Many women who use the pill as a form of birth control assume that it merely acts as a contraceptive. However, doctors have been researching the pill and are finding that it is also an abortifacient. Women who are taking this form of birth control or who are considering taking it should be fully educated on all of its effects. Obstetricians/Gynecologists need to ensure that their patients are fully informed about all of the pill’s possible consequences on their lives and possible children. Christians are beginning to be drawn to information and research about the pill possibly being abortive, and they have to decide whether they want to take the risk of possibly having an abortion by utilizing it as a contraceptive. Larimore, Stanford, and Alcorn found the pill to be abortive after setting out to prove that the pill was simply a contraceptive. Since many Christian doctors no longer find it ethical to continue to prescribe the pill to their patients, they take the time to explain the abortive effects of the medication so their patients fully understand the possible consequences (Stanley, Larimore 5).
The birth control pill, or BCP, essentially works to stop pregnancy in three different ways. Through the usage of hormones, the pill is supposed to prevent the ovulation of eggs in the uterus; it thickens the mucus layer at the cervix to prevent sperm from entering the uterus; and it thins the lining of the uterus to prevent implantation of the fertilized egg. The first two effects of the BCP are contraceptive when they work, but since life begins at fertilization the BCP causes abortions by not allowing the fertilized egg to implant in the lining of the uterus.
Although the pill usually will prevent the woman from ovulating, or releasing an egg, this mechanism does not always work. Through the research of many different doctors, Dr. Alcorn found that break-through ovulation occurred 10-25 percent of the time (91). He also stated that no one truly knows how often the thickened cervical mucus works to prevent the sperm from reaching the egg. Two doctors, Chang and Hunt, did microscopic research on rabbits by giving them the same hormones contained within the pill and artificially inseminating them. The doctors then killed the rabbits to find how many of the sperm had reached the fallopian tubes, and they found that almost 72 percent of the sperm inserted had been able to reach the tubes (93). Even though rabbits are much different than humans, the study still raises questions about the effectiveness of the second mechanism of the pill. Since the first two pill-induced changes do not always work, the third mechanism comes into effect.
BCP producers have claimed that the pill is not abortive simply because it does not actually kill the baby after it has implanted in the uterus. The producers have therefore changed the definition of conception to after the baby is implanted so they have the ability to claim that their products do not cause abortions (Alcorn 43). However, most doctors agree that life begins with the fertilization of the egg several days before it implants itself into the lining of the uterus (Colliton 2-3). Many doctors also claimed that the third effect was simply theoretical for several years, but in Alcorn’s book he recalls a conversation he had with a representative from Ortho-McNeil, a producer of the pill. The representative stated this about lining of the uterus being thinned:
Oh, no, it’s not theoretical. It’s observable. We know what an endometrium looks like when it’s rich and most receptive to the fertilized egg. When a woman is taking the Pill you can clearly see the difference, based both on gross appearance—as seen with the naked eye—and under a microscope. At the time when the endometrium would normally accept a fertilized egg, if a woman is taking the Pill it is much less likely to do so. (Alcorn, 50)
When the pill causes abortions, the abortions are on a much smaller scale than what most people think of when they hear the term. The abortion which is induced by taking the pill can only be seen on a microscopic level. A normal endometrium measures approximately 5-13 mm, but an average endometrium of a woman who has been taking the pill measures about 1.1 mm. When the egg is fertilized by the sperm, together they form a living baby. However, since the endometrium, or uterus’ lining, is thinned dramatically by women taking the pill, the baby is no longer able to implant itself into the lining and therefore dies from lack of sustenance. Even though this type of abortion occurs 5-14 days after fertilization, it still destroys a living human being.
According to Randy Alcorn’s book, Does Birth Control Cause Abortions?, over 14 million women in the United States and about 60 million women throughout the world take the pill for contraception (10). Many of these women do not know that they could be having early abortions through taking the pill for control over their fertility. Christians who know of the pill’s abortifacient capabilities should take care to inform their friends and family to prevent even more early abortions from taking place. Because of his ethical beliefs, Dr. Larimore has decided to not prescribe hormonal birth control pills and other related products, such as intrauterine devices, Depo-Provera shots, and hormone patches. He did not decide to stop prescribing the pill overnight, but he first sought council from several pastors, friends, and other religious doctors. Since other options of viable birth control exist for couples to use, Dr. Larimore did not feel as though he was leaving his patients with no other options (Stanley, Larimore, 8). During his explanation of the BCP, Larimore also presents several of the non-abortive options for birth control to his patients.
Several of the many other options that exist are: abstinence, male and female condoms, the diaphragm, cervical caps, spermicide, and natural family planning. Essentially, any birth control method that does not utilize hormones is not an abortifacient. Although these methods may not be as simple or effective as popping a pill every day, the majority of them will still prevent pregnancy most of the time when they are used correctly.
Abstinence is a method based on Biblical principles of abstaining from sexual intercourse until after marriage. This method is best directed at people who are not married, because the Bible directs people to not have intercourse with anyone they are not married to. Paul directed Timothy to be an example to the believers in every way including purity (2 Tim 4:12). People who are married are actually told to not abstain from intercourse, except for limited periods of time, and only for prayer and fasting with mutual agreement (1 Cor 7:5). Abstinence only works when people are committed to keeping themselves pure for their future spouses.
Once people have been married, they will need to think about a form of birth control unless they are planning on having children soon after their marriage or want to have a large family. Male and female condoms come in various forms to appeal to people’s different tastes and preferences. They are available in latex and also in polyurethane for people who are allergic to latex. Male condoms often have a type of spermicide on them, and they are sometimes pre-lubricated. Some people prefer to use additional lubrication with their condoms, but they have to be careful to only use water-based lubricants. Oil lubricants will break down the condom and cause it to become ineffective. Male condoms will prevent pregnancy 85-98 percent of the time and female condoms are effective 80-95 percent of the time, depending on whether people use them correctly or not (Cullins).
The diaphragm and the cervical cap both work essentially the same way. They cover the cervix during intercourse and prevent sperm from entering. The diaphragm is made of latex and is a shallow cup with a flexible rim. Cervical caps are made of silicone and are a cup shape instead. Most doctors recommend that these two methods are used with spermicidal jelly of some sort to optimize effectiveness (Cullins). The diaphragm will usually prevent pregnancy 94 percent of the time with perfect use, but contraceptive effectiveness can decrease to 80 percent with typical use. Cervical caps can be effective in preventing pregnancy from 68 to 91 percent, and they are not as effective with women who have already had children.
Natural Family Planning, or NFP as it is known, can be extremely effective, but it requires both partners to be disciplined during fertile periods during the month. Women can track their basal body temperature and vagina excretions to know when they are ovulating and fertile. The couple has to ensure that they either abstain from intercourse for that period of the month, or they would have to use some other form of contraception to prevent pregnancy. This form of contraception can also be used for women to get pregnant when they decide to have children as well. When this method is used correctly, couples can work together to prevent pregnancy 98 percent of the time (Holmes). However, typical use of this method prevents pregnancy from 75 to 90 percent of the time.
Abortion is still the murder of a human being, regardless of the size the baby is when it is killed. Although doctors should take the initiative to inform women about the pill being an abortifacient, women should also know what they are putting into their bodies. They may know that it is a hormone pill that prevents pregnancy, but they do not know how it prevents pregnancy. Women need to start asking their doctors or doing their own research on how the pill and other hormonal contraceptives work, instead of just knowing that they prevent pregnancies. Even though the pill is not necessarily abortive every time people have intercourse, it still holds the power to cause an abortion. Women have to decide if they are willing to risk having an abortion by taking the pill or using other forms of hormonal contraception.
Works Cited
Alcorn, Randy. Does Birth Control Cause Abortions?. Sandy, OR: Eternal Perspective Ministries, 2007.
Bible. New King James Version, 1 Cor 7:5, 2 Tim 4:12
Colliton, Jr., M.D., FACOG, William F. "Birth Control Pill: Abortifacient and Contraceptive". Eternal Perspective Ministries. April 3, 2010
Cullins, M.D., "Birth Control Chart". Planned Parenthood . April 18, 2010
Holmes, NP, Certified Menopause Clinician, Marcy. "Birth Control Method Comparison Chart". Women to Women. April 18, 2010
Larimore, M.D., Walter L. "The Growing Debate About the Abortifacient Effect of the Birth Control Pill and the Principle of the Double Effect". Ethics and Medicine January 2000 Issue: 16.1: 23-30.
Stanford, MD, MSPH, Joseph B.; Larimore, M.D., Walter L. "Postfertilization Effects of Oral Contraceptives and Their Relationship to Informed Consent". Archives of Family Medicine Vol. 9, Feb 2000: 126-133.
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