The world’s only museum dedicated to contraception and abortion marked 22 years since its opening in Vienna, continuing to educate new generations on reproductive rights while recalling a past when women risked their lives with knitting needles or toxic substances to end pregnancies.
Founded in 2003 by Austrian gynaecologist Christian Fiala, the Museum of Contraception and Abortion (MUVS) highlights the history and struggle for fertility control and the importance of safe access to reproductive healthcare at a time when abortion rights remain contested across many countries.
Three rooms provide a look at the history of contraception, from ancient Egypt to methods that will be used in the future, by both men and women; the fascinating development of pregnancy tests, from indirect indicators such as a rooster’s crow to modern test strips; and also contemporary abortion in light of its development from the laws implemented by Maria Theresia to current statutes. You can read case histories, listen to literary quotes, track parliamentary votes, open kitchen drawers, and learn about both tinkerers and pioneers.
There is also a library where the topics of abortion, contraception and sex education are covered and there are several reference journals.
SOURCE: Efe, by Núria Morchón, 28 September 2025; Museum of Contraception and Abortion – Visitor Information