Museum of contraception and abortion

The Museum für Verhütung und Schwangerschaftsabbruch stands in Vienna’s 15th district, Rudolfsheim-Fünfhaus, beside the Mariahilfer Gürtel near the Westbahnhof. Founded in 2003 by gynaecologist Christian Fiala, it is the world’s only museum dedicated solely to contraception, pregnancy testing and abortion. The building houses three real exhibition rooms alongside a growing virtual museum on the internet. The collection shows how societies have tried to control fertility across centuries. It holds around 2 100 objects, 1 120 books, 100 letters and more than 500 articles donated by scientists. A research project on abortion in Austria between 1945 and 1974 explains how the law changed in 1975. The museum also keeps the archives of Austrian gynaecologist Hermann Knaus, co-discoverer of the safe-day method. Visitors find models, files, films and texts arranged for clarity with German and English audioguides and brochures. A free online tour gives access to the full database and images for reuse. Special booklets and a newsletter keep the public informed. The museum takes part every year in the Long Night of Museums, offering guided tours and fresh research results.