Birth Control
A Preface
I am in no way a
medical expert or an expert on the topic of birth control in any way. I write
the following to share our reflections, thoughts, and experience on the topic
of birth control based on reading God's Word, books, articles, blogs, and
having discussions with others over the last 15 plus years. My intention is to
bring awareness and provoke thought on this issue. This is our perspective and story
regarding birth control. I want to be faithful to share this information that I
wish someone would have shared with me when I was engaged to be married.
Also note that
although I'm emphasizing the birth control pill, there are also other
contraceptive methods that pose a concern to a fertilized egg as well. These
would include the vaginal ring, contraceptive patch, the mini-pill,
injectables, and intrauterine devices (IUDs). These would all pose risk to
preborn life in the early stages of development.
Our Story on
Birth Control
When we got
engaged in the spring of 1999 we did what everyone around us was doing for
birth control, the Pill. We didn't hesitate or ask any questions about it. We
didn't think there were questions to ask. It was pretty assumed among our
circles of friends and family that the birth control pill was the best method.
So I began taking the Pill the summer of 1999 and was never challenged in that
decision during our engagement.
After being
married for about 2 years we began hearing about some moral concerns regarding
the birth control pill. We were confused and didn't really understand so we
began researching. The
question debated among Christians is whether the pill sometimes acts as an
abortifacient. That is, does the pill have the potential to terminate the
life of a zygote (the single cell that results from a fertilized egg)?
We were living in
Slovakia on a 2-year mission with Campus Crusade for Christ and we had brought
$230 worth of birth control pills for our time there. Because we were newly
married and living overseas we were not real eager to change our birth control
method. We went into the research skeptical and a little reluctant yet we felt
responsible to know more about this drug we were relying on to prevent
pregnancy.
We learned that
there are three mechanisms of birth control pills. The first and primary
mechanism of the Pill is to inhibit ovulation. Secondly, the Pill causes the
cervical mucus to thicken, thereby making it more difficult for sperm to travel
to the egg. And thirdly the Pill is made to thin and shrivel the lining of the uterus
to the point that it is unable or less able to facilitate the implantation of
the newly fertilized egg.
The
Physician’s Desk Reference states with reference to the contraceptive pill,
Ortho-Cept: “Although the primary mechanism of this action is inhibition of
ovulation, other alterations include changes in the cervical mucus, which
increase the difficulty of sperm entry into the uterus, and changes in the
endometrium which reduce the likelihood of implantation.”
So the Pill keeps
a woman's body from creating the most hospitable environment for a child,
resulting instead in an endometrium that is deficient in both food and oxygen.
The child may die because he lacks this nutrition and oxygen. It became clear
that the first two mechanisms are contraceptive and the third is abortive.
Dr. Walter L.
Larimore says, "Any interruption of the development of a human being after
fertilization (or conception) is regarded by most Christians as the moral
equivalent of an abortion, and it has been called a “post-fertilization effect”
or an “abortifacient effect.” Therefore, an intentionally caused abortion,
whether recognized by the mother or not, at any point after fertilization
(conception), would carry the same moral significance as the taking of a human
life at any time in the life-span of that human being."
We learned that
there is also disagreement about when life begins. Some will say that a
fertilized egg is not yet a life until implantation. We believe and agree that
life begins at conception or fertilization, before implantation. So
"implantation" always involves an already conceived human being.
A search of
resources geared mainly towards women’s health shows that most doctors agree
that birth control does not cause abortions. However, many of these doctors
would deny that life begins at conception. If life does, indeed, begin at
conception, then preventing implantation is already causing an abortion.
Randy Alcorn
states, "When a woman taking the Pill discovers she is pregnant (according
to The Physician's Desk Reference's efficacy rate tables, this is 3
percent of pill-takers each year), it means that all three of these mechanisms
have failed. The third mechanism sometimes fails in its role as backup,
just as the first and second mechanisms sometimes fail. Each and every time the
third mechanism succeeds, however, it causes an abortion."
So after weeks of
reading, talking, and praying we came under the conviction that we could no
longer take the birth control pill in good conscience. We were sad to think we
could have contributed to the loss of a child as a result of using the Pill.
For us, even the possibility of terminating a fertilized egg made us nervous
about using the Pill. We realized that any agent that serves to prevent
implantation functions as an abortifacient.
The manufacturer
does not state these functions of the Pill as speculative or theoretical
effects, but as actual ones. Researchers have repeatedly and consistently
pointed out this abortifacient effect of the Pill. To date, no published
studies have refuted these findings. So in the winter of 2002 on the 12th floor
of our flat in Slovakia God led us to stop taking the Pill.
What Now
Was this easy or
convenient to stop taking the Pill? No! We loved the ease and convenience of the
Pill. We liked not thinking about our birth control method. In many ways we
wished we had never read all this controversy and information. But we believed
God had been clear in the decision to stop taking the Pill so we had to trust
Him for wisdom at this point.
Thankfully during
this time we began learning about fertility awareness methods. Fertility
awareness is a collection of methods using your body's natural and normal
functioning to determine the days of the month you are most likely to get pregnant.
It is also called Natural Family Planning (NFP), the Sympto-Thermal Method, the
Ovulation Method, or the Billings Method. Fertility awareness is a natural
method of contraception that can never cause an unnatural abortifacient effect.
The calendar, basal
body temperature, and cervical mucus methods are combined to give you the
awareness of when your body is most fertile. As you become familiar with your
body's ovulation and fertile periods, it provides you the opportunity to
abstain from sexual intercourse or use a barrier method during that time.
So beginning in
2002 until present we have used fertility awareness as our primary method of
birth control. It has worked well for us and we are thankful. For some this
form of birth control may not be ideal but even in those cases there are other
(non-abortive) options available. We need to be careful not to make our
decisions about birth control based merely on convenience and ease.
Larimore shares, "In
fact, assuming that NFP is only as effective as the Pill (and not more
effective), it would appear that most arguments to use the Pill, in view of the
fact that it may have an abortifacient effect, would be reduced to arguments of
convenience at the potential expense of pre-born human life."
Why Share This
I am primarily
sharing this because nothing less than human life is at stake. And because of
that, I believe people need to be informed on this issue to make a prayerful
and wise decision about their birth control method. From my perspective it
seems that most are unaware of the abortifacient effect of the birth control
pill. At the very least, people (men and women alike) need to be informed of
the possible effect of the birth control pill in order to decide whether they
should or should not use this form of birth control.
My husband and I
are involved with college ministry so we are consistently talking with engaged
couples about birth control. Our heart is to encourage couples to research the
issue and help resource them in order to make a well-informed and prayerful
decision on this important topic.
John Piper
shares, "As for pills: if it's an abortifacient, then don't use it. If
you're persuaded by your doctor or by some literature that a certain pill is
really going to unseat a fertilized egg, then I don't think that should be your
form of birth control. And if that's your only question in regards to birth
control then that should settle the issue for you."
Conclusion
The evidence is
substantial that the Pill can potentially cause abortions. If there is doubt,
let's err on the side of life. Following are a few quotes showing how others
have responded:
"Finally,
based upon the principle of double effect, it appears reasonable to conclude
that the Pill should not be used or recommended to those who believe life
begins at conception – unless and until the Pill is scientifically proven to
not have an abortifacient effect. It appears to be a reasonable conclusion that
such studies could be done and that proof could and should be forthcoming;
however, to date, that proof clearly does not exist. Until such proof is
available, one way or the other, the Pill should be considered a possible cause
of death to pre-born children." - Walter L. Larimore, MD
"I suppose
this leaves Christians having to weigh the evidence on their own and attempting
to sort out the facts. On a personal note, my wife and I have decided we will
not use the pill. Until we can be convinced that there is absolutely no chance
of the pill causing abortions, we just cannot, in good conscience, use the
pill. And to be honest (and completely open), I have trouble understanding how
Christians can arrive at a position that the pill is absolutely, 100% safe. In
the end, it seems wise to point out that the issue of birth control is
important because it is a heart issue. Our attitude on this point will reveal a
lot about what is inside of us. It will reveal our attitude towards children,
our attitude towards God’s providence, and our ability to trust in God and obey
Him. I am convinced that men and women on both sides of this debate can love
and value children, can live in full assurance of God’s providence and can
trust and obey God. I am convinced that God gives us freedom to use birth
control or to decide not to use birth control. I am convinced that what matters
most is motives and a desire to live for His glory." -Tim Challies
“For
my wife and me, even the possibility of terminating a fertilized egg made us
skittish about the Pill. We’ve never used it, though many of our
Christian friends have. I encourage every Christian couple using or
contemplating the Pill to research the issue for themselves. Consult a
physician and ask about the possible abortifacient effects of oral
contraceptives. The issue is obviously more complex than a brief summary
from a non-medically trained pastor. Many Christians have little awareness of
any controversy surrounding the Pill. This article is not meant to shame
those who have used or are using the Pill. But at the very least, we owe
it to ourselves, our children, and the Lord to prayerfully consider the rights
and wrongs of the pills we take and prescribe.” – Kevin DeYoung
In closing, my
encouragement is to research and pray, asking God to grant you wisdom in making
this important decision for His glory.
Resources
"Does the
Birth Control Pill Cause Abortions?" By Randy Alcorn http://www.epm.org/static/uploads/downloads/bcpill.pdf
"Does the
Birth Control Pill Cause Abortions?: A Short Condensation" By Randy Alcorn
http://www.epm.org/resources/2010/Feb/17/short-condensation-does-birth-control-pill-cause-a/
"Growing
Debate About the Abortifacient Effect of the Birth Control Pill and the
Principle of the Double Effect" By Walter L. Larimore, MD http://www.epm.org/resources/2004/Oct/01/growing-debate-about-abortifacient-effect-birth-co/
"The Bible
and Birth Control" By Tim Challies http://www.challies.com/christian-living/the-bible-and-birth-control
"The Bible
and Birth Control (Part 2)” By Tim Challies http://www.challies.com/christian-living/the-bible-and-birth-control-part-2
"The
Christian and Birth Control" By Tim Challies http://www.challies.com/articles/the-christian-and-birth-control
"The
Christian and Birth Control (Part 2)" By Tim Challies http://www.challies.com/articles/the-christian-and-birth-control-part-2
"Is it wrong
to use birth control?" By John Piper http://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/is-it-wrong-to-use-birth-control
"A Modest
Proposal: Do Some Reading Before You Pop the Pill" By Kevin DeYoung http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2011/01/25/a-modest-proposal-research-the-pill/
"Does the
Bible permit birth control?" By Matt Perman http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/does-the-bible-permit-birth-control
