Is the Pill an abortifacient or not?

[marmee7]

Does the Pill cause abortion when a baby is conceived by not allowing it to implant, or does it not allow to conception to occur at all? I really need to be able to tell my son the truth about the Pill (which his girlfriend is on) but I am not really sure of the answer myself. Thanks so much! Deo Gratias, Kathy

 

[Believe_85]

Oral contraceptives suppress ovulation…which means if effective there will be no egg for the sperm to meet with and fertilize. They also have other effects to reduce the chances of getting pregnant, like altering cervical mucus and the environment of the endometrial lining. However, no contraceptive on it’s own is 100% effective. If a woman took the pill while pregnant, it is very likely that the baby would be aborted.

 

[Monicathree]

The pill works in 3 ways, the first two involve suppressing the ovulation which would not allow for fertilization, the third way, if a baby is created, the body would create a hostile environment by not allowing the baby to implant in the uterus. The uterus basically rejects the baby…which makes it abortafacient. So, we cannot in good faith take that chance. God bless and good for you for sharing the truth with your son.

peace

 

[Texas_Roofer]

*3)They cause changes in the uterine lining (endometrium) which have historically been assumed to decrease the possibility of implantation, should fertilization occur. This presumption is commonly known as the “hostile endometrium” theory.

A thorough review of the medical literature uncovers ample data to support the first two methods of action, which are contraceptive actions. (Appropriate references will be found in the sections discussing each type of hormone contraceptive.) However, there is no direct evidence in the literature to support the third proposed method of action. This conclusion is shared by the respected Gynecologic Endocrinology textbook authors Yen and Jaffe. (1) Nevertheless, for the past nearly 40 years, most authors of “pill” related scientific literature have routinely repeated the assumption of a contra-implantation effect by this “pill” primed uterine lining. In light of this large body of literature, some prolife authors have expressed appropriate concerns that hormone contraceptive methods may include an abortifacient action by hindering implantation. These authors have cited data drawn from this scientific literature to support their claims. Closer scrutiny of the medical literature, however, reveals that the scientists are all simply agreeing that the “pill” produces a thinner, less glandular, less vascular lining. We also agree. However, in an ovulatory pill cycle, the estrogen and progesterone levels are, as discussed below, grossly increased for the seven days prior to implantation. The normal biologic response of endometrium to high levels of these hormones is growth of stroma, blood vessels, glands, and glandular secretions to help prepare the lining for implantation. *
aaplog.org/decook.htm

*However, there are insufficient data to quantitate
the relative contribution of postfertilization effects.*Arch Fam Med. 2000;9:126-133 archfami.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/9/2/126.pdf

more reading
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10561657

 

[Good_Daughter]

After reading various arguments, it seems to me that the pill could be called a possible abortifacient. It has never been proven to prevent implantation but, to be fair, no one can prove that the pill never prevents implantation.

Personally, I can’t imagine being comfortable with even the possibility of aborting my own children, but that’s just me.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

Does the Pill cause abortion when a baby is conceived by not allowing it to implant, or does it not allow to conception to occur at all? I really need to be able to tell my son the truth about the Pill (which his girlfriend is on) but I am not really sure of the answer myself. Thanks so much! Deo Gratias, Kathy

Hi,

I have been told the same stuff that the other posters have posted. I would think the doctors would know which pill would not cause an abortion. I say talk with the doctor.

My next thought would be to talk to your son and his girlfriend about premarital sex and why it is important to wait until marriage.

I would be very upset to learn that my daughter or my son’s girlfriend was using birth control. Because that means they are having pre-marital sex.

I have already explained to my daughter that when she becomes serious with a boy that I will be having a talk with both of them. I know I cant guarentee my children wont have pre-marital sex but I am going to biblically educate them on why it is not OK and what the risks are emotionally/physically and Godly.

I will not simply sit back and be a parent who says that they will inevitably have sex. My standards are higher then that. Actually I tell my children it is not my standard but God’s standard.

OK my sermon is over

 

[1ke]

Does the Pill cause abortion when a baby is conceived by not allowing it to implant, or does it not allow to conception to occur at all? I really need to be able to tell my son the truth about the Pill (which his girlfriend is on) but I am not really sure of the answer myself. Thanks so much! Deo Gratias, Kathy

I can recommend a number of brochures from www.omsoul.com including:

The Pill, What It Is and How It Works

Does The Birth Control Pill Cause Abortions?

How The Pill And Other Contraceptives Work

Post Fertilization Effects of Contraception

Your problem isn’t merely that your son’s girlfriend is on the Pill but also that they are sexually active in the first place. Here are some recommendations for your son regarding chastity and NFP:

Contraception, Why Not (audio CD… they’ll send you one for free)

Depending on your son’s age, I would get some materials from Jason Evert (teen and early 20s) or Christopher West (mid-20s and up). And, OM Soul also has a number of items on NFP.

 

[Good_Daughter]

I say talk with the doctor.

I have a very good doctor, but when I enquired about the pill, she assured me it worked only by preventing ovulation. The information she provided was not as detailed as the package inserts in some brands which I was able to view online.

If the OP knows which brand of pill is being used, she could google " (brand) information" and get more details for herself.

 

[Em_in_FL]

This is an article directly related to this question…

It’s very technically detailed… but read it, if you’re interested.
archfami.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/9/2/126.pdf

The purpose of the paper is to bring up the issue of consent. The writers are suggesting that doctors do not provide informed consent that the contraceptive pill COULD be an abortifacient (and studies of the mechanisms of the pill do suggest there **is **a possibility).

Enjoy the read.

 

[1ke]

Hi,

I have been told the same stuff that the other posters have posted. I would think the doctors would know which pill would not cause an abortion. I say talk with the doctor.

This is actually something I would NOT recommend. First, most doctors are not trained in how the Pill works. They will say it prevents ovulation.

AND, the AMA **redefined **pregnancy as starting with implantation just because of contraceptives that work in this way! They put ideology over science.

So, even if the doctor admits that the Pill doesn’t prevent ovluation, they will still not call it an abortifacient b/c they will say it “prevents implantation” which they do not consider abortion because they do not consider it a pregnancy yet.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

This is actually something I would NOT recommend. First, most doctors are not trained in how the Pill works. They will say it prevents ovulation.

AND, the AMA **redefined **pregnancy as starting with implantation just because of contraceptives that work in this way! They put ideology over science.

So, even if the doctor admits that the Pill doesn’t prevent ovluation, they will still not call it an abortifacient b/c they will say it “prevents implantation” which they do not consider abortion because they do not consider it a pregnancy yet.

AHH-- well maybe there is a christian doctor out there that would know

That’s too bad that a doctor wouldnt know but I do agree with you.

In this case then I stand by my little sermon above and go that route and talk to the kids about pre-marital sex and tell them that there is just no knowing that the pill wont cause an abortion so just another reason to abstain.

 

[Em_in_FL]

*However, there are insufficient data to quantitate
the relative contribution of postfertilization effects.*Arch Fam Med. 2000;9:126-133 archfami.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/9/2/126.pdf

You seem to not have read the entire paper…???

COMMENT
We found the evidence supporting
postfertilization effects for OCs in
the prevention of clinically recognized
pregnancy to range from poor
(level III) to very good (level II.2).
Specifically, evidence based on alterations
in endometrial biochemistry
and histology (level III), evidence
based on endometrial
thickness and endometrial receptivity
from research studying in vitro
fertilization (level II.2), and evidence
based on endometrial integrins
(level II.3) all support the possibility
of peri-implantation or
postimplantation effects. Furthermore,
evidence based on ectopic-tointrauterine
risk ratios from multiple
case-control studies (level II.2)
supports the possibility of postfertilization
preimplantation, periimplantation,
or postimplantation effects.
However, we could identify few
data that would assist in quantifying
these postfertilization effects. It
seems likely that for perfect use of
COCs, postfertilization mechanisms
would be likely to have a small
but not negligible role. For POPs,
COCs with lower doses of estrogen,
and imperfect use of any OCs,
postfertilization effects are likely
to have an increased role. In any
case, the medical literature does not
support the hypothesis that postfertilization
effects of OCs do not
exist.

 

[Texas_Roofer]

I can recommend a number of brochures from www.omsoul.com including:

The Pill, What It Is and How It Works

Does The Birth Control Pill Cause Abortions?

How The Pill And Other Contraceptives Work

Post Fertilization Effects of Contraception

Your problem isn’t merely that your son’s girlfriend is on the Pill but also that they are sexually active in the first place. Here are some recommendations for your son regarding chastity and NFP:

Contraception, Why Not (audio CD… they’ll send you one for free)

Depending on your son’s age, I would get some materials from Jason Evert (teen and early 20s) or Christopher West (mid-20s and up). And, OM Soul also has a number of items on NFP.

I strongly discourage these sources, it has to do with that 10 commandments thing .

 

[SpiritMeadow]

From what I have read, it appears that the common claim that the pill can act as an abortifacient by a small segment of Catholics is incorrect. From what I have read, the science it is based on is not considered well done.

 

[Brendan]

After reading various arguments, it seems to me that the pill could be called a possible abortifacient. It has never been proven to prevent implantation but, to be fair, no one can prove that the pill never prevents implantation.

What has been proven is that ‘the pill’ makes changes to the uterine lining that significantly impede implantation.

Since there is no effective way to monitor an implantation under scientific conditions, there has been no direct proof.

But to challenge this is kinda like challenging the premise that vanilla ice cream will melt on the surface of the sun by claiming that no one has ever directly observed vanilla ice cream placed on the sun.

 

[1ke]

From what I have read, it appears that the common claim that the pill can act as an abortifacient by a small segment of Catholics is incorrect. From what I have read, the science it is based on is not considered well done.

What then, do you call a mechanism that inhibits implantation? The pill makers themselves acknowledge that the pills do this.

 

[Good_Daughter]

From what I have read, it appears that the common claim that the pill can act as an abortifacient by a small segment of Catholics is incorrect. From what I have read, the science it is based on is not considered well done.

Faithful Catholics are not hoping for the pill to be declared an abortifacient so that we have another reason to dislike it. Faithful Catholics, in fact would probably be happy to see the pill proven to be a non-abortifacient. That way we could be sure fewer tiny humans are being killed.

Is there any well done science that shows the pill absoloutely never acts as an abortifacient? If you can find it, (and back up your claim) we’d all be love to see it.

Thanks.

 

[mark_a]

Does the Pill cause abortion when a baby is conceived by not allowing it to implant, or does it not allow to conception to occur at all? I really need to be able to tell my son the truth about the Pill (which his girlfriend is on) but I am not really sure of the answer myself. Thanks so much! Deo Gratias, Kathy

What does the documentation that comes with the pill have to say? Its probably buried in the fine print.

 

[Texas_Roofer]

What then, do you call a mechanism that inhibits implantation? The pill makers themselves acknowledge that the pills do this.

In this case “make believe”

 

[Texas_Roofer]

Faithful Catholics are not hoping for the pill to be declared an abortifacient so that we have another reason to dislike it. Faithful Catholics, in fact would probably be happy to see the pill proven to be a non-abortifacient. That way we could be sure fewer tiny humans are being killed…
.

That part was excellent can I add that to catholics in communion with the church the issue is moot?