S
SueG
Guest
cut in half salt and caffeine intake 3-4 days before period and reduce carbs big-time. might work.
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DJMarshall85
Guest
Even if it is morally permissable by the Church, it seems as if it would leave to many open ends, so to speak, for temptation. I’m not talking about this particular person’s daughter, but some people might be inclined to give in to temptation because they are already on a contraceptive. Of course, this wouldn’t be an issue if said person had a strong faith, but not everyone does.
As a personal experience, I had a friend that went on the Depo shot. This was initially for the horribly painful cycle she would go through. But because of this, she gave away to temptation with her boyfriend…
In any case, the non-contraceptive options listed here seem to be much better, for body, AND soul.
L
leaner
Guest
but it was before I was married, so the moral implications were not there…the chemical issues were what got me off the pill. It created a whole new host of issues – moodiness, bloating, sore “spots” (two on the upper part of my body, in particular…) – I went on a diet change – cut out fats and processed foods in the week or so before my period…nothing helped – took B vitamins which my sister in law swears by for painful periods…nothing. So now I take Anaprox (it’s the only thing that works) which is napracin – and use heating pads. It’s not ideal, but it’s not immoral, which is way more important. I also get cysts that rupture…which is way more painful, but nothing they can do for them…so I feel her pain, but I agree…perhaps the painful periods are a cover story? I know my OB thought that was the case with me in the beginning…until I assured her that was not the case…but I saw how easily it could be…
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Trelow
Guest
I second calling the Pope Paul VI Institute
popepaulvi.com/
Sounds alot like what my wife has gone though, I’ll post her little speel when I get home tonight.
popepaulvi.com/
Sounds alot like what my wife has gone though, I’ll post her little speel when I get home tonight.
G
Gratias_Grace
Guest
Yes, some women have “horribly painfull menstrual cycle” and need to be on medication for it. An altenative to “the pill” can be “pain killers” like Aspirin. Another alternative may be herbs:
Here is a list to natural medicine (herbs), but never use herbs without consulting a doctor fIrst:
womenfitness.net/beauty/herbs/herbs.htm#a
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Trelow
Guest
The Pope Paul VI Institute was started by a doctor of medicine in gynecology whose name is Thomas W. Hilgers. He began his research in 1968 as a senior medical student. Working at St. Louis University and Creighton University Schools of Medicine, he and his co-workers developed the Creighton Model Fertility Care System. Currently, Dr. Hilgers is a senior medical consultant in obstetrics, gynecology, reproductive medicine, and surgery at the Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction and he is an associate clinical professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Creighton University School of Medicine. He is also the director of the Institute’s National Center for Women’s Health.
Dr. Hilger’s began an independent evaluation of the Billing’s Ovulation Method in 1976. He and his co-workers we able to solidify the scientific foundations of the method. They then developed a teaching methodology which has now become known as the Creighton Model Fertility Care System (CrMS). This is a completely standardized teaching program which is used throughout the United States and in several foreign countries. Because it is standardized, there is a common language that all women use which makes the system very objective. This has been the key to expanding the scope of the CrMS from simply a system of family planning to a system which also includes women’s health. The CrMS is scientifically sound, accurate, precise, and effective. It can be used not only to achieve or avoid pregnancy but also to further the evaluation of infertility, repetitive miscarriage, abnormal bleeding, recurrent ovarian cysts, pelvic pain, premenstrual syndrome, etc. It does all of this in a way which cooperates with one’s fertility, respects the dignity of women and the integrity of marriage. As a bonus, it helps married couples discover the “inner soul” of their human sexuality.
Now that the history is out of the way I can tell you about myself and how the CrMS has affected me. I have had gynecological problems since puberty and for a long time believed they were just part of being a women. During the onset of one particular cycle I bled for more than six weeks without any relief. I decided at this point I should see a doctor and was put on the birth control pill at the age of 15. Thus began the long journey to where I am now.
I continued to have problems with long periods of bleeding, abdominal and lower back pain, mood swings, and depression although the only answer I got from several different gynecologists was to take the pill as this would “straighten me out”. I had moral issues with this because as a Catholic I didn’t believe in taking the birth control pill so I was continually telling myself, surely it must be okay since its for medical reasons not controlling fertility. It also bothered me that none of the doctors were concerned with finding out why I was having these problems and instead chose to “mask” the symptoms of an underlying condition.
Thirteen years later, after getting married, having two high-risk pregnancies and one miscarriage, my husband found the website for the Pope Paul VI Institute. He printed out information including a phone number and I called them. The woman I spoke to was very friendly and put me in contact with a Creighton Model practitioner in my area. The protocol for treatment is to first chart your cycles for two months and the practitioner then sends them along with a letter explaining her evaluation to Dr. Hilgers. He looks over the information and determines whether he could help with any problems you may be facing. If it is determined that treatment would be beneficial he will then set a appointment to meet with him.
Our original reason for searching out a Natural Family Planning method was to use it to plan our family in a way that was in line with Church teaching but we also found that by using this method many of the problems I had been having since puberty could be fixed! Through learning the method, I have been able to not only plan pregnancy but also keep a close watch on my gynecological health. My practitioner has helped me to understand what is normal and what is not in my cycle. This is very exciting to my husband and I because we can protect our fertility together.
I am scheduled to meet Dr. Hilgers in May and am anticipating undergoing hormone evaluation, a pelvic ultrasound, and possibly a laperoscopy. Although this doesn’t sound like much fun, I am filled with hope that I will finally find answers to my problems. For the first time since the beginning of my womanhood I’ve found a doctor whose answer for everything is NOT the pill!
I hope you have found this helpful and that you will consider this as an option. I can guarantee you it will not be a waste of time.
Dr. Hilger’s began an independent evaluation of the Billing’s Ovulation Method in 1976. He and his co-workers we able to solidify the scientific foundations of the method. They then developed a teaching methodology which has now become known as the Creighton Model Fertility Care System (CrMS). This is a completely standardized teaching program which is used throughout the United States and in several foreign countries. Because it is standardized, there is a common language that all women use which makes the system very objective. This has been the key to expanding the scope of the CrMS from simply a system of family planning to a system which also includes women’s health. The CrMS is scientifically sound, accurate, precise, and effective. It can be used not only to achieve or avoid pregnancy but also to further the evaluation of infertility, repetitive miscarriage, abnormal bleeding, recurrent ovarian cysts, pelvic pain, premenstrual syndrome, etc. It does all of this in a way which cooperates with one’s fertility, respects the dignity of women and the integrity of marriage. As a bonus, it helps married couples discover the “inner soul” of their human sexuality.
Now that the history is out of the way I can tell you about myself and how the CrMS has affected me. I have had gynecological problems since puberty and for a long time believed they were just part of being a women. During the onset of one particular cycle I bled for more than six weeks without any relief. I decided at this point I should see a doctor and was put on the birth control pill at the age of 15. Thus began the long journey to where I am now.
I continued to have problems with long periods of bleeding, abdominal and lower back pain, mood swings, and depression although the only answer I got from several different gynecologists was to take the pill as this would “straighten me out”. I had moral issues with this because as a Catholic I didn’t believe in taking the birth control pill so I was continually telling myself, surely it must be okay since its for medical reasons not controlling fertility. It also bothered me that none of the doctors were concerned with finding out why I was having these problems and instead chose to “mask” the symptoms of an underlying condition.
Thirteen years later, after getting married, having two high-risk pregnancies and one miscarriage, my husband found the website for the Pope Paul VI Institute. He printed out information including a phone number and I called them. The woman I spoke to was very friendly and put me in contact with a Creighton Model practitioner in my area. The protocol for treatment is to first chart your cycles for two months and the practitioner then sends them along with a letter explaining her evaluation to Dr. Hilgers. He looks over the information and determines whether he could help with any problems you may be facing. If it is determined that treatment would be beneficial he will then set a appointment to meet with him.
Our original reason for searching out a Natural Family Planning method was to use it to plan our family in a way that was in line with Church teaching but we also found that by using this method many of the problems I had been having since puberty could be fixed! Through learning the method, I have been able to not only plan pregnancy but also keep a close watch on my gynecological health. My practitioner has helped me to understand what is normal and what is not in my cycle. This is very exciting to my husband and I because we can protect our fertility together.
I am scheduled to meet Dr. Hilgers in May and am anticipating undergoing hormone evaluation, a pelvic ultrasound, and possibly a laperoscopy. Although this doesn’t sound like much fun, I am filled with hope that I will finally find answers to my problems. For the first time since the beginning of my womanhood I’ve found a doctor whose answer for everything is NOT the pill!
I hope you have found this helpful and that you will consider this as an option. I can guarantee you it will not be a waste of time.
T
Trelow
Guest
- For testimonies from women who have been treated using these methods there is a book called Women Healed by Jean Blair Packard. I would recommend this to anyone who is facing gynecological or infertility difficulties as it will renew your hope!
L
Listener
Guest
Father Serpa has covered this subject more than once in the “Ask an Apologist” forum. Father Serpa says that the Church allows the pill for medical reasons, and if this did happen to someone, it would not be their fault. I doubt if I’m killing anyone, since I’m past menopause and I don’t even have a uterus! However, when I was much younger and OFF the pill, I did suspect that this happened to me several times when I was late and had huge clots. This would be in addition to my official miscarriages. I think the “killing” you’re talking about happens to women a lot more when they are off the pill than when they are on the pill. In fact, if you’ll look up the statistics, anywhere from 15-20% of all pregnancies end up as early miscarriages.
L
Listener
Guest
I see a very good post that explains the Pope Paul VI Institute quite well. However, I still haven’t seen anything that tells me exactly what this institute usually recommends for women who have excessive pain, bleeding, miscarriage, PMS, premenopause, and menopause problems. Do these doctors put women on some other kind of hormones that aren’t “the pill?” Is there a special drug they prescribe? Do they give them natural herbs? Do they publish a book that explains what they usually do? I found their Web Site so difficult that I gave up looking at it.
T
Trelow
Guest
They will first want you to learn the Creighton Model Method of charting your cycles so they can see exactly when the pain is occurring and how long tthe bleeding lasts etc. They want at least one sometimes two months of charting to evaluate before scheduling an appointment so that they have a good idea of what is happening with you. Now I am definately no professional but it sounds like possible ovarian cysts, endometriosis, and low progesterone. All of these things can be seen by your charting. The first step would be to call the Pope Paul VI Institute and they will put you in touch with someone in your area to teach you the method. After charting they will probably want to do a pelvic ultrasound to check for cysts, a laperoscopy to chech for endometreosis, and a series of blood draws to evaluate your hormone levels. As far as medications, for low progesterone, for example you would just take natural progesterone on certain days of your cycle to correct the deficiency. Once again I am not a professional I am just speaking from experience. I do know for sure that the institute will find the underlying problem and not mask your symptoms with meds. The treatments, however, vary as much as the problems so it is hard to say exactly what would be done. There is a book called Women Healed by Jean Packard that contains testimonials from women who have been treated at the institute. I am supposed to tell everyone that I am John’s wife. He’s afraid you will think he knows a “little too much” about this stuff.
A
ames61
Guest
I’ll add my voice to those recommending the paulvi institute. I have several friends who have benefited from this, with various problems, including painful menstrual cycles. Contact them, find a certified practicioner in your area and check it out. Again, they find the underlying problem, which many docs seem not trained to do .
For a generation they have been prescribing the pill to solve problems, and wind up masking them. Many docs have done this in the past for clients who wanted birthcontrol and the Church said they couldn’t so they took the pill for irregular cycles .
The pill has so many negative side effects, some much more long term than we are lead to believe, why risk it?
For a generation they have been prescribing the pill to solve problems, and wind up masking them. Many docs have done this in the past for clients who wanted birthcontrol and the Church said they couldn’t so they took the pill for irregular cycles .
The pill has so many negative side effects, some much more long term than we are lead to believe, why risk it?
R
renee1258
Guest
Isn’t it scary just from a woman’s health point of view, this is all medical technology has to offer us? Medical professionals don’t care about the source of the pain, or even if there is a serious issue, all they care is about supressing our medcial complaints. Oh where are the feminists?
I know the original post is old, but anyone who has expereinced this and I know I’ve had too please open your hearts up to charting with an doctor that understands the science of natural family planning. In the end, at this point in medicine there might not be much help except pain relief.
I might have to say though, after I gave birth, I’ve never had any menstral pain. But sometimes having a baby isn’t the best option for a woman at the present time. In general woman need to be better educated about how their bodies work, and there needs to be a stronger movement of women demand better quality health care.
We trust these medical professionals, but it seems that charting couples know more about the repoductive system then gynocologists themselves. We must assume that these doctors intentions are good, but they have been so directly taught by pharmaceutical companies and their aggrassive lobbies that a woman’s best option is to supress her sexuality and not ovulate at all. It is just easier to shut off our bodies and be on hormonal control, under the guise of a advertising campaign that it is really our informed choice to use contraception is the answer for every female related problem.
I know the original post is old, but anyone who has expereinced this and I know I’ve had too please open your hearts up to charting with an doctor that understands the science of natural family planning. In the end, at this point in medicine there might not be much help except pain relief.
I might have to say though, after I gave birth, I’ve never had any menstral pain. But sometimes having a baby isn’t the best option for a woman at the present time. In general woman need to be better educated about how their bodies work, and there needs to be a stronger movement of women demand better quality health care.
We trust these medical professionals, but it seems that charting couples know more about the repoductive system then gynocologists themselves. We must assume that these doctors intentions are good, but they have been so directly taught by pharmaceutical companies and their aggrassive lobbies that a woman’s best option is to supress her sexuality and not ovulate at all. It is just easier to shut off our bodies and be on hormonal control, under the guise of a advertising campaign that it is really our informed choice to use contraception is the answer for every female related problem.
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