Birth Control After NFP For Medical Reasons

Nickie431 · September 2012

DH and I have been using NFP our entire marriage (almost 10 months), and I've been seeing a respected NFP Ob/Gyn two hours away for some medical issues. I've been frustrated with the lack of progress on my health while under her care and also felt the need to see an endocrinologist because it seemed my issues were getting out of the gynecological field (insulin levels, hypertension, etc.) My first endocrinology appointment was today, and she was great--spent 40 mins. with me, very thorough, obviously trying to piece together the puzzle of my symptoms rather than give me pat responses. However, as I feared, she strongly recommends I go on birth control pills 1) to assist in relieving my symptoms and 2) because I learned that some of the medications I've recently been prescribed are FDA Category X (known to cause birth defects in humans).

A devout Catholic friend who has a similar condition (with fewer complications) chose to go on BC, and I had felt strongly that that wasn't a feasible solution for me. I'm now having doubts, though. I know that my medical needs are justifiable according to the Church, and I would not take BC with a contraceptive mentality, but I'm still feeling terribly disappointed that this might be the route I need to start regaining my health.

Just looking for some thoughts, experiences of using BC for medical reasons, support either way, etc. The Lord's intent is a mystery to me right now, and I'm so confused. Thank you!

agapecarrie · September 2012

Reason 2 is not justifiable for birth control, because it would be taking birth control with the intent of preventing pregnancy. This does not fall under the "medication" aspect of it, it is acting as actual birth control

Reason 1: Morally, this could be ok, however as you said, all its doing is "relieving your symptoms". You're going to have to weigh how bad those symptoms are that need relieving and the benefit of having them relieved with some very very serious side effects (not just physical). It's a group 1 carcinogen. It's not actually fixing anything. It causes blood clots. It could also cause relationship problems with your husband because there will be the knowledge there that the procreative element is removed from unitive. I know you aren't intending it and don't want it to, but it still is there.

The fact that there is a long list of docs out there who will attest to there always being something better than the pill would lead me to keep searching for better docs.

chelseamb11 · September 2012

For your #2 reason, do you mean that the pill would replace those meds? Or for the BC aspect? Either way, I'd really try and dig a little deeper to the CAUSE, not just the symptoms. Even if it means going to another doctor. One of my best friends started having health issues "down there" like five years ago. Painful intercourse, cysts, you name it. She originally went on BC which helped. After awhile, she decided to go off the pill because her docs thought they cured her problem (not kidding). She stayed alright for awhile, and then a few months ago, it came back even worse than before. She was not happy. She went to another doctor who more or less told her "go on the pill or you WILL get cancer and you will never have kids down the road". Horrible doctor. She wasn't even apologetic toward my friend. She vented to me about it and I suggested she go to a different doctor for a second opinion and explained the whole "the pill doesn't cure it just covers" thing. That second doctor actually took the time to see what was up. In the end, all it took was a simple blood test to see she had a thyroid problem. Aka something the pill wouldn't really fix. Now she's on some sort of thyroid medication and she's been fantastic since.

Moral of the story: Don't ever believe a doctor who says the pill is the only answer. Because 99% of the time, it's not. I'd highly recommend going to see another specialist for another opinion.

professorscience · September 2012

Agape, I think you and I are reading two different things for Reason 2. Nickie already said she and her husband would continue to practice NFP even if she went on the pill. My understanding was that she wanted to replace these medications that might cause birth defects WITH the pill.

It can be such a difficult decision, and I'm sure it's so frustrating. Since you are seeing an endocrinologist, is there a way you can suggest exploring hormone therapy that DOESN'T carry the unwanted side effects of BCP?

lalaith50 · September 2012

How does one use NFP while on the pill?<div>
</div><div>Secondly,</div><div>[QUOTE] I'm still feeling terribly disappointed that this might be the route I need to start regaining my health.
Posted by Nickie431[/QUOTE]
I think you know the issue here - will taking BC actually "start" helping you regain your health? You know this - Birth control attempts to stop an egg from being released, and if it is released it attempts to stop it from implanting.<div>
</div><div>Tell your doctor that unless it is that EGG itself that is HURTING your body, (it's not,) then they need to come up with a different solution. A healthy female body ovulates. An unhealthy one doesn't! Doctors all around the country need to reverse their mindset!</div></div>

professorscience · September 2012

I think you would still need to observe a period of abstinence even if you're using artificial contraception. It would be difficult to know when, exactly, since the pill inhibits a lot of the natural signs of fertility. Since it gets you on a 28-day cycle, you could probably just "choose" every third week, or something?

MedStudent13 · September 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_birth-control-after-nfp-for-medical-reasons?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:6760302a-defc-4597-9142-7ff4598167b2Post:7c61a777-dd0a-4972-b4c9-95f5ea9771dc">Re: Birth Control After NFP For Medical Reasons</a>:
[QUOTE]I think you would still need to observe a period of abstinence even if you're using artificial contraception. It would be difficult to know when, exactly, since the pill inhibits a lot of the natural signs of fertility. <strong>Since it gets you on a 28-day cycle, you could probably just "choose" every third week, or something?</strong>
Posted by professorscience[/QUOTE]

<div>I've always wondered about this... One of my non Catholic friends brought this up and I couldn't give her a straight answer. Agape what would you say?</div>

agapecarrie · September 2012

If someone is on BC for true therapeutic reasons, there is no moral need to abstain. Some couples do to retain some sacrifice and continuing to have the "courtship/honeymoon" phases each month, and maybe because it helps them focus on other ways to show affection, etc

But if one isn't ovulating, they aren't going to show signs of ovulation. When there is break through ovulation, I suppose its possible that there could be fertile signs, but with the hormones all messed up, who knows? There could be no indication of fertility-- so if a couple wants to keep periodic abstainance, they could just pick a week, and it might be safer to pick 2nd or 3rd week as if there is break through ovulation, that would be the time for it. *Safer meaning to avoid conception of a baby that wouldn't implant"

afrenchprincess · September 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_birth-control-after-nfp-for-medical-reasons?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:6760302a-defc-4597-9142-7ff4598167b2Post:05d86829-3a9f-480d-88b4-3f51f6a6b4f0">Re: Birth Control After NFP For Medical Reasons</a>:
[QUOTE]How does one use NFP while on the pill? Secondly, I think you know the issue here - <strong>will taking BC actually "start" helping you regain your health? You know this - Birth control attempts to stop an egg from being released, and if it is released it attempts to stop it from implanting. Tell your doctor that unless it is that EGG itself that is HURTING your body, (it's not,) then they need to come up with a different solution.</strong> A healthy female body ovulates. An unhealthy one doesn't! Doctors all around the country need to reverse their mindset!
Posted by lalaith50[/QUOTE]<div>Well it's obvious that the egg is not hurting her. </div><div>There are many medications that do more than one thing. Birth control was designed to prevent pregnancies however it can and does provide help with medical conditions.

</div>

afrenchprincess · September 2012

IMHO I say keep trying to find the cause of your condition however in the meantime if you are suffering and need relief from your symptoms that is a start to regaining your health. If you can be out of pain or discomfort while searching for more answers go for it! I suffered with endometrosis and BC pills were wonderful for me during that time!

I had lots of pain and symptoms and it was messing with my emotions and mental health. You and your husband know the real reasons you are using the pills. Don't stress yourself you

monkeysip · September 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_birth-control-after-nfp-for-medical-reasons?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:6760302a-defc-4597-9142-7ff4598167b2Post:bc234a93-f6fa-47cc-94dc-6628b32c71be">Re: Birth Control After NFP For Medical Reasons</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Birth Control After NFP For Medical Reasons : Well it's obvious that the egg is not hurting her. There are many medications that do more than one thing. Birth control was designed to prevent pregnancies however it can and does provide help with medical conditions.
Posted by afrenchprincess[/QUOTE]

But I think the point here is that what BC is supposed to fix in this regard does so only by suppressing ovulation. It's all the same thing.

It's not like BC has some other property that also fixes these problems through some other mechanism... it's all the same mechanism with just different effects.

There's also a lot of debate within the Church whether using BC for medical reasons while still engaging in sex is even permissible. Many theologians still argue that it fails the principle of double effect for multiple reasons (because contraception is an intrinsic evil, and because the possible benefits of contraception do not outweigh their evil effects).

I think a lot of clergy and laity are confused on this issue.

lalaith50 · September 2012

[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Birth Control After NFP For Medical Reasons : Well it's obvious that the egg is not hurting her. There are many medications that do more than one thing. Birth control was designed to prevent pregnancies however it can and does provide help with medical conditions.
Posted by afrenchprincess[/QUOTE]
So then the "side effect" of it if you're using it for a non-pregnancy purpose is that it kills human embryos by not letting them implant? How convenient... You'd think they would come up with a way to fix those other problems <em>without</em> it doing that...

shawna127 · September 2012

Nickie-Is there a NaPro doctor in your area? This is what they are trained to do. They can look at your charts and most of the time they can tell what is going on. I would try to locate one. I'm really sorry you are going through this, you are in my prayers!

newlyseliski · September 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_catholic-weddings_birth-control-after-nfp-for-medical-reasons?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:615Discussion:6760302a-defc-4597-9142-7ff4598167b2Post:28d6353b-470c-445c-aee2-a40d3f9ce368">Birth Control After NFP For Medical Reasons</a>:
[QUOTE]DH and I have been using NFP our entire marriage (almost 10 months), and I've been seeing a respected NFP Ob/Gyn two hours away for some medical issues. I've been frustrated with the lack of progress on my health while under her care and also felt the need to see an endocrinologist because it seemed my issues were getting out of the gynecological field (insulin levels, hypertension, etc.) My first endocrinology appointment was today, and she was great--spent 40 mins. with me, very thorough, obviously trying to piece together the puzzle of my symptoms rather than give me pat responses. However, as I feared, she strongly recommends I go on birth control pills
Posted by Nickie431[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>I've had the same endocrinologist for ten years for post-thyroid cancer check-ins and she's also continued to treat my PCOS during the duration. Without fail, every other year she tells me I should just go on birth control for my PCOS and I politely turn her down and request that she continue to renew my prescription for metformin. </div><div>
</div><div>If insulin levels are one of the issues, something like metformin and a stricter dietary plan might actually treat some of the symptoms you noted above! BC is really the default approach that most doctors take, so she may not have had the opportunity to learn much about alternative treatment routes. I'd ask her if she would be willing to take an alternate approach and if not, I'd seek out a Napro/NFP doctor for a second opinion.</div><div>
</div>

Resa77 · September 2012

There are a lot of great, informed responses here, but I wanted to emphasize that BC has health risks in addition to moral implications. I had two TIAs (ministrokes) on BC. I was young, healthy, low cholesterol...no one would have pegged me for someone who'd have a stroke. I speak from personal experience (and frustration!) of having doctors insist that it's perfectly safe, when, in fact, it's not.

People dont talk enough about the health risks associated with BC. Too often we say "oh, it's 1 in 1,000 who get this symptom" or "only 1 in 10,000 have that..." But the fact is, YOU can be that 1 person, so you need to be sure the good effects outweigh the bad. I'm not saying they never would, but I'm just saying you should consider that, too. There are probably safer treatments that aren't contraceptive or abortifacient.

sigmaurse · September 2012

Being in the health field I would agree with some of the previous posters. The birth control pill does have a lot of bad side effects and I'm willing to bet there are other meds you can take to help your symptoms without being a contraceptive, without having the moral issues as well as the possible deadly side effects (for you or a baby). I've seen a completely healthy teen die from blood clots due to birth control and a previous poster had blood clots that led to a stroke. I would say 1 in 1000 is pretty bad odds if that is accurate, I'm not sure what the actual numbers are.

With all that being said I would tell your doctor you don't not want to take the pill and would like to try to find another answer. Honestly I'm curious to your medical issues and how the pill is going to help you out. Obviously I'm not asking you to tell me and the rest of the ladies but curiosity does have the best of me. I would look for a napro technology doctor in your area. I was just looking up what they do and they are doctors that are trained to find answers i a pro life way of treatment. Obviously, I would discuss this with your husband. My fiance doesn't want me putting those artificial hormones into my body.

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