Let Me Take Control!

Lawful Therapeutic Means

15. On the other hand, the Church does not consider at all illicit the use of those therapeutic means necessary to cure bodily diseases, even if a foreseeable impediment to procreation should result there from—provided such impediment is not directly intended for any motive whatsoever. (19)

I am for the use of birth control. While I myself don’t suffer from the problem of severe acne, anemia, or a few other diseases that birth control can help protect against, I think it’s important to look at birth control as a ‘therapeutic mean’ to cure these things. Therapeutic is defined as of or relating to the treatment of disease or disorders by remedial agents or methods or providing or assisting in a cure, by www.m-w.com.

Some people do take birth control to prevent procreation, but that is not what I’m focusing on. This is about birth control being used for reasons other than preventing birth.

According to Lawrence E Gibson M.D. at Mayo Clinic,

“Birth control pills for acne work by reducing sebum — an oily substance that lubricates your hair and skin.” Also adding, “Acne is a skin condition that occurs when your hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells. Acne most commonly appears on your face, neck, chest, back and shoulders. Acne can be distressing and annoyingly persistent. Acne lesions heal slowly, and when one begins to resolve, others seem to crop up. Depending on its severity, acne can cause emotional distress and lead to scarring of the skin. The good news is that effective treatments are available — and the earlier treatment is started, the lower your risk of lasting physical and emotional damage.”

The Mayo Clinic also notes some cancerous growths in the lining of the uterus (endometrial cancer), ovarian cancer and formation of ovarian cysts can be prevented (by birth control) as well.

In another publishing, this one by www.plannedparenthood.org, it states:

“Most birth control pills, as well as the patch and the ring, contain two hormones — estrogen and progestin. These are called combined hormone methods, and they can protect against acne, anemia, bad cramps, bone thinning, cysts in the breasts and ovaries, endometrial and ovarian cancers, heavy periods, irregular periods, and premenstrual symptoms (like headaches and depression).”

The two above sources are talking about oral contraception’s as a form of birth control, like a pill, but another form of birth control can prevent the spreading of sexually transmitted diseases.

On the religion blog for www.cnn.com, in November 2010 it reports “Pope Benedict XVI said in comments released Saturday that the use of condoms may be morally acceptable in some cases to prevent the spread of AIDS, possibly foreshadowing a shift in the Roman Catholic Church's stance on the issue.”

So I would ask what Pope Paul VI thought of that. One of his own kind, saying-even encouraging-that birth control maybe be morally acceptable. I don’t think looking to one person, from one sect of people, from 100 years ago is reasonable when it comes to the health and issues of society today.

I believe there are multiple reasons to take birth control, and not to just prevent conception, or procreation.