Is the Pill Abortive or not?

[lankyknight1990]

Hey guys, just need an answer regarding this question. Is the Pill (not the morning after pill) a Non-abortive form of contraception or an Abortive form of contraception?

 

[Nickolai]

It is both. It's main purpose is to stop fertilization before it happens. But should it fail in that regard, it makes the uterine wall hostile to the newly fertilized egg. Meaning that if it's used, one never knows if they've had an abortion or not. Combine that with the horrible hormonal changes it makes to a woman's body, I don't know how any woman would ever want to be on it, especially a Christian woman.

 

[Lady Bug]

I don't know enough about it (the poster above me seems to know better than I do) but, even though I sound Catholic right now, I am uncomfortable with the use of birth control. I think (though can't substantiate, sorry) that it harms a woman's body. Even causes reproductive cancers. I'm not interested in using any of those things

I worry that I overstepped some bounds

I didn't say that one can't use it for other ailments for which BC pills are a viable treatment.

 

[choirfiend]

It works in two ways: stopping ovulation and thinning the uterine wall so a developing baby cannot implant. Because the medical definition of "pregnancy" is implantation, and the medical definition of "abortion" is removing the baby from implantation, it's not "abortive" according to medical definition. It is, however, abortive, since it causes a growing human being to die.

 

[127.0.0.1]

Hey guys, just need an answer regarding this question. Is the Pill (not the morning after pill) a Non-abortive form of contraception or an Abortive form of contraception?

There's a possibility that it may, somewhat difficult to tell for sure. The morning after works the same way, largely meant to be contraceptive, some chance it may cause abortion, doctors argue both ways.

The Morning After Pill is not, the, 'abortion pill', that would be RU-486.

Also abortion is not a contraceptive method, since you cannot have an abortion before you conceive.

 

[snowpumpkin]

It is both. It's main purpose is to stop fertilization before it happens. But should it fail in that regard, it makes the uterine wall hostile to the newly fertilized egg. Meaning that if it's used, one never knows if they've had an abortion or not. Combine that with the horrible hormonal changes it makes to a woman's body, I don't know how any woman would ever want to be on it, especially a Christian woman.

Yes, this is how it works. However, this Christian woman, uses it to regulate her hormones. I have severe Endometriosis, and the birth control pill makes my life liveable.

 

[ArmyMatt]

Yes, this is how it works. However, this Christian woman, uses it to regulate her hormones. I have severe Endometriosis, and the birth control pill makes my life liveable.

I think he meant those who take it for contraception. not those who take it to regulate their hormones.

 

[Kristos]

Hey guys, just need an answer regarding this question. Is the Pill (not the morning after pill) a Non-abortive form of contraception or an Abortive form of contraception?

Every major Orthodox ethicist whom I have read agrees that "the pill" has the potential to be abortive and therefore should not be used as the sole method of contraception. Net is that life begins at conception and therefore anything that artificially ends that life is abortive. Since there are other applications for "the pill", they do not condemn it's use entirely, but rather recommend the use of a different primary contraceptive such as barriers to avoid the potential conception and subsequent abortion that exists with "the Pill".

 

[Julina]

It is both. It's main purpose is to stop fertilization before it happens. But should it fail in that regard, it makes the uterine wall hostile to the newly fertilized egg. Meaning that if it's used, one never knows if they've had an abortion or not. Combine that with the horrible hormonal changes it makes to a woman's body, I don't know how any woman would ever want to be on it, especially a Christian woman.

Yes, this is how it works. However, this Christian woman, uses it to regulate her hormones. I have severe Endometriosis, and the birth control pill makes my life liveable.

same. i have pcos. i am not using it to control my birth.

and the short answer is no, i don't think the pill = abortion. if anything it prevents abortions.

 

[Nickolai]

Let me be clear that I was referring to using it as a contraceptive. If you need it for hormonal purposes, obviously that is different.

Also, might as well mention to the OP that the ideal for all Orthodox couples is to refrain from using contraception completely, if that is possible.

 

[Protoevangel]

same. i have pcos. i am not using it to control my birth.

and the short answer is no, i don't think the pill = abortion. if anything it prevents abortions.

Ortho Tri-Cyclen (ethinyl estradiol and norgestimate) contains a combination of female hormones that prevent ovulation (the release of an egg from an ovary). Ortho Tri-Cyclen also causes changes in your cervical mucus and uterine lining, making it harder for sperm to reach the uterus and harder for a fertilized egg to attach to the uterus.

Source: Ortho Tri-Cyclen Information from Drugs.com​

The bolded section explains that it is indeed an abortifacient. It does kill children.

For the non-sexually active with certain problems, though, it is known to have beneficial effects.

 

[choirfiend]

Another endo sufferer here. Mine seems to be not as severe b/c I can treat it with NSAIDS. Had surgery for it and they said it wasnt scarring too badly. I understand how it can be used as a treatment, and I understand the pain of these disorders.

I'd look into the long term affects of the pill for when you are trying to conceive, though, b/c there's quite a bit of evidence that it makes is harder. Latest study I heard about showed how it ages the cervical mucus glands so they do not produce, and they're instrumental in conceiving. Long term use is nasty beyond the abortive aspect.

 

[Kristos]

same. i have pcos. i am not using it to control my birth.

and the short answer is no, i don't think the pill = abortion. if anything it prevents abortions.

While this statement might be justified by defining the terms in a narrow manner, we are not trying to do that here. Life begins at conception. That is the Orthodox view. Anything that artificially interferes with the natural process after conception is considered termination of a human life. Call it abortion or call it induced wastage - either way the life that was created is willfully terminated and therefore either way it is wrong. Unfortunately, many people are ignorant of this because the medical community chooses to define their terms in a very narrow manner which lead to statements such as yours.

 

[Fran75]

Yes, this is how it works. However, this Christian woman, uses it to regulate her hormones. I have severe Endometriosis, and the birth control pill makes my life liveable.

Same here sister, I'm on Aygestin, has been a Godsend for me. I have had two surgeries for endometriosis my self, during the second they removed a portion of my bladder as it (the endometriosis) was growing inside of it. I use my bladder every day, actually several times times a day if taking progesterone will help to prevent or delay more surgeries that reduces the size of my bladder than I'm taking it. BTW if any of you ladies want the name of an awesome endo specialist in western pa, pm me.

 

[Dorothea]

well, I'm going to be going on the Pill in a few days because of my ovarian cysts to help shrink them and make them disappear. I'm supposed to be on them for one month. We'll see how it goes.

 

[Protoevangel]

I hope nobody thinks that anyone is saying that the pill is evil in and of itself... Just that it shouldn't be used for the purpose of birth control, or while one is sexually active due to it's potential abortive effects.

I have to say it... It's like medical marijuana (except that it's legal). There are valid uses that make the potential side-effects acceptable. I would never dream of campaigning to make the pill illegal... Some people genuinely benefit by it.

 

[Dorothea]

I hope nobody thinks that anyone is saying that the pill is evil in and of itself... Just that it shouldn't be used for the purpose of birth control, or while one is sexually active due to it's potential abortive effects.

I have to say it... It's like medical marijuana (except that it's legal). There are valid uses that make the potential side-effects acceptable. I would never dream of campaigning to make the pill illegal... Some people genuinely benefit by it.

Yes, I have understood what you and others have said here, Proto. No worries.

 

[Protoevangel]

Yes, I have understood what you and others have said here, Proto. No worries.

Good. Misunderstandings happen so easily here. I just had to reiterate the point, not only for you... But for anyone who needs the pill.

 

[Fran75]

I hope nobody thinks that anyone is saying that the pill is evil in and of itself... Just that it shouldn't be used for the purpose of birth control, or while one is sexually active due to it's potential abortive effects.

I have to say it... It's like medical marijuana (except that it's legal). There are valid uses that make the potential side-effects acceptable. I would never dream of campaigning to make the pill illegal... Some people genuinely benefit by it.

Thank you, however if hormone/s are used on a certain schedule than the user does not ovulate and has no cycle at all so is not an abortificant for those users, some of us will be on a "pill" for years and at least I'll speak for myself aren't willing to be abstinent indefinitely.

 

[Dorothea]

Good. Misunderstandings happen so easily here. I just had to reiterate the point, not only for you... But for anyone who needs the pill.