Oral contraceptives as medication - 2 parts

[jlyn1110]

I’m dealing with a fairly common medical situation that can be easily corrected with hormonal birth control pills. Am I correct in my understanding that it is acceptable to use this medication, PROVIDED THAT I’m not engaging in sexual relations? (Please, no comments about this medication and it’s side effects/potential cancer links. I’ve had multiple discussions with my doctor and done my own research, and we agree that it’s a good option for me because I have a very low genetic risk for these conditions.)

The second part of my question pertains to my relationship with my boyfriend. Though we have both made mistakes in the past and are no longer virgins, we’re committed to abstaining from sex until we are married (not necessarily to each other - the relationship is still new).

He’s made it clear to me that it has been and will continue to be a struggle for him to maintain appropriate boundaries in our relationship, even though we both know that it is best that we have solid boundaries. My concern is that, by using this medication, I will tempt him further because of the apparent “lack of consequences” (i.e. pregnancy).

Any suggestions for working through this? We’re both in a slightly shaky state with our faith at this point - I’m beginning RCIA this year, after nearly a year of contemplation, and he is just coming back to the Church after being away for 3.5 years. We attend mass together and are actively involved in our university’s Newman organization, but I’d feel a little awkward suggesting that we pray together about this - he’s relatively quiet about his spirituality.

I’m hoping that it’s feasible to work through this with him…I don’t think that ending the relationship would help resolve underlying issues for either of us.

Peace,

JLyn

 

[whatevergirl]

I’m dealing with a fairly common medical situation that can be easily corrected with hormonal birth control pills. Am I correct in my understanding that it is acceptable to use this medication, PROVIDED THAT I’m not engaging in sexual relations? (Please, no comments about this medication and it’s side effects/potential cancer links. I’ve had multiple discussions with my doctor and done my own research, and we agree that it’s a good option for me because I have a very low genetic risk for these conditions.)

The second part of my question pertains to my relationship with my boyfriend. Though we have both made mistakes in the past and are no longer virgins, we’re committed to abstaining from sex until we are married (not necessarily to each other - the relationship is still new).

He’s made it clear to me that it has been and will continue to be a struggle for him to maintain appropriate boundaries in our relationship, even though we both know that it is best that we have solid boundaries. My concern is that, by using this medication, I will tempt him further because of the apparent “lack of consequences” (i.e. pregnancy).

Any suggestions for working through this? We’re both in a slightly shaky state with our faith at this point - I’m beginning RCIA this year, after nearly a year of contemplation, and he is just coming back to the Church after being away for 3.5 years. We attend mass together and are actively involved in our university’s Newman organization, but I’d feel a little awkward suggesting that we pray together about this - he’s relatively quiet about his spirituality.

I’m hoping that it’s feasible to work through this with him…I don’t think that ending the relationship would help resolve underlying issues for either of us.

Peace,

JLyn

Hi JLyn…I take it for medical/hormonal reasons, but it was a last resort so to speak, on behalf of my physician. For me, it was pretty horrible when I went of the pill for a while, so she put me back on it, but my husband and I are not ‘using’ it for birth control reasons. I suppose that it would be a side effect, but it’s not our intent. The main intent is for hormonal use for me.

Hope that helps–God bless.

 

[emily47017]

I suppose that it would be a side effect, but it’s not our intent. The main intent is for hormonal use for me.

i was wondering about that distinction, too.

the catechism is explicit in this regard when it comes to ectopic pregnancy. there are two medical treatments: a chemical abortifacient or removal of the fallopian tube. the first is forbidden, as its purpose is to kill the embryo, but the second is allowed, as its primary purpose is to remove a “diseased organ” to save the life of the mother, and the death of the embryo is merely a tragic side effect.

so maybe that would also apply to using hormones for other medical purposes; the contraception is merely an unfortunate side effect.

not a catholic – just speculating.

 

[whatevergirl]

i was wondering about that distinction, too.

the catechism is explicit in this regard when it comes to ectopic pregnancy. there are two medical treatments: a chemical abortifacient or removal of the fallopian tube. the first is forbidden, as its purpose is to kill the embryo, but the second is allowed, as its primary purpose is to remove a “diseased organ” to save the life of the mother, and the death of the embryo is merely a tragic side effect.

so maybe that would also apply to using hormones for other medical purposes; the contraception is merely an unfortunate side effect.

not a catholic – just speculating.

Hi emily;
It’s how I understand it to mean.

 

[1ke]

(1) Yes, you could take hormonal pills in this case. Sterility is a side effect and the *intent *is to treat a condition. But, as you know, the pills don’t actually treat the condition, and you will be left with getting off the Pill at some point only to have the same problem. I highly recommend you seek counsel from the Pope Paul VI Institute instead. But, ultimately it’s your decision.

(2) Do not be alone together. Have an accountability couple-- someone in your parish who is older, preferrably married-- to whom you are accountable for your actions. Or, find someone to act as a chaperone. Ultimately any sexual activity you engage in is an act of the will-- so don’t lie to yourself and say it “just happens”. You choose it. And, you can choose not to… you can choose to establish boundaries and stick to them.

 

[Matt_Collins]

This is a classic application of the “Principle of Double Effect”. The Principle of Double Effect (hereafter referred to as the PDE) addresses the question of whether or not it is morally licit to perform an act when it can be reasonably foreseen that it will have two effects, one positive and the other negative.

For such an action to be moral, the four conditions below must be SIMULTANEOUSLY PRESENT:

1. The act, in itself, must be either morally neutral or morally good. It cannot be an intrinsically immoral act.
2. There must be proportionality between the good effect and the bad effect. That is to say, it can’t be a little bitty good and a whole lot of bad.
3. The good effect may not depend on the bad effect occurring. They must either be totally unrelated, or the bad effect must be dependent on the good effect.
4. Only the good effect may be intended.

If you stop to think about it, these all make sense. The PDE is not a loophole in the moral law to allow us to get around the law and do something we want to do even though we know it’s wrong.

Rather, it deals with real-life situations in a way that allows us to assess the morality of an action when there is reason to question it.

So, applying the PDE to the question at hand, we are considering whether taking a medication for a legitimate purpose, which we know will have both a good effect (e.g., regulation of hormones), and a bad effect (temporary sterility, possible abortifacient, possible but uncertain negative consequences on health in the future) is moral.

1. Condition 1: Taking medication to regulate hormones is certainly a morally neutral, and arguably a morally good thing to do.
2. Condition 2: This condition is the one that is most questionable. Certainly the good effect is not trivial. However, it can be credibly argued, based on recent scientific evidence, whether or not the good effect is grossly outweighed by the bad effect. If it is possible that you would get pregnant, the possible abortifacient effect must be considered a gravely bad effect. The possibility of breast cancer and other long-term effects is less certain and must be weighed against the good effect.
3. Condition 3: The good effect (regulation of hormones) is obviously not dependent on the bad effect of sterility, etc.
4. Condition 4: You do not intend the bad effect. You are merely tolerating it.

So, if in your best judgement, taking into account the relative weight of the good and bad effects, and after consulting a knowledgeable physician and an equally knowledgeable moral theologian, you come to the conclusion that there is sufficient reason to risk the bad effects, then it is morally licit to take birth control pills for the non-contraceptive purpose you describe.

However, I caution you that you will never get an official statement from the Church that the PDE justifies the use of birth control pills for the purpose of regulating hormones in all cases. This is because the circumstances are just too varied and there may be negative effects that haven’t been discovered yet.

Instead, all you can expect the Church to say is that you can use the PDE to evaluate the situation and come to your own judgement. But this is really all the Church usually does. It teaches moral principles and expects us to apply those principles to the circumstances at hand. The Church could never be expected to pronounce a decision on every possible moral question. It is not reasonable to expect it to do so.

You must study the Church’s moral teachings and learn to apply them in your own life. This is the Christian maturity that is asked of us. It is not a license to ignore the Church, or to appeal to one’s freedom of conscience whenever we think the Church is wrong. Rather, it is a call to be men and women of prayer, always seeking a greater understanding of our faith.

 

[CuriousInIL]

The second part of my question pertains to my relationship with my boyfriend. Though we have both made mistakes in the past and are no longer virgins, we’re committed to abstaining from sex until we are married (not necessarily to each other - the relationship is still new).

He’s made it clear to me that it has been and will continue to be a struggle for him to maintain appropriate boundaries in our relationship, even though we both know that it is best that we have solid boundaries. My concern is that, by using this medication, I will tempt him further because of the apparent “lack of consequences” (i.e. pregnancy).

Any suggestions for working through this?

If you do not tell him, you will eliminate the “further” temptation. It is certainly something that IMO should be kept private from a boyfriend at this stage, certainly one that you apparently consider “new.”

 

[CLMargaret]

I would say that as long as you’re abstaining from sexual relations, the pill may not be a bad answer to your medical situation. Keep in mind, though, the pill doesn’t often correct the underlying cause of any given medical condition - it just masks the symptoms.

Like you, I started taking the pill before I was married for medical reasons. I never gave it much thought until we’d been married for nearly 6 years. I always thought I just fell under a “medical” exception and that it was ok for me to continue to take it. Please don’t become complacent like I did. The pill is an abortificient, meaning you could conceive a baby, and your body could flush it out. The hormones on the pill work to keep you from ovulating. Let’s say you have a breakthrough ovulation one month, and sperm meets egg. The pill also work to make your uterus a hostile environment to implantation. I know your post says you’re not engaging in sexual relations, but PLEASE keep this in mind for the future. Have you checked out the book Fertility, Cyles, and Nutrition? Maybe you have other options for treatment.

Please also consider reading the following link:
catholicmom.com/nfp0304.htm

Good luck to you and your boyfriend.

 

[emily47017]

what if:

in the event you get married (to this fellow or someone else), you could monitor your cervical fluids to see if there’s ever an indication that you’re about to ovulate despite the medication. if so, you could abstain until the fluids change back.

not only does the fluid indicate the hormonal levels leading to ovulation, but it’s what makes your body a nice place for sperm to hang out and swim around in. if the right fluid isn’t present, it seems really unlikely that fertilization would ever occur.

 

[CLMargaret]

To follow up on what Emily said - keep in mind that the pill changes the body’s natural hormones, and can make cervical mucus observation very difficult (if not impossible) and unreliable.

Yes, the chances of conception while on the pill are relatively slim. I had it explained to me like this: Would I put one of my existing children behind a door and shoot a gun at the door, with a 1 in 200 chance that the gun would contain a bullet? My answer is NEVER. So why would I take that same chance of killing a potential child in the womb. The chance is slim, but it exists by choosing the pill.

Just food for thought.

 

[aurora77]

I would say that as long as you’re abstaining from sexual relations, the pill may not be a bad answer to your medical situation.

Having sex while taking the pill for medical reasons is not sinful (assuming marriage).

This got me thinking–if part of the rationale behind not taking the BCP for medical reasons is it’s abortificient nature, what about other medications that have similar side effects? There are blood pressure meds that can cause birth defects/miscarriage. Do we as Catholics have a moral obligation to avoid any and all drugs/procedures that have these potential side effects?

To the OP–if you and your doctor feel comfortable that this medication will help your condition, you’re doing nothing sinful. Even if you were married and having sex, you still would not be sinning.

 

[Smber2c]

The second part of my question pertains to my relationship with my boyfriend. Though we have both made mistakes in the past and are no longer virgins, we’re committed to abstaining from sex until we are married (not necessarily to each other - the relationship is still new).
My concern is that, by using this medication, I will tempt him further because of the apparent “lack of consequences” (i.e. pregnancy).
Any suggestions for working through this? We’re both in a slightly shaky state with our faith at this point - I’m beginning RCIA this year, after nearly a year of contemplation, and he is just coming back to the Church after being away for 3.5 years. We attend mass together and are actively involved in our university’s Newman organization, but I’d feel a little awkward suggesting that we pray together about this - he’s relatively quiet about his spirituality.

In reguards to your relationship, I’m just out of college and know many of the challenges that college relationships bring. I think the above suggestion of an accountability partner is good, though also challenging. I know that my college parish didn’t have many married ‘adult’ couples that mixed with the college students so finding a mentoring couple may be challenging or uncomfortable (though it’s probably still advisable).
Another big thing would be to each find a Bible study/prayer group that you attend seperately. They would likely be all girl or all guy and could provide a place to seek group advice on certain challeges you face. But if each of you only have one another to fall on for everything, you will often get too close too quickly.

My freshman year I met a couple guys and we started getting together on Mondays to chat about struggles college made for living our faith. It was 5 Catholics, 1 Baptist, and 2 Prespyterians (I must have mangled that word - not much of a speller). At first a couple guys wanted to bring their girlfriends, after 2 attempts we decided it didn’t work with them.

We were very honest (the protestants especially liked the fact they actually said and recongnised their sins) and spent lots of time of relationships, lusting, and sexual tensions. We prayed every meeting, and found little ‘insider’ comments that would check if the other is doing okay while on campus amid the buste of life. Through it, most of us made very good decisions through college and all emerged virgins. Looking back I just realized that is the only group that is true of.

Pray together. Pray apart. Recieve the sacraments with frequency. Have holy friends and seek their council. None of it is ground breaking…but so few do it.

 

[cialovesyou]

I will talk only to your first question.

If, not intending the pill as a means to stop a pregnancy, you use it for another purpose, such as advised by your doctor, you may freely use it for such a purpose.

You do not have to practice abstinance during this period.

Humanae Vitae only talks about using them as “a means or an end”…technical speak for intending to stop pregnancy. If you are not intending that, it is not an issue.

 

[aaronlgates]

Having sex while taking the pill for medical reasons is not sinful (assuming marriage).

This got me thinking–if part of the rationale behind not taking the BCP for medical reasons is it’s abortificient nature, what about other medications that have similar side effects? There are blood pressure meds that can cause birth defects/miscarriage. Do we as Catholics have a moral obligation to avoid any and all drugs/procedures that have these potential side effects?

To the OP–if you and your doctor feel comfortable that this medication will help your condition, you’re doing nothing sinful. Even if you were married and having sex, you still would not be sinning.

You are wrong, and you could be contributing to the death of the unborn. As a doctor of pharmacy, I can tell you that ‘the pill’ IS abortifacient and the risk of killing the innocent is never outweighed by the benefit of taking the abortifacient for other reasons.

 

[aaronlgates]

I will talk only to your first question.

If, not intending the pill as a means to stop a pregnancy, you use it for another purpose, such as advised by your doctor, you may freely use it for such a purpose.

You do not have to practice abstinance during this period.

Humanae Vitae only talks about using them as “a means or an end”…technical speak for intending to stop pregnancy. If you are not intending that, it is not an issue.

because it acts as an abortifacient hormonal ‘contraception’ is not a viable treatment if there is a possibility of intercourse during this treatment. Be careful about saying what itching ears want to hear in the interest of expressing what you think may be love for your neighbor. This sort of ‘support’ could be mortally wounding that person’s soul. Jesus had a few things to say about this… false prophets were those who gave the comforting words instead of the harsh realities… and millstones around the neck of those who lead others astray is not a pleasant thought.

Sometimes being ‘mean’ is the most loving thing you can do… saying the truth in love. I don’t really think that the OP is a bad woman… I believe that she’s doing the right thing to find out exactly why the Church stands against hormonal birth control. Just because someone with a doctorate states something or prescribes something, however, does not give you a ‘get out of jail free card’ when you follow the physician’s advice against the clear teachings of the Church.