Women’s Health, Conscience, and Humanae Vitae

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Women’s Health, Conscience, and Humanae Vitae

July 7, 2012 by Teresa Rice

When it comes to our conscience we need to ask God for guidance. We need to do some deep soul-searching as to what is right and wrong. We need to ask ourselves questions such as:

Is it right to intentionally prevent life from being formed, from being created?

Is it right to use contraception just so you can have sex with whom and at any time you wish?

Is it right to murder your offspring – via abortion – just to cover up for consequences brought on by your promiscuous behavior?

The answers related to issues of sexual morality become complex when women’s health issues come to bear such as excessive menstruation accompanied by severe pain, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and other problems associated with ovarian cysts.

From Humanae Vitae:

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)

Question: If a woman who is married uses Low-Ogestrel® for endometriosis and the hitherto infertile married couple continues to be sexually active during the period of time when she takes a pill that is usually used by others for birth control would that be licit under the principle enunciated in paragraph 15 of Humane Vitae?

What of the danger of breakthrough ovulations that could become fertilized but are unable to implant due to the effect of the medication? Would that situation fall under the principle of double effect?

Posted in Catholic, Christian, Health Care, Morality | Tagged Conscience, endometriosis, God, health, Humanae Vitae, infertility, painful periods, polycystic ovary syndrome, principle of double effect, women, Women's health issues | 15 Comments

15 Responses

on July 7, 2012 at 5:24 pm | Reply lamehousewife

These are good questions for reflection…
- on July 7, 2012 at 10:23 pm | Reply Teresa Rice
  
  Thanks. God Bless.
on July 7, 2012 at 8:37 pm | Reply 8 kids and a business

A good question. In medicine, the desired effect of a medication is not always what the medication was initially intended for. Women’s health issues are often hormone-related and so taking a med for regulating the hormones, such as a birth control pill, is sometimes the only solution. If the intention was to treat the endometriosis, PCOS, or other issue, and not to prevent pregnancy, then it seems to me that the situation would be licit under para. 15. Moreover, the extremely slim margin that a spontaneous abortion may occur if implantation doesn’t take place is not intentional.
- on July 7, 2012 at 10:22 pm | Reply Teresa Rice
  
  I completely agree with you 8 kids and a business. I have had endometriosis for over 15 years and look to do the right thing which is in accordance with my faith. God Bless.
on July 9, 2012 at 6:02 am | Reply minta chi

i agree with you ! women is great .
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on July 19, 2012 at 2:08 pm | Reply Dieter O

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- on July 19, 2012 at 8:13 pm | Reply Teresa Rice
  
  Sure. Go right ahead, Dieter O.
on November 3, 2012 at 11:27 pm | Reply Ali Sisney

There is no cure for endometriosis, but treatment can help with pain and infertility. Treatment depends on how severe your symptoms are and whether you want to get pregnant.*

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on March 4, 2013 at 5:56 am | Reply Mattie Bunes

Every month, a woman’s ovaries produce hormones that tell the cells lining the uterus (womb) to swell and get thicker. The body removes these extra cells from the womb lining (endometrium) when you get your period.If these cells (called endometrial cells) implant and grow outside the uterus, endometriosis results. The growths are called endometrial tissue implants. Women with endometriosis typically have tissue implants on the ovaries, bowel, rectum, bladder, and on the lining of the pelvic area. They can occur in other areas of the body, too.,

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on April 27, 2013 at 10:54 pm | Reply Women, the Catholic Church, and the Therapeutic Use of the “Pill” | Catholibertarian

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