Applied Magic Theory: Contraception

Magic in the potterverse comes in three basic forms: Potions, Spells, and Charms. Contraception usually comes in a three basic forms: hormonal/chemical, surgical and barrier. A health class was taken, connections were made, and a classification system was born.

Potions in the HP verse seem to work within and twist the laws of chemistry and biology. What this translates too is them acting on the body, sending signals to parts of it to start doing certain things, whether it's lowering the person's resistance so they tell the truth or fall in love, or it's inhibiting some of the hormones activated during werewolf transformation. The magic in potions is probably what helps the body to do things that it can't do alone, and what helps the chemicals trigger things that they normally can't. That's why a potion would help bones grow, it's sort of stimulating cell division and growth and bonding, whereas a spell mends bones by facilitating bonding.

Because potions seem to be limited to having bio-chemical effects, it seems to be logical that a potion's functions would be limited to modifying natural cycles. Therefore, theoretically, a contraceptive potion for females would be similar to a muggle pill/shot/patch and morning after pill, (i.e. it would be interacting with the hormones involved in the female's cycle) and it seems like a male potion would most likely be a type of internal spermicide, inhibiting production of viable sperm. Something akin to muggle spermicides would also likely be in potion form in the wizarding world, for much the same reason. Another interesting application could be in STD/STI prevention. The wizarding world could have a potion, (in cream/jelly/suppository/pill form, depending on the situation) that kills the bacteria or virus that causes the STI.

Spells seem to be physical in nature. Transfiguration boils down to a rearrangement of molecules and atoms. The Dark spells work under these principles: Crucio causes whole muscles and organs to twist and shudder, Imperius seems to be a manipulation of neuro-impulses and parts of the brain, and Avada Kedavra, regardless of what it really does, also seems to affect the body on a physical, rather than chemical, level. Evanesco is an interesting case because it directly transfers matter to an invisible form, ikely transforming it into a gas that easily and safely dissolves. Expelliarmus is also a bit different because it seems to make the molecules in the object volatile enough to move, causing the object to jump as if it were under a charm. An anti-cheating spell or a simple jinx follow along the same lines, causing modifications in something physical.

With that in mind, it would seem that a contraceptive spell would also be bio-physical in nature. The only physical modification that could be made that wouldn't have effects other than the intended one of preventing pregnancy seems to be to modify the internal organs, having the body kind of reshape itself. The muggle equivalent would be tubal ligation and vasectomy. Because of the flexibility of magic, it could be that the wizarding world could have both temporary spells and permanent ones, but the temporary ones would have to be used with caution and only by skilled casters. Using spells for STD/STI prevention seems complicated. They could be used to neutralize or kill viruses and bacteria by modifying their structure, but it would require a high level of knowledge of micro-biology to know what works on individual carriers, and the caster would have to know what they were trying to avoid.

Charms are the ones that seem to be most linked with magic in a particle form. (This could mean magic is an aspect of all matter, or a unique particle.) Patronus is an interesting example because it uses the particles to form a corporeal manifestation of emotions. Most charms seem to be more about using the particle form of magic to move objects. Occasionally, charms are also used to conjure barriers formed from the magic in the very air, with certain requirements built in to some of the spells. Shielding charms, unbreakable charms and Fidelius exemplify the latter, Accio exemplifies the former. In canon though, most charms seem to be rather short term, Fidelius being the only real exception.

At its base then, a contraceptive charm then would most likely be a modified shielding charm. The muggle equivalents would likely be diaphragms, cervical caps, maybe condoms depending on the construction of the spell. Cast correctly, the tricky part would be removing the spell, likely with the use of another spell, Accio to remove sperm, or a different spell to wrap up/seal the first one so that body fluids don't mix.

IUD's could fall under charms or spells. Either the IUD is a shielding type thing made from particles, or a tiny object is inserted and then transfigured, just like the muggle equivalent expands into its proper shape once inserted.

Potions, spells, and charms all seem to have different functions in HP, and magic in Rowling's world is pretty consistent. This suggests that she has at the very least a solid classification system. So the goal of this essay was mostly just to speculate on the method of classification.