Is Birth Control A Sin If You Abstain From Sex?

[Snafturi]

Or more specifically, is the act of using birth control the sin or is it not leaving the possibility for life the sin? I was thinking about the friends I’ve had over the years that are on birth control for health reasons instead of preventing pregnancy, and it made me curious.

 

[zjl56]

From what I have heard from numerous people is that as long as the intent is to use it as a medicine and not as a birth control agent, then it is perfectly suitable as such.

 

[StCsDavid]

If one is using a contraceptive drug for some other medical purpose then it is acceptable; however, one should question the doctor on other methods that might treat whatever symptoms the pill is attempting to correct. There exists ample evidence that birth control pills have side effects that can lead to other very significant problems down the road.

 

[Daniel_Kane]

One is not using “birth control” to treat a disease because “birth control” does not treat disease. Should a person have a disease whose treatment includes hormones that suppress or prevent conception there is no need to abstain.

The good of treatment of disease and prolonging health is a superior good over the known or suspected side effect of suppressing conception. The intent is to treat disease, not distort the martial act, so there is no sin and therefore, there should be no guilt.

The proviso is that the condition be properly diagnosed and that there is no joy taken in the side effect of contraception, which if can be avoided, should be avoided (like any undesirable side effect).