A question about Contraception

[LauraMajestic]

I’m honestly curious about this because I never stop seeing it. Everyone around here seems to be very emotional and moved about the popularity of contraception. It’s probably the most popular topic around here and it’s striking to me.

To start with, I don’t know about where you guys live but the pill isn’t SO popular here in Britain. I know many girls don’t use the pill because of hormonal issues and possibility of cancer issues. Additionally, I can tell from personal experience it’s a right pain getting the time regular.

Now for the issue here. I honestly need some clarification because I don’t understand why you guys are so opposed to it.

Is it:

A) You are against contraception because you think it stops life (sperm) entering the egg

or

B) You think it is interfering with how God designed our bodies to function: childbirth.

I don’t think it’s A because that has so many problems I, and I believe everyone here, could show that argument to be very poor.

If it’s B what do you guys think of medicine? That certainly interferes with the way our bodies are meant to function?

I just don’t understand what is so wrong, from a sin point of view, with a condom. I mean all it does, if used properly, is greatly stop the transmission of STIs (I really can’t see anything wrong with that) and help prevent pregnancy (98% chance if used correctly).

Can you give me some clarification on this issue?

 

[lerapt78]

OP, regarding point A: The Pill does not prevent sperm from fertilizing the egg. What the birth control pill does (generally speaking, as there are different types of pills) is prevent the egg from being released in the first place. It *suppresses *ovulation, therefore there is no egg available for the sperm to join itself to.

Regarding B: I believe another poster provided you with a link to Humanae Vitae on a similar thread you started. Did you get a chance to read any of it? I’m sure other posters will be happy to illustrate some of the focal points pertaining to your question, but I would really encourage you to read it yourself to gain the most comprehensive view surrounding the Church’s opposition.

 

[KP3243]

I too would direct you to Humane Vitae and add that Contraception makes a woman’s uterus inhospitable for life and can cause abortion when a fertilized egg cannot attach to the uteriary lining. I would also add that in addition to the moral issues the Catholic Church is the only group telling women that the World Health Organization classifies Contraception in the same carcinogenic category as lead paint and asbesots which becomes a huge womens health issue when you are taking a healthy female reproductive sytem and altering it with chemicals that have carinogenics. We are now finding out that girls usi g contaception starting at age 12 are infertle by the time they are 30 and couples who practice natural family planning have a 98% marriage success rate for life.

 

[Usige]

OP, regarding point A: The Pill does not prevent sperm from fertilizing the egg. What the birth control pill does (generally speaking, as there are different types of pills) is prevent the egg from being released in the first place. It *suppresses *ovulation, therefore there is no egg available for the sperm to join itself to.

That is one of the routes hormonal contraceptives operate through. The other two are through modifying the production of the different types of cervical mucus (essentially prolonged production of barrier mucoids and suppression of fertile mucus) and thinning of the endometrium. With the current range of low dose pills the suppression of the LH and FSH hormones are just at the tipping point. The point is so close that missing a single dose is the difference between ovulation and suppression for many women. In other words the dosage is so low that many women are likely ovulating but are not aware of the fact. That is why combination pills were developed. Prolonged use of hormonal contraceptives can result in atrophy of both the endometrium and the mucus crypts that produce fertile mucus, both of which are required to establish pregnancy.

To the OP, regardless of the type of contraceptives used it divorces sex and the natural outcome (i.e. pregnancy). Even discounting the religious objections to this, the impact of “consequence free” sex has been disastrous. Everything predicted in Humane Vita has come to pass. Every society that I can think of has had the family unit as the core unit of the society. Contraception has done more harm to the structure of society then any possible individual good.

 

[mr_traddy]

The one simple thing that God’s asks of us is to cooperate with His will. Using artificial birth control interferes with God’s plan. It defeats the purpose of how God designed the martial act.

The Catholic Church solemnly teaches that the primary purpose of matrimony is the procreation and education of children. We are to have the children that God wills.

 

[lerapt78]

Hi KP3243,

I agree with much of your post, but this particular statement lacks much pertinent information for me to accept, as it is currently worded.

Did you mean that some girls have experienced infertility as a result? Have other health issues unrelated to BC played a factor in said infertility, etc.?

Do you have a source for this? Thanks.

We are now finding out that girls usi g contaception starting at age 12 are infertle by the time they are 30 .

 

[KP3243]

The sample size is small because there are not too many 30 year olds who were allowed to take contraception at age 12. They are seeing with the sample that it looks like for every year a female child is using contraception it takes off a year of her fertility. The article was on Women of Grace and they did a show about it. They also warn against Guardisil because the British Journal of medicine reported in addition to the 88 deaths it has caused, at least one 14 year old in the two years after taking had become post menopausal this poor girl can never have children!

 

[waanju]

B.
The reason why it’s different from medicine that cures illness is that, the goals are opposite.
Medicine restores the body to working order (or as close to that as possible)
The Pill renders inoperative a bodily system that, in a healthy individual, should be functioning.
You wouldn’t say that fertility is a disease to be gotten rid of (as an antibiotic gets rid of illness causing bacteria)
You also wouldn’t say that fertility comes from a deficiency that must be made up.

Bottom line: a healthy, fully functioning human body will be fertile, and if someone is not fertile naturally, it is an indication of something wrong. Thus, birth control is akin to a “medicine” that actually causes illness by disabling a major body system.
We see this as obviously contrary to God’s plan.

Additionally, birth control gets in the way of sex as God intended it. Sex, in it’s proper state, is TOTAL self-giving. And, for a healthy individual, fertility is part of the self. Having sex witholding your fertility is saying “I trust you, but not enough to potentially raise a child with you.” “I love you, but I think the world is better off without another person like you” or “I give you everything. My heart, my mind, and my body- except my fertility”.
In this, contraception puts a barrier between the two becoming “one flesh”.

Theology of the body explains it FAR better. I also like this site> 1flesh.org/

 

[lerapt78]

The sample size is small because there are not too many 30 year olds who were allowed to take contraception at age 12. They are seeing with the sample that it looks like for every year a female child is using contraception it takes off a year of her fertility. The article was on Women of Grace and they did a show about it. They also warn against Guardisil because the British Journal of medicine reported in addition to the 88 deaths it has caused, at least one 14 year old in the two years after taking had become post menopausal this poor girl can never have children!

I’m a bit skeptical about accepting these as common-enough results over which we should be extremely concerned, rather than as rare aberrations/unintended side effects. But I also acknowledge I’m not sufficiently researched in those circumstances to take a strong stance.

Thanks for the reply!