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carenanightchild
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| Joined: | Sun Aug 5th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 32 |
| First Name: | Elizabeth | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Independent Baptist |
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Posted: Thu Aug 9th, 2007 01:08 pm |
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I was wondering what the Church's teaching on use of birth control for purposes other than contraception is? I am 19 and not sexually active, but for medical reasons it may be desirable to stop my period. I am not Catholic but am strongly considering it and wish to obey the Church's teachings in this matter.
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Credo Catholic
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| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 1475 |
| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Aug 9th, 2007 01:40 pm |
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| Get a second opinion from a doctor who is familiar with and advocates catholic practice. I have heard on catholic radio several doctors who advise against what you are considering, but have alternative methods which are healthier for your body. I will try to find a resource for you. Will get back to you soon.
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carenanightchild
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| Joined: | Sun Aug 5th, 2007 |
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| Posts: | 32 |
| First Name: | Elizabeth | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Independent Baptist |
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Posted: Thu Aug 9th, 2007 01:52 pm |
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A second opinion might be difficult - I still live with my anti-Catholic family, and they're paying the bills. I've been managing somewhat with over-the-counter pain medication, but it's difficult.
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Credo Catholic
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| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 1475 |
| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Aug 9th, 2007 02:01 pm |
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| I understand. Well, so far I've come up with a website called One More Soul http://www.omsoul.com that is set up for nfp but lists doctors who practice catholic principles. You may get an idea for talking with your doctor before making a decision.
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CajunRick
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| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Houma, Louisiana USA |
| Posts: | 5453 |
| First Name: | Rick (& Kermie) | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Lifetime Catholic, Latin Rite |
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Posted: Thu Aug 9th, 2007 03:25 pm |
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carenanightchild wrote: I was wondering what the Church's teaching on use of birth control for purposes other than contraception is? I am 19 and not sexually active, but for medical reasons it may be desirable to stop my period. I am not Catholic but am strongly considering it and wish to obey the Church's teachings in this matter.
The Church has no objection to contraceptives when they are used for other, medically necessary purposes. However, it is always dangerous to mess around with a person's hormones, so if I were you, I'd be careful.
My wife was placed on a low-dose pill at 12 because of intense cramps that kept her out of school. Effective pain killers essentially kept her dazed so she could not study and her grades were suffering, so the contraceptive was the best available alternative at the time. That was almost 40 years ago so better alternatives are no doubt available. I would seek a second opinion not because the Church would object, but because it is sound medical advise. If you've been to an OB/GYN, ask your family doctor. If the suggestion is coming from a family doctor, suggest a visit to an OB/GYN.
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Understanding is the reward of faith. Therefore seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand. - Augustine
Rick Luquette
Luquette Lane
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brian
Member
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Chicago South Burbs, Illinois USA |
| Posts: | 850 |
| First Name: | brian | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | methodist, evangelical, anglican, catholic |
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Posted: Fri Aug 10th, 2007 02:50 am |
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The only issue is that eventually you may get married and then need to find another solution anyway. Though since you are 19 it is possible that you will be able to use the pill to regulate it for a year or so and then go off of it before getting married, hoping your body is back to regular. However, if you do not know how long this treatment may last and how soon you may get married, I would start getting a little nervous if I was closer to getting married and still using this solution. It is a tough situation.
On a completely non-medical note, I will say that prayer of course is a great recourse. There was someone I know who went through a similar (if not the same exact) thing and I often asked the Blessed Virgin to pray for her and one night so did she even though she was not sure if she believed in that sort of thing (but since it was a feminine problem I think asking Mary to pray seemed to make sense, and she was inspired to do so while looking at an icon depicting the Visitation) and the prayers were answered pretty convincingly and quickly and things got better.
Not that prayer automatically fixes things, or takes away the need for medical advice. By no means. Please seek the best medical opinion you can find and adhere to what will help you. But I just want to encourage you that prayer can be of great benefit...though since you are Christian you probably already know this, but couldn't hurt to remind you, and if you are open to asking Mary's intercession this could be a good thing to try. Of course, sometimes God makes us wait and answers our prayers differently than we expect and in His timing, and your life and God's will will be different than any other individuals in some ways, so I am not saying this kind of prayer will guarnatee to heal you instantly, but the prayer can certainly do something positive and help you through it one way or another, and help you grow closer to Him through the trial, and it couldn't hurt to ask. I will say a 'Hail Mary' or more for you.
Brian
p.s. the difference between the situation I am talking about and yours, is that the person actually was using this method of birth control to regulate for a long time (few years) and wanted to go off of it but was worried. So some of the success may have been due to the treatment actually working. The prayer was for help adjusting to being off of the medication and for things to go back to normal, because it was a difficult thing. So the situation is not exactly the same. Though prayer may have also helped how quickly she went off of the medication and the way it happened. So the situation is different, but prayer helped.
I still wonder if doctors should learn more options for this problem, due to the fact that many do, or should, or will eventually have problems with being on birth control, and that it affects hormones and has a breast cancer risk. But not being a doctor I can not say. I do know that I read an article that someone who went on NFP charts was actually able to help diagnose the real problem and doctors saw that there was a better way to deal with it after finding out through observation what was causing the irregularity.
Last edited on Fri Aug 10th, 2007 10:24 am by brian
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Credo Catholic
Member
| Joined: | Sat May 5th, 2007 |
| Location: | Greenville, South Carolina USA |
| Posts: | 1475 |
| First Name: | Marsha | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Baptist, Catholic |
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Posted: Fri Aug 10th, 2007 11:04 am |
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| After looking through some of the medical websites on this subject, it is disappointing how little progress has been done in the last 45 years that I have been familiar with this problem. OTC meds and heating pads? Please! There doesn't seem to be much help, especially for someone who is trying to avoid contraceptives. I did see a few references to herbal remedies. I suggest talking with your doctor alone expressing your concerns about the morality of contraceptives and about the significant side effects they can cause. If your doctor is an ob/gyn then he/she should be familiar with other options. Even if you didn't care about the morality issue, someone your age starting on the pill could be inviting health issues down the road. Your overall health is most important, and your symptoms should be weighed against the risks. For instance, if you are experiencing anemia, that can be more troublesome than experiencing cramps. You have a right to ask about other options and let the doctor know exactly how you think about it all, then make your decision, and if it's to use the contraceptives, then you know it's medically approved by the church.
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Annie
Banned
| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 731 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Aug 30th, 2007 01:26 pm |
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I had a terrible case of endemetriosis at age 11 and went on Danocrine at age 21 after ten years of misdiagnosis and still take it. I would highly recommend using the Pill to stop the periods as the pain can wear you down and cause mental problem later. I almost died from shock a couple of times it was so bad. Even high doses of codeine didn't help.
The modern hormone pills are VERY safe for a person your age who is otherwise healthy.
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Annie
Ora et labora
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Annie
Banned
| Joined: | Wed Feb 14th, 2007 |
| Location: | Columbus, Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 731 |
| First Name: | Annie | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | nothing, Quaker, Mennonite, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican, Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Aug 30th, 2007 01:43 pm |
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Credo Catholic wrote: For instance, if you are experiencing anemia, that can be more troublesome than experiencing cramps.
There are cramps, and then there is debilitating pain. It depends on what causes it, if it's endometriosis, medication to stop the periods is the most desirable if you are too young or surgery is otherwise contraindicated or not possible.
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Annie
Ora et labora
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