Medication and birth defects/miscarriage...getting scared!

[Veronica97]

My post the other day entitled “Messing with menstrual cycle…mortal sin?” has opened up a new can of worms for me. As I said in my previous post, I am 45 and my husband is sterile. My chances of getting pregnant are probably LESS than 1 in 1000. But still, I am ever aware that Sarah became pregnant in very old age and with God nothing is impossible. I’ve been taking a supplement that,until the last couple of days, has helped me a lot with OCD. I’ve known that it should not be used by pregnant women b/c of the risk of uterine contractions. But I figured since my chances of pregnancy are so low and my OCD was seriously affecting my life, that it was okay to take it. I had tried SEVERAL anti-depressants over the years, all with side effects I couldn’t tolerate, and finally I found two supplements that when used together really help me. (The other supplement is also not recommended for pregnant women, simply b/c it’s been untested). Also, my blood pressure medication has been known to cause birth defects. If by some miracle, I were to become pregnant, I would contact my doctor right away about changing the blood pressure medicine to something safer. But should I change it now anyway, just for peace of mind? Should I stop taking the supplement that might cause a miscarriage if I were to become pregnant? Permanent abstinence is not really an option, so I need to know if I’m sinning by being intimate with my husband while on these supplements/medications. It’s not really something that has fully occurred to me until now.

 

[Veronica97]

Veronica.
Stop. Go see your confessor and therapist/psychiatrist. Please for your own good stop posting here and seek help.
To other posters, I urge you to simply reiterate my advice and refrain from answering her question. NO rational answer will satisfy her OCD. We could tell her all day long to be at peace no sin has been committed and her OCD will find a way to twist anything into a sin.
It may seem like what I say is harsh but it is the opposite. I say these things because I care about Veronica.

I appreciate your honesty and your concern. I know my ocd is out of control these past couple of days. I understand that INTENT is the main factor in mortal sin. I do not intend for these medications or supplements to cause harm–I am taking them for medical/psychological issues. But at the same time, I understand that being open to life (at least mentally) is important even if your spouse is sterile. Am I open to life if a supplement I take could potentially cause a miscarriage? And if I may cause harm to a developing fetus, however small that chance may be, shouldn’t I ask my doctor to change my blood pressure medication to something less harmful? Or is the small risk worth worrying about? That’s where my issue lies…I am not intending harm but there is a very small chance of harm. If I can possibly remove the chance of harm, shouldn’t I?

 

[Genevieve_II]

Actually, this is a good question. Many of the medications women take have the potential to cause birth defects and miscarriages. Just wondering what the teaching of the Catholic Church is regarding taking these medications while there is a potential for pregnancy to occur?

 

[Rebecca_Monica]

Hi, I haven’t read your other posts, but I think I can offer a small bit of advice. There is a group on this website especially for people with OCD or scrupulosity problems; maybe you should try to join along with seeing a spiritual director regularly. God bless you!

 

[VivienneJ]

Actually, this is a good question. Many of the medications women take have the potential to cause birth defects and miscarriages. Just wondering what the teaching of the Catholic Church is regarding taking these medications while there is a potential for pregnancy to occur?

While the question is good, Genevieve, I suggest you start a new thread with your question as any answers could possibly give Veronica further concerns.

Veronica.
Stop. Go see your confessor and therapist/psychiatrist. Please for your own good stop posting here and seek help.
To other posters, I urge you to simply reiterate my advice and refrain from answering her question. NO rational answer will satisfy her OCD. We could tell her all day long to be at peace no sin has been committed and her OCD will find a way to twist anything into a sin.
It may seem like what I say is harsh but it is the opposite. I say these things because I care about Veronica.

Veronica, as Hopeful says ^ here, and as I and many others have said in response to other posts of yours, please take these questions to your confessor and only take advice on the spiritual aspects of your scrupulosity from your confessor; further, the rest of your concerns are medical in nature - we cannot give medical advice on these forums and the whole matter of medications for OCD and high blood pressure and their effects on all aspects of your life are for the medical professionals who are treating you to discuss with you.

 

[erine]

Veronica: one day at a time…
And ask a confessor / spiritual director, and doctor, and obey them. Obedience helps scruples a lot.

 

[RoseMary131]

Dearest Veronica,

We understand your great suffering. Your suffering is in the OCD. You need to be free of OCD in order to be at peace.

Speak with your priest this weekend. Tell him all your latest concerns and obsessing with medication and miscarriage and birth defects. Make sure he know you have OCD. Tell him about your obsession that you might conceive since Sarah in the Old Testament miraculously conceived when there was little chance.

On Monday, call for an appointment with your doctor. Make sure the doctor is aware of your Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Talk with your doctor about this obsession and compulsion with your medication, green tea, exercising, miscarriage, and birth defects. Make sure your doctor understands you are obsessed with becoming pregnant because Sarah conceived miraculously.

No one here on the internet can cure you of your Obsessions and Compulsion.

People read and know that you are suffering. They want to help you. The problem is OCD will not be helped by “hearing the answers”. Answers to your questions about medication will fuel your OCD.

May God give you the strength to seek help with OCD from your priest and doctor.

 

[Allegra]

Do not discontinue or change your medications without discussing it with a doctor first. Drugs designed to help with anxiety and OCD are not generally designed to be quit cold turkey. This sort of situation should be handled by the doctor, who presumably knows how the various meds you are on work together.

 

[maryjk]

That’s where my issue lies…I am not intending harm but there is a very small chance of harm. If I can possibly remove the chance of harm, shouldn’t I?

No, you shouldn’t.

YOU need to be healthy. How do you become healthy?

Take your medication. SEE your confessor and therapist/psychiatrist.

:hug3:

 

[LongingSoul]

My post the other day entitled “Messing with menstrual cycle…mortal sin?” has opened up a new can of worms for me. As I said in my previous post, I am 45 and my husband is sterile. My chances of getting pregnant are probably LESS than 1 in 1000. But still, I am ever aware that Sarah became pregnant in very old age and with God nothing is impossible. I’ve been taking a supplement that,until the last couple of days, has helped me a lot with OCD. I’ve known that it should not be used by pregnant women b/c of the risk of uterine contractions. But I figured since my chances of pregnancy are so low and my OCD was seriously affecting my life, that it was okay to take it. I had tried SEVERAL anti-depressants over the years, all with side effects I couldn’t tolerate, and finally I found two supplements that when used together really help me. (The other supplement is also not recommended for pregnant women, simply b/c it’s been untested). Also, my blood pressure medication has been known to cause birth defects. If by some miracle, I were to become pregnant, I would contact my doctor right away about changing the blood pressure medicine to something safer. But should I change it now anyway, just for peace of mind? Should I stop taking the supplement that might cause a miscarriage if I were to become pregnant? Permanent abstinence is not really an option, so I need to know if I’m sinning by being intimate with my husband while on these supplements/medications. It’s not really something that has fully occurred to me until now.

Follow the advice of your doctor and put your faith in the Lord for the rest. You’ve got to try to stop playing God in your own life.

 

[Veronica97]

Follow the advice of your doctor and put your faith in the Lord for the rest. You’ve got to try to stop playing God in your own life.

What do you mean that I’m playing God in my own life? Do you mean I’m trying to control everything so that it’s perfect? Or do you mean something else? Could you clarify please?

 

[LongingSoul]

What do you mean that I’m playing God in my own life? Do you mean I’m trying to control everything so that it’s perfect? Or do you mean something else? Could you clarify please?

You would undoubtedly agree that OCD is a ‘control’ problem and that has to be overcome with treatment.

Do you think everyone with depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, diabetes, OCD, thyroid, irritable bowel, schizophrenia, arthritis, asthma, iron deficiency, etc. etc. should throw away their meds or permanently abstain from sex in their marriage?

St Thomas More behooves us to emply a ‘good mother wit’ which is basically ‘common sense’ in directing out own lives. Follow your doctors advice regarding your health and leave the rest to God. The Church doesn’t forbid meds for health issues, so why should you be so worried about that aspect?

 

[Pug]

Veronica,

I found it disturbing when I was placed on medications that were dangerous to tiny children, so I know it can be worrisome. I found it helped to talk carefully with my doctor about how they handle that particular medicine and what they would do if I were to get pregnant. I notice you did not mention that your doctor forbade you to have relations while on the drug.

However, I am on more dangerous drugs now. If it became relevant somehow again, I think I’d need to talk with my priest before I could have peace of mind on the issue. It would nag at me without that reassurance.

:hug1:

 

[Genevieve_II]

Does that in any way sound rational? (And I ask that in charity) We are talking about someone whose OCD is so out of control that they are worried about sinning mortally in a situation that is highly unlikely to happen in the first place. This is why I suggested to other posters NOT to answer her question, but to simply direct her to a priest and therapist for help. Poor Veronica is being held hostage in a sense by her OCD. It has hijacked her ability to think rationally. I have no doubt that she could find sin in any action or inaction on her part. No answer will satisfy her OCD.

Forgive me, but your reply doesn’t sound charitable. To say that OCD has hijacked Veronica’s ability to think rationally is unfair. Maybe on this particular issue, some think that she is not thinking rationally. However, I’m sure she thinks very rationally in most other areas of her life. Putting Veronica’s OCD aside, she has a valid question - What is the Catholic Church’s stance on taking medications that can cause a miscarriage/birth defects when the possibility to become pregnant exists? While the possibility for Veronica is very slim, we do hear stories of people becoming pregnant when their partner was deemed to be sterile. I’m guessing that Veronica will take this up with her therapist and a priest, but was just looking for some feedback on how others in the Catholic Community have dealt with the situation.

 

[Listener]

I think the person who posted this is asking a very good question, and it does open a whole can of worms.

First of all, if her husband is sterile, etc., I don’t think that this lady has much to worry about. It sounds like she really would be unable to have children anyway.

I would like to bring up the point that when someone is on the pill, the people on these forums are horrified because maybe the pill will cause a miscarriage.

Well, the pill is not some sort of evil chemical - it is just made up of hormones. There are many pills out there that have dire warnings that say, “If you are pregnant, or if it is possible you will become pregnant, see your doctor immediately before taking this pill.”

In many cases, a woman who has a possibility of becoming pregnant would be better off not taking any pills.

I think this is an area the the Church has not really addressed. There are many young women who really do need certain medication, and the fear of getting pregnant while on medication that may damage the fetus is a very legitimate concern. In fact, many doctors will refuse to give certain medications to young women unless they also agree to go on some kind of birth control.

This was not a problem centuries ago because a lot of these pills simply did not exist. Maybe it is time for the Church to provide some guidance here.

 

[CorieDreams]

Veronica97, I’ve looked back at some of your old posts…and you’ve started so many. While some of your questions do seem valid, so many more do not and I think you need help

 

[VivienneJ]

Genevieve and Listener, I have already said that this could well be material for a worthwhile debate, but please not on this thread. I do not know how much either of you know about OCD, but it is a debilitating medical condition which indeed affects one’s ability to think rationally in respect of various areas of one’s life - different areas for different sufferers.

Forgive me, but your reply doesn’t sound charitable. To say that OCD has hijacked Veronica’s ability to think rationally is unfair. Maybe on this particular issue, some think that she is not thinking rationally. However, I’m sure she thinks very rationally in most other areas of her life.

While the question is good, Genevieve, I suggest you start a new thread with your question as any answers could possibly give Veronica further concerns.

Please, I beg of you, if you have any care for Veronica’s peace of mind, if you wish to discuss this further make a new thread!!

Veronica, please, please take these concerns to your priest and your doctor and only take their advice this is so very important in cases of scrupulosity and OCD.