Would it be sinful to take melatonin supplements to inhibit fertility?

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I am specifically referring to melatonin supplements, which can prevent ovulation, but do not affect the uterine lining. Would it be a sin to take such supplements with the motive of reducing my likelihood of conceiving? I understand that the sin in taking birth control pills is because they can induce miscarriage or prevent implantation of a fertilized egg, but that’s not an issue here. Nor, obviously, would melatonin be a barrier to natural relations taking place. Is there any sin in such an action apart from the same sins which can accompany NFP, i.e. failing to be open to life without a serious reason, etc.? I am not seeking medical advice, only asking about the moral consequences of taking a substance to inhibit fertility that does not carry the abortifacient concerns of birth control pills. I only specify which I have in mind to prevent a dozen posts speculating on which I must mean and what possible moral pitfalls would accompany them. Thank you in advance.
 
needaclue10 said:
I am specifically referring to melatonin supplements, which can prevent ovulation, but do not affect the uterine lining. Would it be a sin to take such supplements with the motive of reducing my likelihood of conceiving? I understand that the sin in taking birth control pills is because they can induce miscarriage or prevent implantation of a fertilized egg, but that’s not an issue here. Nor, obviously, would melatonin be a barrier to natural relations taking place. Is there any sin in such an action apart from the same sins which can accompany NFP, i.e. failing to be open to life without a serious reason, etc.? I am not seeking medical advice, only asking about the moral consequences of taking a substance to inhibit fertility that does not carry the abortifacient concerns of birth control pills. I only specify which I have in mind to prevent a dozen posts speculating on which I must mean and what possible moral pitfalls would accompany them. Thank you in advance.
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Yes…one may not take any drug or “suppliment” in order to avoid conception…such is by nature “contra-ceptive”
 
I agree with bookcat. It is the intentional action to make oneself sterile, i.e., separation of the unitive from the procreative aspect of the marital embrace, which is the issue. The abortifacient effect of BCPs is rather an additional reason to heed the Church’s explanation of the natural law regarding contraception, and the use of BCPs is wrong even if they successful prevent ovulation.
 
needaclue10 said:
I am specifically referring to melatonin supplements, which can prevent ovulation, but do not affect the uterine lining. Would it be a sin to take such supplements with the motive of reducing my likelihood of conceiving? I understand that the sin in taking birth control pills is because they can induce miscarriage or prevent implantation of a fertilized egg, but that’s not an issue here. Nor, obviously, would melatonin be a barrier to natural relations taking place. Is there any sin in such an action apart from the same sins which can accompany NFP, i.e. failing to be open to life without a serious reason, etc.? I am not seeking medical advice, only asking about the moral consequences of taking a substance to inhibit fertility that does not carry the abortifacient concerns of birth control pills. I only specify which I have in mind to prevent a dozen posts speculating on which I must mean and what possible moral pitfalls would accompany them. Thank you in advance.
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no artificial birth control means no artificial birth control. taking pills to inhibit ovulation sounds quite artificial to me.
 
LongJ, the OP specified that its use was to inhibit fertility. If one is taking a supplement for some other reason, that is a different analysis.

BTW, doesn’t all contraception only “reduce the likelihood” of pregnancy? I suppose the question is how efficiently the substance ingested does that, or how reliably it affects fertility, that would inform the analysis of whether one should or could licitly take such a supplement for another reason than to inhibit fertility.
 
You may not take a drug or pill or natural food or procedure or bath or regimen or any similar thing in order to reduce fertility for sexual acts as you describe. It does not matter for that point if there is a chance of abortion or not. It does not matter for that point if it makes a physical barrier or not. It does not matter for that point if it is man-made or not. You still may not do it either way.

Remember, too, that contraception is not a light matter. It is considered serious, even without those considerations I mentioned above.

Hope that is clear for you. 🙂
 
I thought melatonin tablets were for helping a person overcome a temporary sleep disturbance. I have never used them while pregnant, but I have used them off and on for years for the purposes of falling asleep when I am overly stressed. I had no idea they could affect fertility or cause loss of pregnancy. I will have to do some research on this.

To the OP: Anytime a person uses a substance to reduce their fertility in order to avoid contraception, they are contracepting. The Church has spoken to this issue. It doesn’t matter if it is an herb, a nutritional supplement, or a prescribed medication; if it is used in quantities capable of and for the purposes of preventing conception, it is not morally permissable. On another note, your asking this question has brought a potential problem to my attention with regards to my own use of melatonin. Thanks, and I hope you are able to come to an understanding and acceptance of this challenging Church teaching.
 
Thank you all for your answers. I did not fully realize what the Church meant by “contraception” before, dumb as that sounds, but I think I understand now. I will of course abide by what the Church teaches, as hard as it is. As it says in John 6,
Then Jesus said to the twelve: Will you also go away? And Simon Peter answered him: Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we have believed and have known, that thou art the Christ, the Son of God.
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Though this isn’t the prayer request forum, prayers would be deeply appreciated, if you are so inclined. Thanks again.
 
Absolutely any action, even strange an ineffective ones, taken to prevent conception would be contraception. I’ve never heard that melanin supplements prevent ovulation but in this case it is the intention that matters. Believe me, people have been looking for loopholes for thousands of years and they haven’t found any yet.
 
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