Is Birth Control ever acceptable?

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arbocat

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My wife is very active and exercises frequently. Her periods stopped all together about seven (7) months ago. She has gone through a variety of medical tests and her doctor has determined that due to her physical activity and extremely low body fat that she probably will not get her period. Her doctor has told her of the problems with not getting her period (uteran cancer, ostiperosis etc.). He has perscribed the pill to insure that she gets her period. Is this acceptable?
 
Maybe she should cut back on the exercising a bit. What, is she a world-class athlete? You’ve got to be pretty extreme to effect her cycle that way.

Actually–your post doesn’t make sense. It’s not the lack of periods that are her problem–it’s the too low body fat. I cannot believe a doctor would prescribe something that leads to heart problems for something that leads to heart problems. It makes no sense.
 
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st_felicity:
Actually–your post doesn’t make sense. It’s not the lack of periods that are her problem–it’s the too low body fat. I cannot believe a doctor would prescribe something that leads to heart problems for something that leads to heart problems. It makes no sense.
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Are you a doctor? Although the poster’s wife would be wise to get a second opinion, it’s not your place to second-guess the doctor’s course of action based on a one-paragraph description you read on the Internet. He wasn’t asking if the doctor knew how to practice medicine, he asked if it’s okay to use the Pill in this case.
 
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st_felicity:
Maybe she should cut back on the exercising a bit. What, is she a world-class athlete? You’ve got to be pretty extreme to effect her cycle that way.

Actually–your post doesn’t make sense. It’s not the lack of periods that are her problem–it’s the too low body fat. I cannot believe a doctor would prescribe something that leads to heart problems for something that leads to heart problems. It makes no sense.
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I did not anticipate that the motives would be questioned. We have used and continue to use NFP. To answer the question regarding a world class athlete, the answer is perhaps. She is a body builder that expects to enter into competition in the next few months. In addition, my wife asked the doctor if she should slow down her work outs and gain weight, the answer was obesity is the 31 killer of americans today, don’t contribute. Your hostility to oue motives is unappreciated!
 
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arbocat:
I did not anticipate that the motives would be questioned. We have used and continue to use NFP. To answer the question regarding a world class athlete, the answer is perhaps. She is a body builder that expects to enter into competition in the next few months. In addition, my wife asked the doctor if she should slow down her work outs and gain weight, the answer was obesity is the 31 killer of americans today, don’t contribute. Your hostility to oue motives is unappreciated!
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Wow–I sure didn’t mean it that way, but I can see how you got that out of it–sorry–I kinda read it and posted it fast without too much thought–it was just a first reaction sort of thing–again, sorry 'bout the misunderstanding.

I paused and thought about it a bit, and speaking personally, if my excersize led my body to stop functioning as it should normally, I would take that as a sign that something was amiss.

As for using birth control in this instance I don’t think qualifies as a valid medical reason since her periods stopped due to a behavior choice rather than due to an unavoidable medical condition.

Good luck to your wife in her competitions and I hope her medical situation works out.
 
From Humanae Vitae:
Unlawful Birth Control Methods
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  1. …
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Similarly excluded is any action which either before, at the moment of, or after sexual intercourse, is specifically intended to prevent procreation—whether as an end or as a means.
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…
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Lawful Therapeutic Means
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  1. On the other hand, the Church does not consider at all illicit the use of those therapeutic means necessary to cure bodily diseases, even if a foreseeable impediment to procreation should result there from—provided such impediment is not directly intended for any motive whatsoever.
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All you parents out there - raise your kids Catholic and tell them they need to be doctors. We need more Catholic doctors out there.
 
The Birth Control Pill or any hormone based birth control is never ok, because they can cause abortions! I myself used birthcontrol thinking it was ok because of the lawful thereputic means clause in Humanae Vitae. I took them for several medical conditions that have no other “treatments” (You’d be amazed the number of things birth control is prescribed for -according to modern medicine it’s a venerable wonder drug!) Thankfully, the Lord led me through the reading of many wonderful books including Chris West’s, The Good News About Love, Sex, and Marriage ,to realize how these medicines work! At first I didn’t believe it so I of course researched it. Even Planned Parenthood blatently acknowledges that one of the the three ways the pill (or any horomone based b.c.) works is by making the lining of the uterues slippery so that AN ALREADY FERTILIZED EGG ( A PERSON)!!! cannot implant and you miscarry. If you talk to a doctor this is not considered abortion because they have reworded the medical definition of pregnancy to begin at implantation not conception. Because they can cause abortion they are not morally accecptable. I hope that helps!
Been There Regret It,
Summer Girl
 
I have to disagree with SummerGirl, I was put on the pill to literally save my life. I was concerned so I sought out my pastor and talked to him about it. He said in the case of true medical treatment where it is definitely indicated as the best course, taking the pill was not only ok but it was necessary and I was not committing any sin in this case.
 
Sorry I should have been more specific, if a person is sexually active it is not ok to take b.c. if for a serious medical reason you have to take it it would be necessary to abstain from sexual activity during the time you are taking it because of the risk of abortion. Hard medicine I know, but from what I have read on the subject the teaching of the church. Unfortunately many people priests, doctors, etc. are not aware of the abortion causing properties of the pill and so do not realize that it is not licit. I most certainly did not.
Yours in Christ,
Summer Girl
 
I just realized that my last post sounded a little harsh so I’m adding some more clarifications 🙂 The main point I wanted to make is that when dealing with birth control pills you switch from talking about contraceptive to abortion. The question is no longer is it morally ok to allow contraception because of a medical issue but is it ok to allow an abortion because of a medical issue. There are of course situations when it is and that is when you talk to a priest to get guidance as Blest One did. I just think it is important to make sure that the priest is well informed and know how b.c. works so he can give fully informed guidance about abstaining or not abstaining. It is a hard place to be in and I pray for anyone who has to be there. I hope I’m not sounding too mean, but that is what I have gleaned on the subject from my readings.
Humbly Yours,
Summer Girl
 
I just realized that my last post sounded a little harsh so I’m adding some more clarifications 🙂 The main point I wanted to make is that when dealing with birth control pills you switch from talking about contraceptive to abortion. The question is no longer is it morally ok to allow contraception because of a medical issue but is it ok to allow an abortion because of a medical issue. There are of course situations when it is(To literally save the life of the mother,but there are a lot of conditions here) and that is when you talk to a priest to get guidance as Blest One did. Taking a medicine that has the very real potential to kill a child you may conceive is a difficult place to be in. I just think it is important to make sure that the priest is well informed and know how b.c. works so he can give fully informed guidance about abstaining or not abstaining. It is a hard place to be in and I pray for anyone who has to be there. I hope I’m not sounding too mean, but that is what I have gleaned on the subject from my readings.
Humbly Yours,
Summer Girl
 
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arbocat:
My wife is very active and exercises frequently. Her periods stopped all together about seven (7) months ago. She has gone through a variety of medical tests and her doctor has determined that due to her physical activity and extremely low body fat that she probably will not get her period. Her doctor has told her of the problems with not getting her period (uteran cancer, ostiperosis etc.). He has perscribed the pill to insure that she gets her period. Is this acceptable?
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Arbotcat,

The Pill does not give you a period-- which is the result of a healthy, functioning female system. The Pill gives you what is called “withdrawal bleeding”. It is not a period, and I don’t see why/how the doctor thinks this is helpful.

Your wife’s body fat is very low, and that has shut down her female systems. I agree with the other poster who stated that this is the real problem.

Also, if the doctor has told your wife that gaining weight will make her obese, you need a new doctor. Women whose bodies shut down due to low body fat are NOT in any danger of becoming obese. This most often happens to world-class athletes and anorexics! She should gain to a healthy body fat percentage-- but that’s her decision based on her desire to compete in body building.

The Pill has so many serious side effects, she should really study these issues. In my opinion, the Pill is much worse for your body than the loss of her periods.
 
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arbocat:
My wife is very active and exercises frequently. Her periods stopped all together about seven (7) months ago. She has gone through a variety of medical tests and her doctor has determined that due to her physical activity and extremely low body fat that she probably will not get her period. Her doctor has told her of the problems with not getting her period (uteran cancer, ostiperosis etc.). He has perscribed the pill to insure that she gets her period. Is this acceptable?
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Because of the basic logic that the health of the body is more necessary than fertility, since a dead person isn’t very fertile, there *is *a health exception to birth control.

However, this exception has very severe limitations. Three-quarters of the sexually active people in the world would think that use of Artificial Birth Control is “necessary for one’s health.”

If the problem is that bearing a child might kill the mother, even that is not moral reason enough to use ABC.
 
I’m neither a doctor nor a Theologian, but if you look around your parish, you may notice that the one almost universally ignored teaching of the church is birth control. Why? I simply believe that most young people do not associate it with abortion and never will.
 
Knowing the negative things the pill can do to my wife really helped me out especially when there is a healthy and more accurate alternative. :yup:

Quote:
Originally Posted by CatholicMatthew
*

*from the Ortho try-cyclen insert:An increased risk with the use of oral contraceptives
*

*(see WARNINGS section).
• Thrombophlebitis and venous thrombosis with or without embolism
• Arterial thromboembolism
• Pulmonary embolism
• Myocardial infarction
• Cerebral hemorrhage
• Cerebral thrombosis
• Hypertension
• Gallbladder disease
*• Hepatic adenomas or benign liver tumors *
There is evidence of an association between the following conditions and the use of oral contraceptives:
*• Mesenteric thrombosis *
*• Retinal thrombosis *
*• Nausea *
*• Vomiting *
*• Gastrointestinal symptoms (such as abdominal cramps and bloating) *
*• Breakthrough bleeding *
*• Spotting *
*• Change in menstrual flow *
*• Amenorrhea *
*• Temporary infertility after discontinuation of treatment *
*• Edema *
*• Melasma which may persist *
*• Breast changes: tenderness, enlargement, secretion *
*• Change in weight (increase or decrease) *
*• Change in cervical erosion and secretion *
*• Diminution in lactation when given immediately postpartum *
*• Cholestatic jaundice *
*• Migraine *
*• Rash (allergic) *
*• Mental depression *
*• Reduced tolerance to carbohydrates *
*• Vaginal candidiasis *
*• Change in corneal curvature (steepening)• Intolerance to contact lenses *
 
Knowing the negative things the pill can do to my wife really helped me out especially when there is a healthy and more accurate alternative. :yup:

Quote:
Originally Posted by CatholicMatthew
*
from the Ortho try-cyclen insert:An increased risk with the use of oral contraceptives
(see WARNINGS section).
• Thrombophlebitis and venous thrombosis with or without embolism
• Arterial thromboembolism
• Pulmonary embolism
• Myocardial infarction
• Cerebral hemorrhage
• Cerebral thrombosis
• Hypertension
• Gallbladder disease
• Hepatic adenomas or benign liver tumors
There is evidence of an association between the following conditions and the use of oral contraceptives:
• Mesenteric thrombosis
• Retinal thrombosis
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Gastrointestinal symptoms (such as abdominal cramps and bloating)
• Breakthrough bleeding
• Spotting
• Change in menstrual flow
• Amenorrhea
• Temporary infertility after discontinuation of treatment
• Edema
• Melasma which may persist
• Breast changes: tenderness, enlargement, secretion
• Change in weight (increase or decrease)
• Change in cervical erosion and secretion
• Diminution in lactation when given immediately postpartum
• Cholestatic jaundice
• Migraine
• Rash (allergic)
• Mental depression
• Reduced tolerance to carbohydrates
• Vaginal candidiasis
• Change in corneal curvature (steepening)• Intolerance to contact lenses *
 
The Pill gives you what is called “withdrawal bleeding”. It is not a period, and I don’t see why/how the doctor thinks this is helpful.
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The doctor thinks the pill is helpful because it will provide exogenous estrogen to treat the hypoestrogenic state (reducing the risk of osteoporosis and other risks associated with low estrogen levels) and to address the unopposed estrogen (reducing the risk of uterine cancer, etc.). The withdrawal bleed is not the goal of prescribing the pill.

arbocat, I don’t know if the pill is acceptable in this situation, since it is not treating or curing the underlying condition. I would be interested to know the answer to this. I think seeking the advice from your priest is a great idea. As important as it is for the doctor, priest, etc. to understand how the pill works and your concerns, it is equally important for those advising to understand the health risks associated with amenorrhea and treatment options. If you want to read the package insert of the prescribed pill and have thrown it away, go to arhp.org, click on Health Care Providers, then Resource Centers, then Contraception Resource Center, then Patient Information, and finally Links to Contracption Product Pages. In additon to how the pill works, you can read about the contraindications, warnings, risks, benefits, etc.

Take care & God Bless
Autumn
 
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