contraception controversy essay

Authored by four Christian ProLife Obstetrician-Gynecologists April,1999 Introduction Recently, there has been some controversy, and serious questions have been raised by sincere individuals who are concerned that hormone contraceptives may have an abortifacient mechanism of action. This paper will help to clarify the issue based on a through review of the available medical literature regarding the mechanism of action of hormone contraceptives. It has been compiled by Board Certified practicing Ob/Gyns, in consultation with Perinatologists and Reproductive Endocrinologists, each being a physician committed to honoring the sanctity of human life from conception. We affirm that as physicians answerable to our Creator and Redeemer, we are responsible to the best of our ability to help, and not intentionally harm, our fellow human creatures. As Christian physicians, we affirm that all life is created by God and that human life is initiated at conception. Fertilization, not implantation, marks the beginning of human life. Disruption of the fertilized egg represents abortion. The issues of mechanism of action of commonly used hormone contraceptives has threatened to split the pro-life physician community. Review of information currently being disseminated reveals some powerful and well written rhetoric. However, the issue of mechanism of action of hormone contraceptives is not one which will be illuminated by rhetoric. The mechanism of action of any medicine will not change based on how we feel about it, or on who developed it, or on how eloquently it is defended or opposed. How a medication works is a scientific question. The hormone contraceptives include four basic types: combination oral contraceptives (COCs), injectables (Depoprovera), progestin only pills (minipill, or POPs), and implants (Norplant). In this paper, they will, where convenient, be collectively.
The CD of Contraception: Why Not? (revised) is available here. For more information on books or CDs by Janet Smith go here. Many years ago one of my godsons, Max, told me that when he missed me, he watches my video. He said, You know that video of yours, I think it's called Contractions: Why not ? He was eight years old at the time. A boy eight years old and the oldest of five can explain what contractions five minutes apart and three minutes apart mean, but you can be sure he has never heard of contraception. A couple years later I was in Trinidad and I was asked about a national problem in Trinidad. I was asked if I thought rapists should be castrated. I thought, Oh my gosh ; my knees kind of buckled and I said: That's a very difficult question, I haven't thought about that. Rape is a terrible crime that deserves a severe penalty, but castration is permanent, it's mutilation. I added, I have heard that there are drugs that can be used to control the sexual desire; maybe they should be explored, but I'm really not prepared for that question. The next day I was leaving Trinidad and I saw the national Sunday newspaper of Trinidad. The headline said Castrate Rapists. The subtitle said Drugs can be used to reduce their sex drive [says] U. S. professor. At that point my knees really did buckle. I thought: I sure hope there's some other U.S. professor in Trinidad this weekend. So I want you to know that you can look forward to my three part series of tapes: Contraception: Why Not ; Contractions: Why Not ; Castration: Why Not. Modern vs. Christian View of Sexuality I'm going to be talking a lot about the difference between the modern and the Christian view of sexuality. I am going to explain why natural sex is best. In fact, natural sex is the sex that the Catholic Church promotes. Natural sex is sex between a man and a woman who love each other, who have made a lifetime.
UPDATE: The open enrollment period for 2016 is over, but you may still be able to get coverage. Find out if you could be eligible for special enrollment. 99% of women who've ever had sex have used birth control at some point. Doesn't sound very controversial, right? Yet somehow a whole lot of folks seem to be “discussing” birth control lately—and they don’t always have the facts straight. You may have noticed birth control is what we’re all about, so we wanted to share 5 facts we think everyone should know about birth control in the U.S. 1. It's a win for taxpayers and businesses. 2. It reduces abortion. Earlier this month, two studies—one from researchers in St. Louis and the other from researchers in Iowa—provided solid evidence that access to effective birth control can make a difference in this arena. Both studies made super-effective birth control methods available and affordable to local women over several years—and both studies resulted in major decreases in unplanned pregnancy and abortion. On the national level, almost half of all pregnancies in the U.S. were unplanned as of 2006—and 43% of those unplanned pregnancies ended in abortion. Of all the women in the U.S. who are having sex and not trying to get pregnant, two-thirds of them use birth control consistently and correctly—and those birth control superstars account for only 5% of unplanned pregnancies. The other 95% of unplanned pregnancies were to the third of U.S. women who weren’t trying to get pregnant but weren’t using birth control or were using it incorrectly or inconsistently. 3. It's got some serious benefits for women. The most obvious benefit of birth control is that it allows folks to control when and whether they become parents—kind of a big deal. This amazing benefit leads to some other perks, too—for women, their partners, and their families. A toast to your health. Pregnancy is always.