The Pill Kills...

[amileegirl]

This drives me bazakoo.  Realy it does.     I don't use hormonal birth control for personal reasons and I do not like hormonal birth control for a number of reasons.  However, this does not prevent me from facing facts.

Birth control pills don't cause an abortion.  Technically speakin, in order for there to be an abortion, there has to be a pregnancy, if there is no implantation, there is no pregnancy.  Though if you consider conception a pregnancy rather than implantation, I can understand the worry.   Now, that that is said, if you have personal issues with fertilized eggs then there are some things you need to know before you go around shouting that "the pill kills" to everyone.   Some perspective is in order...

It is highly unlikely that an egg would be fertilized when taking birth control pills as directed, though it is not impossible.  Nothing is absolute.

1.  The hormones to prepare eggs for release is supressed

2.  If supression does not work, the lack of hormone makes it very difficult for the egg to move through the fallopian tubes.   This reduces the rare likelyhood that sperm will find or get to it.

3.  Female mucous (when not fertile) is very hostile to sperm and will kill most of them on contact and those that  managed to survive would be severely weakend and unlikely to be able to go anywhere much less fertilize an egg.

4.  If a large number of sperm are killed but a valiant few, against all odds, reach the egg it is highly unlikely they will have the energy reserves or the numbers to break through the egg's chemical protection.  It takes many sperm to accomplish this task not just one.  One sperm can not break through on its own, it doesn't have the reserves.

5.  If all the above four events are bypased, then and only then is it possible for a fertilized egg to find an inhospitable uterus and be unable to implat.    Keep in mind that, this happens quite often without birth control.   A good number of early pregnancies go undetected and unnoticed because an fertilized egg does not successfully implant.   Yes, it happens all the time, every day, to women who have never taken birth control pills.       If one wants to look at it this way:  if it is a weakened sperm that has somehow fertilized an egg while on birth control, there is a strong chance the egg would not have successfully developed or attached just like a natural occurance.   

Some people are able to reconcile birth control to their beliefs.   There are many religious individuals who feel that their god can and will create a life regardless of obstacles, then there doesn't seem to be a conflict.  If they believe a pregnancy is meant to happen it will happen birth conrol or not and that the birth control is a tool given to them like any other that their god can remove at any time.

People have different feelings on the matter so do be aware of this when discussing the topic.

[brownsugar342]

Jul. 8, 2008 at 11:26 PM very well stated.. point taken.. very informative as well thanks..

[trepsica]

Jul. 8, 2008 at 11:47 PM i won't take hormonal bc either, because that is gross. and weird. and wrong. but anyway, i am appalled that people don't know that it does not cause abortion. hell, even the morning after pill does not cause abortion. so much ignorance.

[kittyhasclaws]

Jul. 9, 2008 at 6:54 AM I lurvs you, ALG.  I DO take BC because for one, I'm incredibly fertile, aparently, and two, if I didn't, I would never know when my period was going to be.  Not to mention that whole mood issue, the cramping, the fatigue, etc...  Let's just say my hormones go WAY out of whack and it helps me. 

[SxdUpAngel]

Jul. 9, 2008 at 8:28 AM My favorite part was the end.  You're right, many people do believe those things about their religion and other things.  Great post!

[FaeryDreamer]

Jul. 9, 2008 at 10:39 AM Interesting post. I took bc for years, but not any more.  Have no need to.

[lachryma]

Jul. 15, 2008 at 11:32 AM interesting point! (about the religious folk)... I'm with you, this myth really bugs me too. The Duggars have all those kids because they think bc is an abortifacient. Boy. I know quite a few people who conceived and had healthy babes while ON the pill, so even if bc fails, it isn't likely to harm the baby.