very confused!

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-20-2004
very confused!
4
Fri, 10-22-2004 - 12:05am
I read in cosmo that some doctors are not giving birthcontrol perscriptions because they believe that it is a form of early abortion. I did some research on this and found out that many people believe that by taking the pill it makes your uterus not fit to carry a baby and implantation can not occur. I also read that the pill, especially low dose pills do not prevent ovulation all the time. I am very confused about all of this. Have you done research on this and come to any conclusion? Any advise would be great!
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2003
Fri, 10-22-2004 - 1:29am
I used to go to a doctor that only prescribed the birth control pill in very limited circumstances for that reason. Most of the time the pill prevents ovulation (even with low dose pills it should prevent ovulation a majority of the time). When ovulation does occur, the cervical mucus changes on the pill make it difficult for the sperm to fertilize the egg. But a third mechanism of the pill is to make the endometrial lining inhospitable for a fertilized egg. Obviously even that mechanism fails sometimes, because women can get pregnant on the pill. But I think it is fair to argue that there are circumstances under which the first two mechanisms fail, and the third works. Pregnancy is now pretty much defined as implantation, not fertilization, so I'd say most people don't equate this with the a-word. Personally, I'm not comfortable with it so I've chosen to use another method. Not making judgments on anyone. Thats just me.
I hope that helps!
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-20-2004
Sun, 10-24-2004 - 12:17am
Thank you so much for responding. I read the same things about it and I am alittle weary of continuing my pill. What method of birth control are you using? thanks again!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Sun, 10-24-2004 - 9:56am
The "the endometrium is inhospitable and prevents implantation" argument actually hasn't been proven yet. It's a suspicion that the researchers have because it makes sense, but they haven't been able to determine just how much endometrium is required for implantation to be prevented (it would be unethical to find out). Considering that there is such a thing as ectopic pregnancy, it may be that the endometrium isn't necessary all of the time for a pregnancy to take place or that very little tissue is required. And as iposh said, if this actually worked all of the time(the thinned endometrium to prevent implantation), there wouldn't be pill pregnancies resulting from irregular pill-taking or breakthrough ovulation.

It's up to you to decide what you're comfortable with. Barrier methods don't have this question hanging over your head, and neither does the Fertility Awareness Method, but everything else theoretically could.

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-21-2003
Sun, 10-24-2004 - 12:41pm
I use fertility awareness and condoms (we abstain during my fertile times). We've gotten to the point where we feel comfortable skipping the condom after ovulation. We charted for like 5 months before trying that. The only thing I don't like is the abstaining part :) But I have to admit it does keep things exciting. We just aren't comfortable with the failure rate of barriers at that time. Other people don't abstain at all and just use barriers when fertile. So there is quite a bit of flexibility. But however you practice it, you have to be diligent for it to work. And while I can't plan my period, at least I know what day it is coming every month.

If you're interested Taking Charge of Your Fertility is a must read. It really wasn't an easy decision for me at first. It was the method I had always planned to use, but when I actually had sex for the first time I was really tempted to go with something "easier." But I'm glad I gave it a good try and actually my b/f has come to love it, and he never heard of it before.