What to do when c-sections become dangerous?

[Allegra]

You can’t morally use BC medications for contraceptive purposes, and if your life is in danger, you risk as much depending on BC as you would depending on NFP. Many women have gotten pregnant on BC. It happens every day. You need to discuss use of contraceptive drugs or hysterectomy with your doctor and priest. In general, if this was the recommended treatment for your illness, then it would not be considered immoral to use those methods. However, if the primary goal was contraception, it would be immoral.

 

[boymama]

Thank you all for your advice.

A hysterectomy is somewhat on the table. If I have to have another surgery to deal with the endometriosis it will likely be a hysterectomy. I’ve had to use Clomid all three times I have gotten pregnant.

I’m only 28, and so my doctor doesn’t want to do anything crazy. It is very young to have a hysterectomy.

We speak with our priest on Thursday and hopefully that will shine some more light on what our options are.

 

[Bookcat]

Do couples who contracept find this to be true?

I will apply the above to my post as it reads now:

" In the conjugal act it is not licit to separate the unitive aspect from the procreative aspect, because both the one and the other pertain to the intimate truth of the conjugal act. The one is activated together with the other and in a certain sense the one by means of the other. Therefore, in such a case the conjugal act, deprived of its interior truth because it is artificially deprived of its procreative capacity, ceases also to be an act of love."

~ Bl. Pope John Paul II General Audience, August 22, 1984

Such is regarding contraception.

They may not think or feel that such is so --but it is.

---

Do couples who are committing fornication - would they say that they find it to be true that they are acting against love? They may not think they are but they are.

Do couples who are committing adultery - would they say that they find it to be true that they are acting against love? They may not think they are but they are. They may think they have now “found true love” …but they have not.

If you asked them if they “found it to be true” -they may say no. Such is the measure of the objectively moral reality involved.

 

[Bookcat]

Thank you all for your advice.

A hysterectomy is somewhat on the table. If I have to have another surgery to deal with the endometriosis it will likely be a hysterectomy. I’ve had to use Clomid all three times I have gotten pregnant.

I’m only 28, and so my doctor doesn’t want to do anything crazy. It is very young to have a hysterectomy.

We speak with our priest on Thursday and hopefully that will shine some more light on what our options are.

A hysterectomy* as a radical treatment for an illness itself* (not to prevent a new conception-- but only as say a treatment -say of cancer) -may be possible - contact the experts at the NCBC (see second link above). It needs though to be judged well.

But please…

Contact the Pope Paul VI institute please though regarding the medical problem. Even with already having a doctor.

 

[Thinking10]

I will apply the above to my post as it reads now:

" In the conjugal act it is not licit to separate the unitive aspect from the procreative aspect, because both the one and the other pertain to the intimate truth of the conjugal act. The one is activated together with the other and in a certain sense the one by means of the other. Therefore, in such a case the conjugal act, deprived of its interior truth because it is artificially deprived of its procreative capacity, ceases also to be an act of love."

~ Bl. Pope John Paul II General Audience, August 22, 1984

Such is regarding contraception.

They may not think or feel that such is so --but it is.

---

Do couples who are committing fornication - would they say that they find it to be true that they are acting against love? They may not think they are but they are.

Do couples who are committing adultery - would they say that they find it to be true that they are acting against love? They may not think they are but they are. They may think they have now “found true love” …but they have not.

If you asked them if they “found it to be true” -they may say no. Such is the measure of the objectively moral reality involved.

What is the biblical basis for the teaching that sex must always be procreative? Does church teaching about abstinence contradict scripture?

In 1 Corinthians, St. Paul speaks explicitly of the purpose of sex for married couples. He does not say its purpose is procreation. He recommends that couples have sex for purposes of controlling sexual temptation, and warns against extended periods of abstinence. He also says that it is better to have sex within a marriage than to “burn with passion.” This sounds contrary to church teaching, which promotes extended periods of abstinence, and says that “burning with passion” as St. Paul calls it, is better than relieving sexual tension in a way that precludes pregnancy.

 

[Bookcat]

What is the biblical basis for the teaching that sex must always be procreative? Does church teaching about abstinence contradict scripture?

Such would take us far afield.

We are not permitted to take a thread off its course - off topic. So we have to cease here. See the rules.

I refer you to Catholic Answers site itself - or you may contact the Catholic Answers Staff appologist line.

 

[Auntie_A]

I agree that you should look into ethical options but want to remind you and others that Natural Family Planning, though often ridiculed or minimized, is a very viable option. WHEN USED AND UNDERSTOOD correctly, it is more effective than the artificial methods which have often appeared in crumpled form in the front of a baby book.

With technology, there are many combined methods of fertility awareness: ovulometer, thermometer, calendar, and symptoms; this increases the effectiveness even more, even with PCOS.

AND it is not difficult to manage AND, with a conscientious spouse, can be a very vital and loving approach to sexual intimacy. Some couples have said that it puts romance back into a marriage. I know a wpman who wears special earrings to communicate to her husband that she is in her infertile part of the cycle. She says that it has made her love life and marriage very exciting.

 

[Xantippe]

Thank you all for your advice.

A hysterectomy is somewhat on the table. If I have to have another surgery to deal with the endometriosis it will likely be a hysterectomy. I’ve had to use Clomid all three times I have gotten pregnant.

I’m only 28, and so my doctor doesn’t want to do anything crazy. It is very young to have a hysterectomy.

We speak with our priest on Thursday and hopefully that will shine some more light on what our options are.

It sounds like your situation would not require indefinite abstinence, as you’re probably headed toward a hysterectomy at some point in your 30s. Plus, you’re not very fertile. I think there are a lot of reasonable and moral solutions to your situation.

I hope your priest will be able to help you, but I have to mention that the specifics of your situation are probably well beyond his expertise, unless he’s particularly expert in problems in Catholic bioethics.

 

[Listener]

I think you may have a medical problem rather than a moral problem. You said you needed Clomid to get pregnant. I would study up on NFP and find a scientific method to determine whether or not you are actually ovulating. If you are not ovulating, then you don’t have a problem unless your endometriosis symptoms come back. In that case, you could either go on the pill or have a hysterectomy. Actually, you may be morally justified in doing one or the other to prevent your symptoms from coming back.

It is better to listen to your priest and doctor than take advice from strangers on the Internet.

 

[benjohnson]

Do couples who contracept find this to be true?

My experience says yes - my girlfriend and I were monogamous for 16 years before getting married and used the rhythm method, the pill (for about six months) and onanism. After getting married and deciding to raise a family, I can tell you that the marital act before marriage was full of fear and awkwardness and after marriage to an fulfilling expression of love.

My and my wife are in the exact situation as the OP - three C-sections and a 9 pound tumor would make a 4th pregnancy very risky. Already my wife’s bladder is at 50% capacity.

Any potential 4th child would indeed put my wife at extreme risk, but wouldn’t necessarily cause death - so for us, NFP seems appropriate.