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carjack
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Is Catholic the only religion that doesn’t allow BC Pills? What if it is for medicinal purposes like PCOS.
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Pixie_Dust
Guest
Up until the Lambeth Conference (Anglican) in 1930, all Christian denominations were opposed to artificial birth control. The Catholic Church is the only one that hasn’t changed their minds about it. That said, I know of many non-Catholic Christians who are opposed to using the birth control pill because of its abortifacient properties. Personally, way back before I knew better, I was taking the pill and it made me nauseous.
The Pill does NOT actually do anything for PCOS except mask the symptoms. There are other medications that will actually treat the PCOS.
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carjack
Guest
Ok. Just to clarify, the church doesn’t permit BC pills in the case of PCOS?
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Pixie_Dust
Guest
If a woman needs artificial hormones to treat a medical condition and she is not taking them just to prevent pregnancy, they are permitted. The contraceptive nature of the medication is considered an unfortunate side-effect However, as I said, PCOS is not treated at all by the Pill, so if you suffer from PCOS, it’s better to seek a medication that will actually treat the condition rather than make you feel like the condition isn’t there. It’s like putting concealer on a pimple rather than using a benzoyl peroxide cream.
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carjack
Guest
Thank you for the information Pixie.
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carjack
Guest
I have to admit that I find that the BC treats my PCOS. before the bc pill I didn’t get my menstral for 5 mnths in a row. Then i would go to a doctor and they would prescribe me a pill that would let my menstral come down and they would advise me to take the bc pill afterward. I started taking the pill and i feel so much better. I also take the metformin. My GYN stated that she would not prescribe the BC pill, unless I take the metformin.
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Pixie_Dust
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Yes, you feel better because the symptoms are being treated, but if you stop taking both medications the PCOS will still be there. Here’s link you might find helpful that includes a link to a free consultation about natural remedies for PCOS itself. Sadly, a lot of doctors are more likely to give patients a quick fix pill (some pharmaceutical companies give doctors a kick-back to push their medications) to make them “feel better” rather than help them actually cure what ails them.
Is your GYN a Catholic?
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anamchrist
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And anyone who takes medical advice from a forum such as is opening him or herself to all kinds of problems. And the person giving the advice is opening themselves up for legal issues unless that person is licensed to dispense such advice.
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Pixie_Dust
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I am not a doctor, I don’t even play one on TV.
I was not giving medical advice but relating information I’ve discovered, and pointing out where bona-fide medical advice can be found. The original question was about the Church’s teaching on whether contraceptive pills can be taken for non-contraceptive reasons. The Church says they are permissible but not desirable, especially if other means can be found to cure such ailments.
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carjack
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I promise not to make anyone liable. lol 
i was thinking of converting to being a full Catholic. I was baptized Catholic. I just didn’t get my Holy Communion or Confirmation and I have been exploring different Christian Trinitarian religions. I find that I agree with the Catholics on most issues. I knew Catholics were against BC pills and wanted to know if that included treatment for medical issues. I was just informing myself that is all. Pixie you have been more than helpful. I am not sure if my doctor is Catholic. I never thought to ask my doctor such a personal question, because at this point I haven’t commited myself to the Catholic religion.
i was thinking of converting to being a full Catholic. I was baptized Catholic. I just didn’t get my Holy Communion or Confirmation and I have been exploring different Christian Trinitarian religions. I find that I agree with the Catholics on most issues. I knew Catholics were against BC pills and wanted to know if that included treatment for medical issues. I was just informing myself that is all. Pixie you have been more than helpful. I am not sure if my doctor is Catholic. I never thought to ask my doctor such a personal question, because at this point I haven’t commited myself to the Catholic religion.
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Pixie_Dust
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Glad to hear it!I promise not to make anyone liable. lol
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mark_a
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The Wisconsin Synod Lutherans don’t either. They also condemn NFP.
After reading a little of their beliefs on the website, they seem very “Catholic” in practice. Well, all except for their anti-Catholicness.
wels.net/cgi-bin/site.pl
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puzzleannie
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as discussed here many times, yes the pill is permitted to treat a medical condition, as long as its primary purpose is not contraceptive, but there is great debate among doctors on whether using a hormonal treatment with drastic and deadly side effects is the best choice to treat a number of conditions for which it is prescribed. yes there are some evangelical denominations, and some individual preachers in various denoms, who condemn ABC, divorce, abortion and other moral evils which the Catholic Church condemns. not sure, giving the choice of forums, where you want to go with this discussion.
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carjack
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I was trying to see if the Catholic Church was strict about BC Pills in regards to medical conditions. I was only aware of the Catholic Church being against BC Pills. I was trying to learn if other denominations felt the same. I am married and want to start a family someday. I wanted to know where Trinitarian Denominations stood on the issue. I wanted to to know what religion would I raise my kids in. Thank you for response Puzzleannie
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jwatza
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It is my understanding that you can use bc for medical reasons. But that you must abstain from intercourse because bc is an abortifacient and if you were to conceive, the fertilized egg would not be able to implant in the uterus.
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hasikelee
Guest
My understanding is that some forms of cysts do respond to the artificial hormones in birth control pills. These are considered “normal” cysts, usually found in younger women.
The most that a HRT will do for someone who has any other form of cysts, or a diagnosed syndrome such as PCOS, is reduce the symptoms.
I have a coworker who had to go through this the hard way. She has been on birth control pills since early teen years. She recently stopped taking them after some studying. She was off them long enough to be prompted to see another ob gyn and was diagnosed with a ton of other issues.
The original doctor diagnosed her incorrectly, and she has thus spent 5 years on artificial hormones, covering up serious cervical and ovarian problems. She is probably permanently infertile and will suffer various symptoms for the rest of her life.
She is currently on another form of the pill to reduce the symptoms until she decides on what surgery/therapy to do. Kind of ironic, huh.
The most that a HRT will do for someone who has any other form of cysts, or a diagnosed syndrome such as PCOS, is reduce the symptoms.
I have a coworker who had to go through this the hard way. She has been on birth control pills since early teen years. She recently stopped taking them after some studying. She was off them long enough to be prompted to see another ob gyn and was diagnosed with a ton of other issues.
The original doctor diagnosed her incorrectly, and she has thus spent 5 years on artificial hormones, covering up serious cervical and ovarian problems. She is probably permanently infertile and will suffer various symptoms for the rest of her life.
She is currently on another form of the pill to reduce the symptoms until she decides on what surgery/therapy to do. Kind of ironic, huh.
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Aleii
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The people in the “ask an apologist” section have a different view than yours, stating abstinence is not required while one is taking the pill for medical reasons.
Jim Blackburn:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=15756&highlight=birth+control
Fr. Vincent Serpa:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=4618&highlight=birth+control
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sarahraegraham
Guest
I know this is sort of an old thread, but I wanted to add my experience into the mix. It seems that many women have similar experiences to share. I was on the pill when I was a teen in order to regulate my periods (but they weren’t that bad). Being on it was great because I was extremely regular, had no side effects and I felt “normal”. Well then I get off of it and I staring only getting a period every couple months, I gained serious weight, I started to have hirutism, etc.
After this I got married and my husband and I tried to conceive for a long time, come to find out we probably cannot conceive. I believe that the BC pills caused my problems but I can’t prove it. So combine that with the fact that my husband had a vasectomy then a reversal which was supposed to have been successful, but we’re not so sure, and things have not turned out so well.
Since we were having the fertility issues I went to my doc, ended up being diagnosed with PCOS, tried all the meds and nothing worked, they only made things worse. The only thing that has made me “normal” again is BC pills. (As another poster said, it’s ironic that what I think caused my problems in the first place is the only thing that takes them away now.)
Given the fact that they are prescribed to treat my condition and that we probably cannot conceive anyway, I don’t believe that the Church teaches that it is wrong in our circumstance.
Another note in response to something a prior poster had said: there is no cure for PCOS. All of the medications only “treat the symptoms”.
After this I got married and my husband and I tried to conceive for a long time, come to find out we probably cannot conceive. I believe that the BC pills caused my problems but I can’t prove it. So combine that with the fact that my husband had a vasectomy then a reversal which was supposed to have been successful, but we’re not so sure, and things have not turned out so well.
Since we were having the fertility issues I went to my doc, ended up being diagnosed with PCOS, tried all the meds and nothing worked, they only made things worse. The only thing that has made me “normal” again is BC pills. (As another poster said, it’s ironic that what I think caused my problems in the first place is the only thing that takes them away now.)
Given the fact that they are prescribed to treat my condition and that we probably cannot conceive anyway, I don’t believe that the Church teaches that it is wrong in our circumstance.
Another note in response to something a prior poster had said: there is no cure for PCOS. All of the medications only “treat the symptoms”.
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