Drawing on Hippocratic, Galenic, and Aristotelian theories, this text discusses sexuality and reproduction from both a medical and philosophical perspective.
While some of the thirteen chapters are strictly medical, such as those on the signs of conception, the period of gestation, and the nature of the menses, others are largely theoretical.
[1] Scholars have concluded the writing may have been designed to be used as an instructional text on human reproduction for the religious community due to its nature, rather than for medical training.
[1] However, the author suggests that the woman is still taking in excess food during her pregnancy that is not being purged and therefore claims pregnant women have a greater desire for sexual intercourse.
[4] When menstruation stops at menopause, the retention of menses builds up and results in an excess of evil humors, which can escape through the eyes and infect the air, polluting the world.
Jove (Jupiter): grants generosity and passion in the second month Mars: brings animosity, anger, and desire to the fetus; forms the head of the fetus and divides the arms from the torso during the third month Sun: bestows the power of knowing and remembering, as well as creates the heart Venus: causes separation of hands and feet, and it creates exterior features, such as the mouth, nose, and outer sexual organs Mercury: the sixth month is characterized by development of the voice, eyes, and hair; Joy is also created by Mercury Moon: brings formation of the fetus to an end by completing the skin The author also attributes certain body parts to the twelve signs of the Zodiac.