Birth Control Pill / Abortifacient?

[lil_flower]

Someone on another forum that I belong to is healing from a recent miscarriage. She has posted a question about going back on the pill for a while during their wait to find out if she has infertility problems. She is hesitating to go back on the pill because she has heard that it can keep a fertilized egg from implanting and this disturbs her. Now, of course I know this is true, but it just isn’t well known to the general public. Several people have replied to her saying they’ve never heard of such a thing, they have gotten pregnant while on the pill and went on to have a healthy pregnancy (thus concluding that it apparently doesn’t keep a fertilized egg from implanting), etc, etc…
This other forum isn’t a religious one, just women supporting and helping each other, and I’m afraid that posting material from a religious view might make some of them immediately question the credibility of what’s being said. Do any of you know of a site or a resource of any kind that I can quote that just gives the facts of what the pill does and how it does it and mentions the fact that it is an abortifacient without sounding “religious” if you know what I mean. I have done a quick google search but couldn’t find exactly what I’m looking for. I think I remember hearing that the literature that comes with the pill prescription mentions the abortifacient aspect, but I’ve never taken the pill so don’t have any official literature to look at. Can someone please help me as I think it’s so important to get this truth out there and since this lady is asking specifically I really want to have something to tell her and the other ladies that have never heard of such a thing. Thanks for any help!!

Nicole

 

[Brendan]

Try this website

americanpregnancy.org/preventingpregnancy/birthcontrolpills.html

The lining of the uterus becomes thinner, making it more difficult for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus should ovulation occur and fertilization take place.

or here

answers.com/topic/oral-contraceptive

The pill as a form of abortion
In cases when the pill prevents the implantation of an embryo, this may be considered a form of chemically induced abortion since the egg is actually fertillized at this point.

 

[Hermione]

abortionno.org/Resources/fastfacts.html#anchor

"**The Pill – Progesterone only, low dose combination pills
**The Physician’s Desk Reference lists the above hormonal contraceptives as having three mechanisms of action: 1) Prevent ovulation, 2) Thicken the cervical mucous to prevent sperm from entering the uterus and fallopian tube, and 3) Alter the lining of the uterus so implantation cannot take place. The third action, if and when it occurs, is abortifacient (meaning a human life has begun but cannot continue to develop without the nourishment provided through the mother’s uterine wall). Although pro-life physicians continue to debate if and how often hormonal contraceptives interfere with the implantation of an embryo, it is important to educate ourselves and our clients about this potential action of the Pill. Those who seek to protect the sanctity of human life from the point of fertilization should be cautious about taking any drug which could end the developing child’s life.

 

[CatholicMatthew]

You can always look at the particular pill manufacturers website or the insert—you should be able to get one from the pharmacy.

Another thing you can look at is the potential of birth defects if she got pregnant and it did not abort. The supreme court actually help up a lawsuit that I would have to look up that held this. The manufacturers reccomend three clear cycles before conceiving.

Matt

 

[1ke]

www.omsoul.com has several items on this topic. They have information you can download free, or booklets you can purchase very reasonably.

You can also find information at www.all.org.

Yes, the pill can be an abortifacient.

 

[Sanveann]

I used to take Ortho-Tricyclen, until I heard this. I looked at the insert, and sure enough, it was there in black and white.

You can see the info on this particular (and very common) pill here: orthomcneil.com/products/pi/pdfs/cycltri.pdf – look in the first column, under the headline “oral contraception” … it reads: Although the primary mechanism of this action is inhibition of ovulation, other alterations include changes in the cervical mucus (which increase the difficulty of sperm entry into the uterus) and the endometrium (which reduce the likelihood of implantation).

Of course, some people will dispute that the fertilized egg being flushed out = abortifacient, which opens up a whole new can of worms!.

(Oh, and for the record … I refused to take the pill anymore after learning this, and my husband and I have been happily and successfully using NFP to avoid pregnancy for now. I was amazed to find how much less moody and depressed I was after going off the pill.)

 

[lil_flower]

Thanks, everyone, for all the advice and the great websites. I think this was exactly what I was looking for.

Thanks!

Nicole