Hypothetical Birth Control Question

[seaching20]

If there became a test to know with 100% certainty whether or not a woman was in a fertile period or not, could this test be used for NFP?

If this system were used, there would be guaranteed times when conception was biologically impossible and both partners would know.

To me this seems similar to immoral forms of birth control. I think its a matter of time before such a test comes out, so I was wondering what the Catholic Church would say.

-s

 

[baltobetsy]

I don’t think that the reason NFP is allowed is that it is uncertain.

Betsy

 

[mainusch]

If there became a test to know with 100% certainty whether or not a woman was in a fertile period or not, could this test be used for NFP?

If this system were used, there would be guaranteed times when conception was biologically impossible and both partners would know.

To me this seems similar to immoral forms of birth control. I think its a matter of time before such a test comes out, so I was wondering what the Catholic Church would say.

-s

Utilizing NFP methods, you can already determine this somewhere in the high nineties percent. It’s more reliable than most (if not all) artificial birth control methods.

 

[Leopard]

Presuming that this test did not itself require the commission of some immoral act, this advancement of medical science would be a licit datum for couples using NFP to employ. Keep in mind that NFP does not only consider the current fertile state of the woman, but also the viability of her husband’s sperm within her body and the probability of her becoming fertile within this viable period.

 

[SoCalRC]

Presuming that this test did not itself require the commission of some immoral act, this advancement of medical science would be a licit datum for couples using NFP to employ.

I would agree. The papal encyclical CASTI CANNUBII notes that God created the infertile periods in a woman’s cycle as well. Even when such a period can be identified with near certainty, like post menopause, sexual intercourse is permissable.

Would warn that executation is very important for NFP effectiveness. The “perfect-use” failure rate for both the observational and lactational methods of NFP are down in the 3% range, which is on par with prescribed methods. However, a recent study seems to suggest that, in common usage, the failure rate runs much higher (20-25%).

 

[rwoehmke]

Would warn that executation is very important for NFP effectiveness. The “perfect-use” failure rate for both the observational and lactational methods of NFP are down in the 3% range, which is on par with prescribed methods. However, a recent study seems to suggest that, in common usage, the failure rate runs much higher (20-25%).

Is “perfect use” exactitude in execution of technique or is it never cutting corners and taking the risk?

 

[Leopard]

Is “perfect use” exactitude in execution of technique or is it never cutting corners and taking the risk?

Both, although rather than saying “taking the risk”, I would say “being open to the possibility that a child may be God’s will for us at this time.”

 

[SoCalRC]

Is “perfect use” exactitude in execution of technique or is it never cutting corners and taking the risk?

Leopard is correct, it is both.

 

[Daniel_Kane]

No doubt it would be licit.

Recent NFP research suggests 99+% perfect use and 93% effectiveness in delaying pregnancy with imperfect use, which more or less tracts equally with immoral methods.

Not to mention the absence of nasty side-effects.

Not a perfect study, as it included a dataset of couples who used a barrier (guess what - they got pregnant more often) but quite good (900 couples and 17,000 cycles) as far as NFP research goes.

doctorslounge.com/gynecology/news/contraception_natural.shtml

 

[Steve40]

If there became a test to know with 100% certainty whether or not a woman was in a fertile period or not, could this test be used for NFP?

If this system were used, there would be guaranteed times when conception was biologically impossible and both partners would know.

To me this seems similar to immoral forms of birth control. I think its a matter of time before such a test comes out, so I was wondering what the Catholic Church would say.

-s

When Humanae Vitae talked about allowing natural ways of knowing when a women is infertile it had more to do with not making the act in and of itself sinful. The Encyclical also talks about having a good reason which seems somewhat subjective. But it’s my understanding that without “a good reason” NFP can be sinful and closing out God.

NFP or other natural means has to do with the physical act so in that respect it wouldn’t matter how effective it was.

 

[rpp]

If there became a test to know with 100% certainty whether or not a woman was in a fertile period or not, could this test be used for NFP?

If this system were used, there would be guaranteed times when conception was biologically impossible and both partners would know.

To me this seems similar to immoral forms of birth control. I think its a matter of time before such a test comes out, so I was wondering what the Catholic Church would say.

-s

This would not be immoral. Here is an example that I freely admit to stealing from Christopher West.

Compare the marital embrace to receiving your grandmother’s inheritance.

Would waiting for your grandmother to die naturally be sinful? Would waiting for your grandmother to die natually, even if you knew the precise day of her death, be sinful? Would killing your grandmother be sinful?

That is a good comparison (if a bit macabre) between NFP and artificial contraception. Contraception is killing your grandmother. NFP is waiting for her to die naturally. It also highlights the fact the NFP is natural and inherently open to life. Also, it involves self control, not self-indulgence.

 

[StCsDavid]

I don’t believe this would be sinful; however, I could see where it might be a near occasion for sin for some people if they viewed it as a substitute for contraception. If that were the case, their whole outlook on the meaning of the sexual act would have to be a bit skewed from its true intent. Were they to become pregnant using this test they might lament that the test failed them versus God blessed them. Contrast that to a couple in full communion with each other who would look upon the unexpected pregnancy as a blessing and a fruit of their mutual gifts of self.

 

[otjm]

I would agree. The papal encyclical CASTI CANNUBII notes that God created the infertile periods in a woman’s cycle as well. Even when such a period can be identified with near certainty, like post menopause, sexual intercourse is permissable.

Would warn that executation is very important for NFP effectiveness. The “perfect-use” failure rate for both the observational and lactational methods of NFP are down in the 3% range, which is on par with prescribed methods. However, a recent study seems to suggest that, in common usage, the failure rate runs much higher (20-25%).

Do you have access to that study? I would want to know fi they were actually finding that the methods were used and failed, as opposed to semi used and ignored (or the risk knowingly taken).

 

[puzzleannie]

If there became a test to know with 100% certainty whether or not a woman was in a fertile period or not, could this test be used for NFP?

If this system were used, there would be guaranteed times when conception was biologically impossible and both partners would know.

To me this seems similar to immoral forms of birth control. I think its a matter of time before such a test comes out, so I was wondering what the Catholic Church would say.

-s

since the whole point of science-based NFP methods is to predict infertile periods, (and fertile periods for those trying to conceive) any test, and there are some on the market, which can predict or determine ovulation would be useful and morally licit. Couples can use NFP, as well as artificial contraception, for the wrong reasons, and in those cases, NFP which fails sometimes, as does ABC, would be immoral, but not because of the reliability issue, but because of the intent.

 

[Newbie2]

Morally speaking, how would this test differ from temperature taking, making careful records on a calendar, etc. or any other NFP method currently in use?

That’s the crux. I don’t see where or how it differs, except (Hyopthetically) that it’s more accurate.

Sounds OK to me.