Ancient Methods of Determining Pregnancy and Gender

This article delves into the fascinating methods used by ancient civilizations to determine pregnancy and predict the gender of unborn children. Long before modern technology, people relied on unique techniques, such as using wheat and barley seeds to assess pregnancy status. Discover how these historical practices worked and what they revealed about gender prediction. Join us as we explore the intriguing world of ancient pregnancy testing methods that date back thousands of years.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 22, 2026, 15:44 IST

Exploring Historical Pregnancy Tests

With the advancement of science and technology, numerous devices are now available in the market that can quickly determine if a woman is pregnant. However, how did people in ancient times ascertain a woman's pregnancy?

Did you know that pregnancy tests were conducted as far back as 3500 years ago? Back then, people had methods to determine whether the fetus was male or female. Research indicates that pregnancy tests were performed in ancient Egypt many centuries ago.

According to historical accounts, between 1500 and 1300 BC, women would place their urine in a bag containing wheat and barley. This bag would be observed over several days, and if the seeds began to sprout, it indicated that the woman was pregnant. Conversely, if nothing grew, it suggested she was not pregnant.

Reports suggest that there were also methods documented to predict the gender of the unborn child. If only barley sprouted in the bag, it was believed that a boy would be born, while sprouting wheat indicated a girl. However, the accuracy of these methods remains uncertain.