contraception...

[hadassahjones]

I’ve been informed by my priest that the Church requires me to go off of my birth control pills that I have been on for about three years. I made my argument for the pill to him–that the pill does not actually cause an abortion since it prevents ovulation and even the possible fertilization of an egg–to which he replied that it is also harmful to a woman’s health. I wanted to remark that smoking is also harmful to one’s health, (he smokes) but didn’t out of respect.

Although my original intent for going on the pill was to prevent pregnancy, I discovered in the meantime that I could avoid having a period by skipping the placebo pills at the end of the pack and going straight into a new pack. I did ask my gyno, and she said this is perfectly safe. In fact, they have made two different forms of the pill to prevent periods. I have very uncomfortable, sometimes painful periods which make everyday life (going to school, work, cleaning, shopping, etc.) difficult and uncomfortable. You can’t imagine how wonderful it has been to only have a period every six months or so, if that. My boyfriend and I will being living chastely from here on out until we are married. Once we are married, I am fine with using NFP, because I realize it is Church teaching whether I agree with it or not–but I am wondering this. Is it ok to continue my pills for the purpose of stopping my periods due to the fact that they are painful and inhibit my daily life for that week every month? Doing this doesn’t hurt my chance for having children, once I went off my pill it would take maybe a week, I would have a period, and then I could begin trying. Is this ok, since it is not for contraceptive purposes but rather medical ones? If there was a pill that wasn’t a contraceptive but would halt my periods I would take that instead.

 

[Cattitude]

I’ve been informed by my priest that the Church requires me to go off of my birth control pills that I have been on for about three years. I made my argument for the pill to him–that the pill does not actually cause an abortion since it prevents ovulation and even the possible fertilization of an egg–to which he replied that it is also harmful to a woman’s health. I wanted to remark that smoking is also harmful to one’s health, (he smokes) but didn’t out of respect.

Although my original intent for going on the pill was to prevent pregnancy, I discovered in the meantime that I could avoid having a period by skipping the placebo pills at the end of the pack and going straight into a new pack. I did ask my gyno, and she said this is perfectly safe. In fact, they have made two different forms of the pill to prevent periods. I have very uncomfortable, sometimes painful periods which make everyday life (going to school, work, cleaning, shopping, etc.) difficult and uncomfortable. You can’t imagine how wonderful it has been to only have a period every six months or so, if that. My boyfriend and I will being living chastely from here on out until we are married. Once we are married, I am fine with using NFP, because I realize it is Church teaching whether I agree with it or not–but I am wondering this. Is it ok to continue my pills for the purpose of stopping my periods due to the fact that they are painful and inhibit my daily life for that week every month? Doing this doesn’t hurt my chance for having children, once I went off my pill it would take maybe a week, I would have a period, and then I could begin trying. Is this ok, since it is not for contraceptive purposes but rather medical ones? If there was a pill that wasn’t a contraceptive but would halt my periods I would take that instead.

My advice would be to find a pro-life gynecologist who knows NFP. They would hopefully advise you to stop the birth control pills and start charting your cycles. After a few months of charting, they can analyze your charts and may be able to find a treatable cause for your painful periods. A few months of painful periods (offer up your sufferings) could provide a long term solution.

Look at One More Soul for NFP doctors.

And don’t underestimate the negative effects that birth control pills can have. They have been shown to permanently affect a woman’s hormone levels after being discontinued.

 

[happymommy]

I have adenomyosis. The tissue that lines my uterus grows within the muscular walls of the uterus . I have had problems since high school, but didn’t find out what I really had until about 8 years ago. I missed school and then later on work, because I would be in so much pain. Some months the cramping starts at ovulation and continues until the very end of my period. Some months I can’t stand up staight because of the pain. It truly feels like something is stabbing me with a knife! I have very long periods, sometimes a week or more. And lots of other things that I won’t go into detail about. I have reactions to some pain killers, so I have to be very careful about what I take. They put my on a prescription dose of an over the counter med. Fried my stomach and now I have acid reflux and other problems. I have a husband and three children who depend on me. I have a home to run. I teach Rel. Ed. Some months I just grin and bare it. Then crash as soon as my husband gets home. Some months I just can’t do anything but what HAS to be done. And that’s okay. I take it one day at a time. The doctors have given me 4 options-
1.) birth control pills- aside from going against everything I believe in about being open to life, I don’t like the idea of using chemicals to alter how my body works.
2.) a pill to make my body think it has gone into menopause- I’m 33 I have no desire to go through menopause right now, also there are those nasty chems. again.
3.) hysterectomy- I will be honest, there have been months that I have thought about this, when I have been up all night sick because of the pain. When I am curled up into a ball trying to do my breathing exercises I learned for childbirth just to get me through another cramp! But the idea of not being able to have more children breaks my heart!
4.) get pregnant! we’re working on that one
So I guess you can say I understand what you are talking about with cramps, but I really don’t think that is a reason to take birth contol, just so you don’t have your period. I would research it much more. Nothing is that simple, take a pill no period and it won’t hurt you! I don’t believe it for a second. There are many risks to taking birth contol pills, they are all right on the package. My advice to you is, get off them now. Learn NFP. Learn about your body and take care of your body, don’t try to make it do something it wasn’t made to do!

 

[1ke]

I’ve been informed by my priest that the Church requires me to go off of my birth control pills that I have been on for about three years. I made my argument for the pill to him–that the pill does not actually cause an abortion since it prevents ovulation and even the possible fertilization of an egg–to which he replied that it is also harmful to a woman’s health. I wanted to remark that smoking is also harmful to one’s health, (he smokes) but didn’t out of respect.

You are incorrect about the post-fertilization effects of the Pill, and can find that information in the doctor’s prescribing information found on most pill brand websites.

However, that is not why contraception is wrong. Your priest was correct in informing that contraception is immoral.

Although my original intent for going on the pill was to prevent pregnancy, I discovered in the meantime that I could avoid having a period by skipping the placebo pills at the end of the pack and going straight into a new pack. I did ask my gyno, and she said this is perfectly safe. In fact, they have made two different forms of the pill to prevent periods. I have very uncomfortable, sometimes painful periods which make everyday life (going to school, work, cleaning, shopping, etc.) difficult and uncomfortable. You can’t imagine how wonderful it has been to only have a period every six months or so, if that.

You sought out the Pill for contraceptive purposes-- this is grave matter. You found some side effects that you like and think that is a reason to stay on the Pill. It is not.

My boyfriend and I will being living chastely from here on out until we are married. Once we are married, I am fine with using NFP, because I realize it is Church teaching whether I agree with it or not

That’s good to hear. It is a sign of maturing spirituality that you are seeking to do God’s will in your life.

–but I am wondering this. Is it ok to continue my pills for the purpose of stopping my periods due to the fact that they are painful and inhibit my daily life for that week every month?

You should seek to determine the cause of your symptoms if they are truly impairing everyday life functions. The Pill doesn’t treat a disease, it just covers it up.

And, I’m confused by your statement above that you would use NFP once married but are asking if you can still take the Pill. These two things are mutually exclusive. You cannot use NFP while on the Pill.

Are you meaning take it between now and when you get married?

Doing this doesn’t hurt my chance for having children, once I went off my pill it would take maybe a week, I would have a period, and then I could begin trying.

Many women have thought this only to find out after taking the Pill that their fertility was indeed damaged because the condition causing all their issues was never dealt with. See a doctor who doesn’t hand out the Pill like candy.

Try www.popepaulvi.com for more information.

Is this ok, since it is not for contraceptive purposes but rather medical ones? If there was a pill that wasn’t a contraceptive but would halt my periods I would take that instead.

If you are talking about while you are single, yes it is fine to do so-- but again I advise you to instead look at other options that are neither morally problematic nor damaging to your fertility.

If you are talking about once you are married-- to use any medication for theraputic purposes that also has the properties of making one sterile-- and moreover the possibility of being an abortifacient-- the purpose and the treatment must meet the criteria of the Principle of Double Effect.

Your reason would have to be proportionate to the side effects. The desire to not have a period, IMHO, does not meet that criteria. I suggest you read this article.

Many young women say they have “terrible” periods but they really just have normal premenstrual problems that can be mitigated through means not nearly so drastic as taking the Pill. Your priest has basically said the same. He has counseled you that this is not an appropriate thing to do. You should reflect on whether you are using the period symptoms as an excuse to be on the Pill. I’m not saying you are-- but be *honest *with yourself as you examine your desire to use the Pill.

 

[hadassahjones]

I haven’t actually talked to my priest about this particular issue–the only reason he mentioned contraceptives is because I mentioned my fears about being a mother and he noted that I would have to go off any birth control I am on. I have been meaning to ask him about this–but it is a little embarrassing to talk about my cycle to a man, I have a hard enough time discussing my sexual past with him during my psych counseling sessions.

I know staying on the pill now for contraceptive purposes would be a grave matter now, of course, but up until September '08 I was nothing anywhere near Catholic and had no idea it was a church teaching.

When I mentioned NFP and the pill, I meant that if there was no reason besides contraception for me to consider staying on the pill, I would have no issues with using NFP. I didn’t mean to make it sound as though I thought I could use them simultaneously. I know that you can’t.

I will check out the links. Can anyone tell me a little more about what NFP really entails, and how successfully it can be used to time a pregnancy? I have a feeling if I ask my gyno (I live in a small town and she is one of only two females, the other is not a good doctor and I’m very uncomfortable going to a male gyno) she will say that it is unsafe sex and advise against it, not teach me about it.

 

[Ruthie]

Based just on what I’ve read on these forums, you will need to have been off the pill for at least a few months before your cycle recovers enough to make charting accurate.

But I’m no expert on NFP - I was menopausal when I joined the Church!

Suggestion: use the “advanced search” function, and search the Catholic Living - Family Life forum for NFP. You should get a lot of answers there. That’s also a good place to take your questions.

I do know that the Pope Paul VI Institute has a lot of answers about fixing problems with cycles and fertility and all, because they research it, instead of prescribing the pill for everything!

God bless you, and welcome home!

Ruthie

 

[1ke]

I will check out the links. Can anyone tell me a little more about what NFP really entails, and how successfully it can be used to time a pregnancy? I have a feeling if I ask my gyno (I live in a small town and she is one of only two females, the other is not a good doctor and I’m very uncomfortable going to a male gyno) she will say that it is unsafe sex and advise against it, not teach me about it.

For information on the different methods of NFP, here are links to their websites:

Sympto-Thermal:
www.ccli.org
www.nfpandmore.org

Creighton
www.creightonmodel.com
www.fertilitycare.org

Billings:
www.boma-usa.org

Marquette:
www.marquette.edu/nursing/NFP/Model.shtml

Yes, NFP is highly effective for achieving and avoiding pregnancy.

 

[yellowbicycle]

Couple to Couple league can also help you out on NFP.

 

[Christine_Lee]

My advice would be to find a pro-life gynecologist who knows NFP. They would hopefully advise you to stop the birth control pills and start charting your cycles. After a few months of charting, they can analyze your charts and may be able to find a treatable cause for your painful periods. A few months of painful periods (offer up your sufferings) could provide a long term solution.

Look at One More Soul for NFP doctors.

And don’t underestimate the negative effects that birth control pills can have. They have been shown to permanently affect a woman’s hormone levels after being discontinued.

Wow! That site was really helpful for me to better understand the negative side effects on using the pill. I’ve been on it for a year, only to regulate my cycle. But I plan on going off it. Hopefully NFP can help me predict my cycle as I’ve always had an irregular one.