Endometrial ablation - am I right that this is wrong?

[Seatuck]

sju.edu/blogs/icb/

NFP should be used post the procedure in the case of a married woman. In the event that a child was conceived and miscarried due to insufficient lining of the uterus there would be no mortal sin as long as the intent to abort is not present.

Sterilization is absolutely not a moral option in conjuncture with this procedure. Nor are means of artificial birth control.

 

[mosher]

I had this procedure performed because I was bleeding so heavily that at times I was anemic, I could not take care of my children the way I needed to, I could not leave the house because I was bleeding so heavily and so fast. It took me a few years of contemplating this decision before I decided to do it.

As a Catholic I was well aware that I could still become pregnant but the embryo could not implant and I would miscarry. I would not consider this as an option under those circumstances. I considered a hysterectomy but, the doctors I saw advised against it, it was too drastic. After much prayer and discussion with my husband we opted for him to have a vasectomy and I would do the ablation.

Though, I am well aware of the sin we committed in having his vasectomy, I felt we were committing a far greater sin by having the ablation knowing that I may not have a period and NFP would not be an option thus I would be bring a child into the world who would die no matter what. I know that a sin is a sin. If my periods had not been so disruptive to the well being of my entire family I would not have considered this option. Please know that I am not suggesting this as a solution for anyone else, it is simply the solution we decided upon.

Why would NFP not be an option?

 

[rwoehmke]

Anyone have any idea as to the number of fertilized eggs that do not implant in the life time of a woman? How many that do implant that don’t survive the first month?

 

[mosher]

Anyone have any idea as to the number of fertilized eggs that do not implant in the life time of a woman? How many that do implant that don’t survive the first month?

I don’t have that information but I’m sure that someone has done the research. However, I don’t know how that would have any effect on the ethical coversation at hand.

 

[sentbyGod]

I was reading all of these answers to the question and I believe that a Catholic is always obligated to take the route of NOT offending any of the laws of the church and of the commandments. Because there are so many antiCatholic doctors and most liberal, to say the least, a Catholic needs to approach any surgical procedures dealing with the productive system with caution. I spoke to several elderly priests, who I trust as NOT liberal and modernist, in regards to this procedure. I have done extensive research on it. It is not something any Catholic women, who is married, should do. The simple fact that conception is always possible with this procedure should keep you from going forth with this procedure. If conception occurs then it is your obligation as a mother from that moment to protect the life of that child. NFP does not always protect from conception and that is a known fact. After that conception takes place, you have life, by this procedure, there is no where for that baby to attach to in the uterus so then what happens? This is murder. WHY on earth would any woman, who loves God, even think twice about this. If anything, a full hysterectomy should be thought of before this evil procedure. I have had several children and 2 c-sections. My doctor told me that it was becoming very dangerous for me to keep having children. I bled heavily and my periods were severe. I was so tempted to have this procedure done until I prayed about it. When my husband and I decided against it (we could never live with this on our conscience) we just continued life as normal and leaving it in God’s hands. Everything has straightened out and my body has gone back to normal. I believe that God blessed us and I no longer have heavy bleeding. I think these physicians are too geared into believing all this stuff that they learn and do not believe as Catholics so they throw at you every procedure that is intrinsically evil without a thought. I am not a believing in NFP but even if I was, this procedure would never fall into a catagory of morally acceptable, even with the use of NFP. Each time conception took place, I would be a murderer when that child didn’t have a place to implant and continue with life. God Bless

 

[Leegal]

I’m reading a pamphlet that describes a procedure called ‘endometrial ablation’. Basically the endometrium is ‘removed’ - its ability to grow back is hindered and typically does not grow back. It’s a treatment for certain problems associated with a woman’s period. It’s not meant as a form of birth control, although I have a sick feeling it could eventually be touted as that…although I could be wrong…

Have any of you heard of this? Conception can still occur, but implantation is hindered because the lining is non-condusive.
The pamphlet I’m reading is really upsetting because it says: *“Most women are not able to become pregnant, but conception is still possible”. * In other words, you’re not pregnant until implantation has occurred! Does anyone know if the Church or possibly Priests for Life has commented on this procedure?

Yes, I have heard of it. It can be a medically necessary procedure for some woman.

However, a growing fetus cannot survive after a entrometrial ablation, so normally a part of the procedure is the tying off of the fallopian tubes to prevent a conception that cannot survive for the full term because the fetus cannot implant – though not foolproof as some edometrial tissue can remain and it can grow back, the younger the woman.

It usually renderes it impossible for the woman to bring a child to term should the near impossible happen. Therrfore, it is used selectively and for those woman who do not respond to other treatments, their child bearing years are over (as they determine it), they prefer not to have the full hysterectomy (which, of course, bring on early menopause), or they cannot have a hysterectomy. It should not be considered by those who wish to become pregnant. The endometrium can grow back. There’s may be a higher risk of cancer.

Since it requires subsequent use of birth control, usually the tying of the fallopian tubes, the Catholic Church is not against endometrial ablation, but condems the tying of the tubes or ABC. It can be done to be used with NFP afterwards.

The only other solution is the hysterectomy.

However, pregnancy after an EA can also be dangerous, so this should be discussed with a priest, if all other treatments have failed and EA is the last resort option short of a hysterectomy.

 

[ForGood]

Okay first off, charity first people, please.

I had an ablation a few months ago. It was my final option before a total hysterectomy. In fact, going in we weren’t sure that I wouldn’t end up with a hysterectomy.

To the poster who called this murder and no Catholic woman - blah blah blah - I am a good Catholic woman who had an abortion at age 17 because I had no choice. Later on when trying to have children, infertility struggles, two c sections and then testing after finally revealed the source of my life long menstrual problems. I have a unicorniuate uterus with a non communicating horn and tube. Basically I have one small uterus and one functioning tube and I have one smaller uterus that may or may not have an endometrium. The two children I have are miracles for sure.

My periods are debilitating to say the lease. Like the other poster, I am anemic and cannot leave the house for days when it occurs. I hoped for an ablation now to stave off hysterectomy until later. It solved my problems a bit but not entirely as my second uterus could not be ablated. My periods are coming back heavier as months pass so I probably will end up with surgery sooner than later. It’s all on my blog too.

All of that being said, we still do NFP to avoid pregnancy that wouldn’t be viable most likely but who knows. Stranger things have happened like having two healthy children when you probably shouldn’t have had any!

All I can say is that each woman is different and my husband and I made the best decision we could with prayer and consideration.

 

[marymary1975]

I had the procedure done at 27 years old due to a severe endometriosis. My endometriosis was so bad that every month I had to be hospitalized with a massive hemorrage, throwing up and the pain was so severe I couldn’t even walk, plus I was permanently anemic. No other treatment worked in my case so I went for it. The procedure cured it and I’ve never had a similar episode again. I got married one year after the ablation and got pregnant very easily and had a normal pregnancy with zero complications. Some people have told me I was very lucky but I don’t know, maybe as a result of my personal experience I think that people exagerate over the possibility of inferlity after the procedure. As I said I might skeptical because in my case I had a normal pregnancy after it, but I think that in a case like mine of a severe endometriosis the risk of infertility is way less. There may be the possibility that the procedure is unnecessarily recommend by doctors (if the endometriosis is moderate it can be treated with medication which by the way I think most endometriosis cases fall into the moderate category, I really haven’t heard of too many extreme cases like mine) and most cases resulting in infertility are the product of unnecessary ablations. I would recommend to other women to look at their symptoms, if it is a situation where you have to be constantly hospitalized with a hemorrage then you should probably look into it because the reason for it is to try to cure a medical condition, therefore it is not sinful. But if it is a moderate case and there are other available treatments, don’t let the doctor get you into an unnecessary procedure and look for a second opinion.

 

[Leegal]

Okay first off, charity first people, please.

I had an ablation a few months ago. It was my final option before a total hysterectomy. In fact, going in we weren’t sure that I wouldn’t end up with a hysterectomy.

To the poster who called this murder and no Catholic woman - blah blah blah - I am a good Catholic woman who had an abortion at age 17 because I had no choice. Later on when trying to have children, infertility struggles, two c sections and then testing after finally revealed the source of my life long menstrual problems. I have a unicorniuate uterus with a non communicating horn and tube. Basically I have one small uterus and one functioning tube and I have one smaller uterus that may or may not have an endometrium. The two children I have are miracles for sure.

My periods are debilitating to say the lease. Like the other poster, I am anemic and cannot leave the house for days when it occurs. I hoped for an ablation now to stave off hysterectomy until later. It solved my problems a bit but not entirely as my second uterus could not be ablated. My periods are coming back heavier as months pass so I probably will end up with surgery sooner than later. It’s all on my blog too.

All of that being said, we still do NFP to avoid pregnancy that wouldn’t be viable most likely but who knows. Stranger things have happened like having two healthy children when you probably shouldn’t have had any!

All I can say is that each woman is different and my husband and I made the best decision we could with prayer and consideration.

The Church does not condemn EA when the woman has a known condition which directly effects the quality of life. First anemia can result from the heavy periods – some which last 10 or more days of heaving bleeding and jeopardizes her own health. As one woman suggested, she was unable to leave the house at all and could not care for her children in a proper manner while under this condition.

There’s nothing wrong with a woman having to chose this procedure under those legitimate medical conditions. The only prohibition that the Church has is that in most cases, the doctor usually also wants to do a tubal ligation at the same time in order to prevent future pregnancies – or some other from of ABC is required.

You did the right thing, for your health and your family. And by following NFP you are acting within the teachings of the Church.

 

[Matrix_Refugee]

To all the women on this thread who’ve had to go through this procedure, I just want to give you all a hug. The first day of my period tends to be really rough (I’ve had cramps so bad I was projectile vomiting on a few occasions, and exhaustion so bad I felt like I couldn’t move), but it goes away after a day. After mentally multiplying that by ten, I say you did the right thing to protect your health.