The International E-magazine on Adolescent Health; The Male and Female Reproductive Systems Volume 3 | Page 6

TEEN HEALTH April 9, 2014 DID YOU KNOW? REPRODUCTIVE P R O B L E M S W I T H I N T H E R O YA L FAMILIES History By Sofía Benavides and Cindy Jiménez “Infertility - a disease of the reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a clinical pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse” -World Health Organization Throughout world history, more often than not, royal marriages served primarily as a binding act; an alliance within nations. Therefore, the stability of entire countries relied on the successfulness of said union, commonly symbolized as the creation of a heir. In other words, romanticism and love put aside, the fate of masses was dictated by the queen’s ability to bear a son. This, plus the fact that was no such thing as privacy and secrecy in court, meant that a lot of pressure lied upon the royals. Some of the most iconic cases in which infertility created political turmoil and shifted the course of nations were the ones of Marie Antoinette and Catherine of Aragon. Marie Antoinette, youngest daughter of the Holy Roman Emperor Francis, was wed at the age of fourteen to the future king of France, Louis-Auguste. Shyness, absolute inexperience and overall awkwardness caused years to go by without the consummation of this marriage. Once the nervousness was over and the deed was finally done, the couple experienced an inability to produce a child. This caused a great strain not only within the marriage, but within the Austrian-French alliance and the court that already resented Marie Antoinette due to her austrian blood. Furthermore, Louis has consistently proven to be weak and easily manipulated, and news of his potential infertility caused turmoil within the people and further questioning of his manhood and abilities. Although the couple’s condition proved to be temporary, the fleeting moment of “infertility” created political tension and public stress. Similarly, yet far more dramatically, comes the case of Catherine of Aragon, a descendant of the spanish crown. She was the first wife of the impulsive king Henry VIII, becoming therefore the queen of England. However, the queen was unable to bear a child, and the king chose desperate measures. He attempted to have their marriage annulled, defying the catholic pope and triggering a chain of events that would lead to the rupture between the church and England. This caused the creation of the Anglican church, changing the course of an entire nation. In conclusion, reproductive conditions so commonly treated today created unparalleled political and social turmoil, often swaying the course of entire nations. Perhaps if Catherine had been able to produce a heir, England would remain Catholic. Perhaps if Marie had gotten pregnant at a quicker rate, the people wouldn’t have doubted the king’s abilities and authority as much. Perhaps this is merely a reflection of how fragile and susceptible political ties and stability were in the past, considering that a dried-up womb was enough to make them crumble. "Henry VIII of England." Princeton University. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. . "Marie-Antoinette: QUEEN OF FRANCE (1755-1793)." Homepage - Palace of Versailles. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. . "Sexual and Reproductive Health : Infertility Definitions and Terminology." World Health Organization. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2014. . Sittow, Michael. "Catherine of Aragon : Humble and Loyal." Tudor History. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014. . 6