Clinical Experience With The Dalkon Shield Intrauterine Device.” The British Medical Journal, vol. 3, no. 5872, 1973, pp. 143–45. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25420726. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
Klapperich, Catherine M. “From the Dalkon Shield to Britney Spears’ IUD: Why Diverse Teams Need to Be Involved in Contraceptive Design.” The Brink. Boston University. 7/1/2021. https://www.bu.edu/articles/2021/from-the-dalkon-shield-to-britney-spears-iud-why-diverse-teams-need-to-be-involved-in-contraceptive-design/
Lopes-Garcia, E. A., Carmona, E. V., Monteiro, I., & Bahamondes, L. (2023). Assessment of pain and ease of intrauterine device placement according to type of device, parity, and mode of delivery. The European Journal of Contraception &amp; Reproductive Health Care, 28(3), 163–167. https://doi.org/10.1080/13625187.2023.2189500
Margulies, Lazar. “History of Intrauterine Devices.” Bull. N. Y. Acad. Med. Vol. 51, No. 5, May 1975.
Museum of Contraception and Abortion. “Tenrei Ota (1900-1985).” https://muvs.org/en/topics/pioneers/tenrei-ota-1900-1985-en/
Oppenheimer, W.. “Prevention of pregnancy by the graefenberg ring method.” American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Volume 78, Issue 2, 446 – 454. https://www.ajog.org/article/0002-9378(59)90203-0/abstract
Peipert, Jeffrey F. “Lippes loop and the first IUDs: lessons from a bygone era.” American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Volume 219, Issue 2, 127 – 128. https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(18)30488-5/fulltext
Peipert, Jeffrey F. “Lippes loop and the first IUDs: lessons from a bygone era.” American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Volume 219, Issue 2, 127 – 128 . https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(18)30488-5/fulltext
Thiery, M. “Pioneers of the intrauterine device.” The European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care. Volume 2, Number 1, March 1997. The Parthenon Publishing Group International Publishers.
Thomsen, Russel J. “An Atlas of Intrauterine Contraception.” Hemisphere Publishing Company. 1982.
Tietze, Christopher and Sarah Lewit. “Intra-Uterine Contraceptive Devices: Proceedings of the Conference, April 30-May 1, 1962, New York City.” Exerpta Medica Foundation.
Willingham, Emily. “A ‘Simple’ Piece of Plastic.” American Scientist. May-June 2012. https://www.americanscientist.org/article/a-simple-piece-of-plastic
World Health Organization. “Selected practice recommendations for contraceptive use.” Fourth Edition. https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/582c8182-f4b1-406b-b5e7-d81c1870df93/content

IUDs are under the umbrella of long-acting, reversible contraceptives, and they&rsquo;re the oldest one of these in use today.&nbsp;
Research:
<ul>
<li>Baldauf, P et al. &ldquo;A Report on the Hysteroscopic Removal of a Gr&auml;fenberg Ring After Almost Fifty Years in Utero.&rdquo; Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde vol. 74,11 (2014): 1023-1025. doi:10.1055/s-0034-1383130. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4245252/</li>
<li>Case Western Reserve University. &ldquo;Intrauterine device (IUD).&rdquo; https://artsci.case.edu/dittrick/online-exhibits/history-of-birth-control/contraception-in-america-1950-present-day/intrauterine-device-iud/</li>
<li>Cooper, James Fryer. &ldquo;Technique of contraception: the principles and practice of anti-conceptional methods.&rdquo; Day-Nichols Inc., Publishers. 1928, 1930. https://archive.org/details/techniqueofcontr0000jame/</li>
<li>Corbett, Megan and Brandy Bautista. &ldquo;A History: The IUD.&rdquo; Reproductive Health Access Project. 3/20/2024. https://www.reproductiveaccess.org/2024/03/a-history-the-iud/</li>
<li>Curtis, Kathryn M. et al. &ldquo;U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use, 2024.&rdquo; Centers for Disease Control. 8/8/2024. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/rr/rr7303a1.htm</li>
<li>Dickinson, Robert L. et al. &ldquo;Contraception: A Medical Review of the Situation.&rdquo; American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 1924-11: Vol 8 Iss 5. https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.50850/page/n585/</li>
<li>Edwards, Baylee A., "Ernst Gr&auml;fenberg (1881&ndash;1957)". Embryo Project Encyclopedia ( 2022-11-17 ). ISSN: 1940-5030 https://hdl.handle.net/10776/13358</li>
<li>Fallas, Rebecca and Helen King. &ldquo;IUD or not IUD? Did the Hippocratics invent the first intrauterine device?. Mistaking Histories. 7/18/2017. https://mistakinghistories.uk/2017/07/18/iud-or-not-iud-did-the-hippocratics-invent-the-first-intrauterine-device/</li>
<li>Fotinos, Diane J. &ldquo;Gold Stemmed Pessaries: A Shadow of the Past.&rdquo; UT Health. 9/11/2019. https://library.uthscsa.edu/2017/09/gold-stemmed-pessaries-a-shadow-of-the-past/</li>
<li>Goldstuck, Norman D. &ldquo;Reducing Barriers to the use of the Intrauterine Contraceptive Device as a Long Acting Reversible Contraceptive.&rdquo; African Journal of Reproductive Health / La Revue Africaine de la Sant&eacute; Reproductive, December 2014, Vol. 18, No. 4 (December 2014). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24362040</li>
<li>Goodhue PA. The Dalkon Shield debate. Conn Med. 1983 Mar;47(3):138-41. PMID: 6851548.</li>
<li>Haubacher, David. &ldquo;The Checkered Past and Bright Future of Intrauterine Contraception in the United States.&rdquo; Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health , Mar. - Apr., 2002. Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3030213</li>
<li>Homei, Aya. &ldquo;Why did the Japanese Government take so long to approve the intrauterine contraceptive device?.&rdquo; Reproductive biomedicine &amp; society online vol. 6 45-54. 16 Oct. 2018, doi:10.1016/j.rbms.2018.09.002</li>
<li>Hubacher, David. &ldquo;The Checkered History and Bright Future of Intrauterine Contraception In the United States.&rdquo; Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health. Vol. 34, Issue 2. https://www.guttmacher.org/journals/psrh/2002/03/checkered-history-and-bright-future-intrauterine-contraception-united-states</li>
<li>Hutchings, Jane E. et al. &ldquo;The IUD After 20 Years: A Review of Worldwide Experience.&rdquo; International Family Planning Perspectives, Vol. 11, No. 3 (Sep., 1985). https://www.jstor.org/stable/2947998</li>
<li>Jones, R. W., et al. &ldquo;Clinical Experience With The Dalkon Shield Intrauterine Device.&rdquo; The British Medical Journal, vol. 3, no. 5872, 1973, pp. 143&ndash;45. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/25420726. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.</li>
<li>Klapperich, Catherine M. &ldquo;From the Dalkon Shield to Britney Spears&rsquo; IUD: Why Diverse Teams Need to Be Involved in Contraceptive Design.&rdquo; The Brink. Boston University. 7/1/2021. https://www.bu.edu/articles/2021/from-the-dalkon-shield-to-britney-spears-iud-why-diverse-teams-need-to-be-involved-in-contraceptive-design/</li>
<li>Lopes-Garcia, E. A., Carmona, E. V., Monteiro, I., &amp; Bahamondes, L. (2023). Assessment of pain and ease of intrauterine device placement according to type of device, parity, and mode of delivery. The European Journal of Contraception &amp;amp; Reproductive Health Care, 28(3), 163&ndash;167. https://doi.org/10.1080/13625187.2023.2189500</li>
<li>Margulies, Lazar. &ldquo;History of Intrauterine Devices.&rdquo; Bull. N. Y. Acad. Med. Vol. 51, No. 5, May 1975.</li>
<li>Museum of Contraception and Abortion. &ldquo;Tenrei Ota (1900-1985).&rdquo; https://muvs.org/en/topics/pioneers/tenrei-ota-1900-1985-en/</li>
<li>Oppenheimer, W.. &ldquo;Prevention of pregnancy by the graefenberg ring method.&rdquo; American Journal of Obstetrics &amp; Gynecology, Volume 78, Issue 2, 446 &ndash; 454. https://www.ajog.org/article/0002-9378(59)90203-0/abstract</li>
<li>Peipert, Jeffrey F. &ldquo;Lippes loop and the first IUDs: lessons from a bygone era.&rdquo; American Journal of Obstetrics &amp; Gynecology, Volume 219, Issue 2, 127 &ndash; 128. https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(18)30488-5/fulltext</li>
<li>Peipert, Jeffrey F. &ldquo;Lippes loop and the first IUDs: lessons from a bygone era.&rdquo; American Journal of Obstetrics &amp; Gynecology, Volume 219, Issue 2, 127 &ndash; 128 . https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(18)30488-5/fulltext</li>
<li>Thiery, M. &ldquo;Pioneers of the intrauterine device.&rdquo; The European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care. Volume 2, Number 1, March 1997. The Parthenon Publishing Group International Publishers.</li>
<li>Thomsen, Russel J. &ldquo;An Atlas of Intrauterine Contraception.&rdquo; Hemisphere Publishing Company. 1982.</li>
<li>Tietze, Christopher and Sarah Lewit. &ldquo;Intra-Uterine Contraceptive Devices: Proceedings of the Conference, April 30-May 1, 1962, New York City.&rdquo; Exerpta Medica Foundation.</li>
<li>Willingham, Emily. &ldquo;A &lsquo;Simple&rsquo; Piece of Plastic.&rdquo; American Scientist. May-June 2012. https://www.americanscientist.org/article/a-simple-piece-of-plastic</li>
<li>World Health Organization. &ldquo;Selected practice recommendations for contraceptive use.&rdquo; Fourth Edition. https://iris.who.int/server/api/core/bitstreams/582c8182-f4b1-406b-b5e7-d81c1870df93/content</li>
</ul>

IUDs are under the umbrella of long-acting, reversible contraceptives, and they’re the oldest one of these in use today. 

The IUD: A History

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c878f47f-9ac6-410a-bc34-b40f0177346d/transcript

Robert Liston, Surgical Pioneer

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