With the massive number of engaged and pregnant friends I have, I feel it is time to write on the topic of birth control. Whether you and your partner are wanting children right away or choosing to wait a few years, it’s something every couple thinks about and should discuss. Too often though, couples stop at “yes, we want kids” or “no, not yet.” There are a number of options when it comes to birth control today, and it’s all to easy to just have your doctor write a prescription without asking any questions. After all, they’re doctors! They wouldn’t prescribe anything bad, right? Or would they? Now don't misunderstand me! I am the first to declare that I am not a doctor, nor do I pretend to be. However, I am a wife and mom who has done her research, and wishes simply to share her findings in hopes that it will help other people and save them some heartache. So as a friends who cares, I ask you, do you know what it is you are taking? And do you know how it affects your health and the health of your future children? Let’s take a look.
A Doctor’s Perspective.
In her book, Gut and Psychology Syndrome, Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride M.D. discusses the effects of hormonal birth control. She writes, “The contraceptive pill has the same damaging influence on vaginal flora as antibiotics. Steroids in the pill have an ability to suppress the immune system and change the composition of the bodily flora.” What she is saying is that the steroids disrupt healthy gut flora and can compromise the immune system. Compromised immune systems lead to a host of health problems. And unfortunately, a compromised immune system in mommy means a compromised immune system in baby down the road. Dr. Campbell-McBride goes on to point out that, “A human baby is born with a sterile gut and acquires most of its gut flora from the mother. So if the mother has an abnormal gut flora, that is what she will pass to her child, predisposing the child to eczema, asthma and other allergies, and in severe cases to learning disabilities.” This means it is extra important that both prior to and during pregnancy, mommies limit their exposure to gut-damaging toxins and drugs. Dr. Campbell-McBride says that contraceptive pills, antibiotics, and other medications have this ability to compromise the gut. Something that would be wise to consider.
Another Doctor’s Perspective.
Dr. Carolyn Dean M.D., N.D. wrote an article that can be found on Dr. Joseph Mercola M.D.’s website. In it, she states, “High-estrogen birth control pills contribute to breast cancer, embolisms and stroke.” She continues by saying that while birth control pills are effective at preventing unwanted pregnancies, “The risks far outweigh the benefits” and urges women to “stop taking [pills] as soon as possible.” Side effects she lists include: Increased risk of breast cancer, increased risk of blood clotting, heart attacks, and stroke, migraines, gall bladder disease, increased blood pressure, weight gain, mood changes, nausea, irregular bleeding, benign liver tumors, and breast tenderness. Furthermore, use of contraceptive pills depletes the body of essential nutrients such as B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, and zinc, among other things. She recommends women look into other, safer forms of birth control. I encourage you to read the whole article by clicking here.
A Pastor’s Perspective: Should Christians Use Oral Contraceptives?
For those of you who may be on the fence about the morality of the issue of birth control, you may find this incredibly helpful. In their book, Real Marriage, Pastor Mark Driscoll and his wife, Grace, discuss this sensitive issue. They list five levels of birth control and answer the following questions to determine if a certain type is right or wrong. Here are the questions:
· Is it lawful? Does God’s Word prohibit it?
· Is it helpful? Does it help you grow in your walk with Jesus?
· Is it enslaving? Does it hinder you from living free in Christ?
Here are the five levels:
· Level 1: No birth control
· Level 2: Natural birth control (practicing abstinence during ovulation)
· Level 3: Non-abortive birth control (barrier methods)
· Level 4: Potentially abortive birth control (The Pill, hormones)
· Level 5: Abortive murder (Deliberately ending a life)
According to Driscoll, the first three levels pass the test, but once we get to the fourth, we find that contraceptive drugs, such as The Pill, actually have the potential to abort an unborn child—even though this is not what the well-meaning couple had in mind. Here is how it works. Driscoll writes that “’The Pill’ is a categorical term for more than forty types of oral contraceptives…and are designed to override the female body’s normal cycle and ‘trick’ the brain into believing she’s already pregnant…Because female hormones direct the process of ovulation, synthetic hormones can be used to keep an egg from being released so that the sperm are not able to fertilize it. These same synthetic hormones can also prevent a fertilized egg from implanting…and growing into a baby.” Driscoll goes on to point out that, “The Pill thins and shrivels the lining of the uterus so that it is unable or less able to facilitate the implantation of the newly fertilized egg.” Basically, what this means is that synthetic hormones create a hostile environment for a newly fertilized egg, and can actually cause or force a miscarriage. Unintentional abortion. For those of us who believe that every human being is made in the image of God and that all human life is sacred, this poses a problem.
My personal perspective
I personally have never use oral contraceptives as a means of birth control, but have known at least a dozen young ladies who have. None of them recommended it to me, and it is because of their experiences I chose to avoid it. Every single one of them experienced at least one of the side effects that Dr. Carolyn Dean mentioned in the article above. And though miscarriage is not listed in Dean’s article as a side effect, the vast majority of the girls I knew had at least one after taking birth control. Many of them had multiple miscarriages and/or great difficulty getting pregnant after having taken The Pill. That’s not to say that all miscarriages are related to contraceptives, because that simply isn’t true. However, The Pill seems to be responsible for many miscarriages today.
So are oral contraceptives a good thing or not? I understand there are instances where women have to take them for health-related issues, and it has significantly helped them. But I think as a general rule, these drugs are way over prescribed and are used by women who don't need them and would be far better off exploring other methods. I believe the risks they pose to mother and baby far outweigh any benefits, and since there are alternatives that are equally as effective, other options should be explored first. I highly recommend reading this book, Natural Birth Control Made Simple, before choosing a method. Written by medical professionals, it explains in detail how the female reproductive system works, how to track ovulation, how to get pregnant, and how to safely avoid getting pregnant. These are things every woman should understand about her body, regardless of the contraceptive method she chooses.
So, before making any decisions, do your research and ask lots of questions. Your health and the health of your children are too important not to.
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