Birth Control (Pill) Question

[Jersey1234]

I have a question for you all. I am currently in RCIA because I am returning to the Church (I never really stopped going for any reason other than my parents stopped taking me, I’m 21 now). In our last session we learned that the Church does not agree with birth control because it could cause an abortion. While I am currently on birth control, I’m not having sex, therefore, is that okay? Thanks in advance. I almost feel guilty taking it every day now…

 

[rpp]

I have a question for you all. I am currently in RCIA because I am returning to the Church (I never really stopped going for any reason other than my parents stopped taking me, I’m 21 now). In our last session we learned that the Church does not agree with birth control because it could cause an abortion. While I am currently on birth control, I’m not having sex, therefore, is that okay? Thanks in advance. I almost feel guilty taking it every day now…

I presume you are also not married. If you are, please let us know.

If you are not having sex, why take birth control?

 

[Texas_Roofer]

I have a question for you all. I am currently in RCIA because I am returning to the Church (I never really stopped going for any reason other than my parents stopped taking me, I’m 21 now). In our last session we learned that the Church does not agree with birth control because it could cause an abortion. While I am currently on birth control, I’m not having sex, therefore, is that okay? Thanks in advance. I almost feel guilty taking it every day now…

Yes it is fine. In Church writing this is referred to as “Lawful Therapeutic Means”. However to say “we learned that the Church does not agree with birth control because it could cause an abortion” is incorrect. your teacher left you quite short on the subject. The Church opposes Artifical Birth Control because it considers it opposed to Natural Laws. Meaning God designed relations and we human are figuring out a way to get around the parts we do not like.

Here is the teaching but it is a bit much for a beginner
vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae_en.html

Hope that helps

 

[noclevername]

If it helps you, I am not married and I am on birth control pills too. I have to take them for my endometriosis. IT’s the only thing that can control my pain.

 

[rayne89]

Being an abortifacient is only one reason why the church is against birth control.

If you are using birth control to treat something other than avoiding pregnancy it is permissible.

 

[1ke]

I have a question for you all. I am currently in RCIA because I am returning to the Church (I never really stopped going for any reason other than my parents stopped taking me, I’m 21 now). In our last session we learned that the Church does not agree with birth control because it could cause an abortion. While I am currently on birth control, I’m not having sex, therefore, is that okay? Thanks in advance. I almost feel guilty taking it every day now…

Two things:

(1) The Church teaching regarding contraception has nothing to do with the fact that some types of contraceptives also cause early abortions. If it was explained to you that this is the reason the Church teaches contraception is immoral, it was explained incorrectly. The Church teaches that all forms of contraception are intrinsically disordered (always wrong) because they fail to maintain the proper elements of the marital embrace (sexual intercourse). Each and every act of intercourse between spouses must be objectively unitive and procreative. This means that each time a couple comes together they must take no action to negate either of the elements (unity or procreation) or do the act in such as a way that it does not reach its natural end.

(2) Taking hormonal pills for non-contraceptive reason may be allowable under the principle of double effect. The Church does not object to legitimate medical intervention, even when the secondary effect can be sterility. The secondary effect in the case of hormonal pills for a sexually active woman is more than sterility, it is possibly also abortifacient. Therefore, her reason for taking such medication would have to be proportionate-- i.e., most likely life threatening.

(3) There are alternatives to treating various female problems that do not involve the Pill, and therefore have no moral issues. I encourage you to learn more about natural family planning, especially the Creighton Model, and to talk to an NFP doctor about whatever condition you have that is currently being treated by means of the Pill.

(4) If you want to read more on what the Church teaches regarding contraception, marriage, and family I suggest the book Life Giving Love by Kimberly Hahn and also the audio CD by Dr Janet Smith called Contraception, Why Not? both available at www.omsoul.com. OMSoul also maintains a list of NFP doctors who have signed up on their site. It is by no means an exhaustive list, and your diocese might know of local NFP doctors, but it is a start.

 

[kevinsgirl]

What 1ke said!

 

[jwashu]

I have a question for you all. I am currently in RCIA because I am returning to the Church (I never really stopped going for any reason other than my parents stopped taking me, I’m 21 now). In our last session we learned that the Church does not agree with birth control because it could cause an abortion. While I am currently on birth control, I’m not having sex, therefore, is that okay? Thanks in advance. I almost feel guilty taking it every day now…

If you are on birth control for medical reasons to regulate your cycles I believe that is permissible, especially since you are not sexually active and you are not using it for birth control.

The primary reason is for you health if that is the case, then it’s permissible even if the secondary effect is contraception.

At least that is my understanding.

Joe

 

[Jersey1234]

Hi - Thank you everyone for your responses. I might have misled you since I did post in the “Family Life” section, but no, I am not married, and right now I’m just taking it for, I suppose selfish reasons - to lighten and regulate my period.
The Priest only went into the subject briefly - as we are all college students and none of us are married. I tried to do some more research online, but I could only find things related to marriages.
Thanks again.

 

[Leopard]

You are not on birth control, or more precisely, you are not contracepting. You are taking medicine for a health condition unrelated to conceiving. This is permissible.

Pain relief is not selfish or sinful, otherwise aspirin would be sinful.

 

[1ke]

Hi - Thank you everyone for your responses. I might have misled you since I did post in the “Family Life” section, but no, I am not married, and right now I’m just taking it for, I suppose selfish reasons - to lighten and regulate my period.

The pill doesn’t “regulate” anything. It supresses your normally functioning system and replaces it with synthetic hormones to trick your system into a simulated state of pregancy. The bleeding you have is not a menstrual period, is hormonal withdrawal bleeding.

I hope you will consider the damage you may be doing to your body and fertility by taking these pills unnecessarily. If you don’t have a true medical need, maybe you can consider letting your body return to its natural state.

 

[holly_potter]

I did the same thing for years–my periods were absolutely crazy for a long time so the gyn gave me a prescription for the Pill. It was helpful at first, keeping me from doing it too often, too long, and preventing my body from going to long without a period, too. It helped with the pain, a bit, too.

But then I was just fed up with the Pill. I’d tried to stop it before, but always found some complaint or other that bugged me and went back on it. Finally in fall of 07, I decided enough with the Pill. Sure, my cycles like going about 3 months in between periods, but hey, that gives me 3 months without a period! It takes some getting used to, letting your body get back to its natural state. Unless you have endomentris or something like that which makes the Pill very useful, I wonder if you would like being off the pill…

Plus you know what? Research says that the Pill affects women’s courting decisions. Something about it affecting the sense of smell, (like smelling hormones). So women on the pill while dating and off the pill when they get married have a slightly higher rate of divorce. I can’t remember where the research is…if any of you want some proof I’m sure I can ferret it up again

But as a testimony, on the pill I didn’t meet anybody, but shortly after I stopped the Pill I met my fiance… Coincidence? Perhaps. More like divine providence–and maybe a bit of that research in there, too!

 

[_wifey]

I did the same thing for years–my periods were absolutely crazy for a long time so the gyn gave me a prescription for the Pill. It was helpful at first, keeping me from doing it too often, too long, and preventing my body from going to long without a period, too. It helped with the pain, a bit, too.

But then I was just fed up with the Pill. I’d tried to stop it before, but always found some complaint or other that bugged me and went back on it. Finally in fall of 07, I decided enough with the Pill. Sure, my cycles like going about 3 months in between periods, but hey, that gives me 3 months without a period! It takes some getting used to, letting your body get back to its natural state. Unless you have endomentris or something like that which makes the Pill very useful, I wonder if you would like being off the pill…

Goodness Holly, you sound so similar to me. When I was 12 (yes, 12!) they stuck me on the pill. Only after I converted to Catholicism and was beginning my journey did I decide to come off it. It was only then (well about 1 1/2 years after) that was eventually diagnosed with endometriosis. After the diagnosis I was put back on the pill for awhile (an act of extreme desperation as I don’t like what it does to your body, much less its “side effects”) but after 4 months I came back off. Its side effects were no longer worth its relief. Thank God (& the prayers of my parish!) I have not had any intolerable pain since then. Here’s praying that my relief continues…

Back to the topic at hand, it is my understanding that BCP’s are not a problem outside of marriage (assuming of course that you are celibate), but do look into why you are using them (if your periods are pretty bad without them, try to find out why rather than just “masking” the symptoms) as well as what the pill actually does to your body. Personally it terrifies me that we are messing about so cavalierly with God’s design for the female body. But again, there are good, licit uses for the pill, so don’t eat yourself up with guilt.

God bless.

 

[February]

Hi Jersey,

While it is not a sin for you to be on the pill right now, just be aware of the potential side effects the pill can cause. I was two years older than you (unmarried) and on the pill, and it caused some definite stress on my body in the short time I was taking it.

 

[holly_potter]

Goodness Holly, you sound so similar to me. When I was 12 (yes, 12!) they stuck me on the pill.

Me too! I was 12, too! I was just eager for relief, then, so that’s why I went along with it…wow, I wonder how many people went through the same thing we did?

Though it is sad. Sometimes the body is still trying to find “normal” in the beginning, so we’re taught to regulate it and control it with medicine instead of going along with what’s natural. If it’s necessary it’s necessary, but otherwise, avoid it when possible is my idea

 

[PrairieMom]

Goodness Holly, you sound so similar to me. When I was 12 (yes, 12!) they stuck me on the pill. Only after I converted to Catholicism and was beginning my journey did I decide to come off it. It was only then (well about 1 1/2 years after) that was eventually diagnosed with endometriosis. After the diagnosis I was put back on the pill for awhile (an act of extreme desperation as I don’t like what it does to your body, much less its “side effects”) but after 4 months I came back off. Its side effects were no longer worth its relief. Thank God (& the prayers of my parish!) I have not had any intolerable pain since then. Here’s praying that my relief continues…

Back to the topic at hand, it is my understanding that BCP’s are not a problem outside of marriage (assuming of course that you are celibate), but do look into why you are using them (if your periods are pretty bad without them, try to find out why rather than just “masking” the symptoms) as well as what the pill actually does to your body. Personally it terrifies me that we are messing about so cavalierly with God’s design for the female body. But again, there are good, licit uses for the pill, so don’t eat yourself up with guilt.

God bless.

A couple of people made really good points about what BCP do to your body. Again, depending on your reasons for why you’re lightening your period, you need to assess whether or not it’s worth the medical risk. Have you read the inserts that come with those things?

(Ok, maybe I should point out here that I’ve become increasingly distrustful of western medicine in recent years. You should take anything I say with a grain of salt.)

I took BCP for the better part of a decade (for birth control, before returning to the Church), and suffered from chronic depression and anxiety for years and years years… of course, when I was 18 and asked for the pill, they told me it would be great (I even remember the doctor telling me that they’re prescribing me “mmmmmmarvelous mmmmmarvelon”), no problem at all at your age and you can take them until menopause with no problems… and then prescribed me more and more pills to deal with the depression and anxiety… no one suggesting that I should STOP taking the birth control pills because they can cause depression…

::taps finger nervously::

I’m done that rant.

But seriously… now is the perfect opportunity to learn Natural Family Planning, and to learn which form is best for you. It’s very helpful to “know you body” well before having children, it will help you learn when you’re fertility is returning post child-birth.

Hey you guys, I didn’t know it was permissible to take BCP for genuine medical reasons! Although I would think that it would have to be as a last resort i.e. nothing else works… ?

 

[BiologyBrain]

I think everyone else has really good points & deserve kudos for explaining it so well!

I will, however, add my own personal story just b/c. I’ve been diagnosed w/ endometriosis since I was about 16. The theory is actually that I had endometriosis pretty quickly after puberty, but I didn’t go to a doctor. I’d miss school b/c of my heavy, painful, long periods. As soon as I went to a Gyn they wanted to put me on the Pill. At that point I was 16 and already quite interested in science & learning my Faith better. I read the package inserts & asked pointed questions about the side-effects and risks associated w/ the Pill. Actually, the inserts indicated that the Pill (and any hormonal bc) is contraindicated for someone w/ my family history (Hereditary Breast & Ovarian Cancer). My Gyn pretty much looked at me like I was crazy & stupid. However, I refused to take any hormonal bc b/c I had read elsewhere that it doesn’t ‘treat’ the endometriosis (or PCOS, or any of the other things its supposed to cure) - it just covers the problems. I had laproscopic surgery at 18, again at 22, and again at 24. All three times my endo was affecting all my internal organs. It wasn’t until I was 23 that I found NFP and a doc that believed in it. I traveled over 4 hours after learning how to chart & charting for a couple months. With the last surgery (performed by my NFP Gyn), I’ve been relatively endo free by charting my cycles, knowing when progesterone is necessary in my system, and getting pregnant lots of times. I’m 27 now and on my 6th pregnancy (4 mc and 1 live birth - still unsure about this one). I’m tremendously glad I never took the pill b/c when I was 23 my mom was diagnosed w/ HBOC and genetic testing reveals that I too have the genes responsible. Had I taken the hormonal bc my risk would sky-rocket to an almost certainty. As it is, my risk is 85% of getting either/both ovarian or breast cancer.

My advice to everyone who wants it (and some who don’t) is to NOT take hormonal bc unless its absolutely necessary. I know of very few NFP docs that prescribe hbc at all. Those that do only do so after testing, other medications, charting, etc have failed to come up with a life-giving option. Good luck!

 

[_wifey]

A couple of people made really good points about what BCP do to your body. Again, depending on your reasons for why you’re lightening your period, you need to assess whether or not it’s worth the medical risk. Have you read the inserts that come with those things?

(Ok, maybe I should point out here that I’ve become increasingly distrustful of western medicine in recent years. You should take anything I say with a grain of salt.)

I took BCP for the better part of a decade (for birth control, before returning to the Church), and suffered from chronic depression and anxiety for years and years years… of course, when I was 18 and asked for the pill, they told me it would be great (I even remember the doctor telling me that they’re prescribing me “mmmmmmarvelous mmmmmarvelon”), no problem at all at your age and you can take them until menopause with no problems… and then prescribed me more and more pills to deal with the depression and anxiety… no one suggesting that I should STOP taking the birth control pills because they can cause depression…

::taps finger nervously::

I’m done that rant.

But seriously… now is the perfect opportunity to learn Natural Family Planning, and to learn which form is best for you. It’s very helpful to “know you body” well before having children, it will help you learn when you’re fertility is returning post child-birth.

Hey you guys, I didn’t know it was permissible to take BCP for genuine medical reasons! Although I would think that it would have to be as a last resort i.e. nothing else works… ?

As I posted before, I was on them in the past (basically because it was the convenient thing for my docs to do at the time…grumble grumble) and I also had serious anxiety and depression. Of all the reasons I don’t take bcp’s anymore including their nasty side effects, I never knew that some of the mental anguish I suffered was related. Hmm…guess that explains why the PTSD reared up last summer (when they stuck me back on them to control endo pain) and is just now ebbing away… Wow, that gives me something to think about!

God bless.

 

[Regi]

I think everyone else has really good points & deserve kudos for explaining it so well!

I will, however, add my own personal story just b/c. I’ve been diagnosed w/ endometriosis since I was about 16. The theory is actually that I had endometriosis pretty quickly after puberty, but I didn’t go to a doctor. I’d miss school b/c of my heavy, painful, long periods. As soon as I went to a Gyn they wanted to put me on the Pill. At that point I was 16 and already quite interested in science & learning my Faith better. I read the package inserts & asked pointed questions about the side-effects and risks associated w/ the Pill. Actually, the inserts indicated that the Pill (and any hormonal bc) is contraindicated for someone w/ my family history (Hereditary Breast & Ovarian Cancer). My Gyn pretty much looked at me like I was crazy & stupid. However, I refused to take any hormonal bc b/c I had read elsewhere that it doesn’t ‘treat’ the endometriosis (or PCOS, or any of the other things its supposed to cure) - it just covers the problems. I had laproscopic surgery at 18, again at 22, and again at 24. All three times my endo was affecting all my internal organs. It wasn’t until I was 23 that I found NFP and a doc that believed in it. I traveled over 4 hours after learning how to chart & charting for a couple months. With the last surgery (performed by my NFP Gyn), I’ve been relatively endo free by charting my cycles, knowing when progesterone is necessary in my system, and getting pregnant lots of times. I’m 27 now and on my 6th pregnancy (4 mc and 1 live birth - still unsure about this one). I’m tremendously glad I never took the pill b/c when I was 23 my mom was diagnosed w/ HBOC and genetic testing reveals that I too have the genes responsible. Had I taken the hormonal bc my risk would sky-rocket to an almost certainty. As it is, my risk is 85% of getting either/both ovarian or breast cancer.

My advice to everyone who wants it (and some who don’t) is to NOT take hormonal bc unless its absolutely necessary. I know of very few NFP docs that prescribe hbc at all. Those that do only do so after testing, other medications, charting, etc have failed to come up with a life-giving option. Good luck!

God bless you, BiologyBrain!! What a remarkable witness to the Catholic faith you are! So many people believe what they are told and take medications like this without any research - many of them do not need to be using it.

I will pray that your pregnancy goes well.

My niece told me that the day she started her periods, her mother took her to the doctor and put her on the pill - why??? She, too, was only 12. Now, at 29, she is married, trying to get pregnant and having trouble conceiving - I wonder how much of it is from the negative effects of the pill on her body for those many years…

 

[Jersey1234]

Thanks for all your wonderful information! I am now seriously considering stopping taking them after I finish the pack of pills that I currently have, for medical reasons. Hey, I don’t even like taking Advil or Tylenol for headaches! Especially since my family on both sides have a history of heart disease, this can’t be good for my body.
Thanks again!