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"The greatest good for the greatest people is the measure of right and wrong."
--Jeremy Bentham, Utilitarian Philosopher
Or is it? What if the loudest voices are uninformed? In Catholic365, Part 1 of this 2-part series, examples were given where legislation forced permanent change upon others, to create a "greater good." This is a slippery slope. Who defines the "greatest good" and which populations benefit? If we truly believe that each soul is a piece of God, endowed with His special gifts; then which souls matter? Is God or is He not, the author of life? Or are we? The purpose of this post is to review: the science, the opportunity costs of forgoing a normal monthly cycle and sanctioned alternatives to contraception.
What is the Science? A woman's monthly cycle is a team-sport of at least 9 known hormones. Miraculously, these natural hormones collaborate, see graph, to create an egg and its shedding, if unfertilized. Affected by diet, stress, exercise and environment factors, every woman's cycle is different. In abnormal cycles, fixing these factors resolves monthly cycle issues and many other health problems. To keep things simple, let us focus on the 4 main hormones. However, know that the other 5 known hormones and their protective effects are pre-empted by hormonal contraception. All explanations below, describe a normal cycle.
Graph credit: Menstrual Cycle Calendar and Phases | Conception Advice conceptionadvice.com
Menstrual phase. (days 1-9) Without a fertilized egg, the uterine lining is shed. This is a good time for warm baths, comfortable sweats, hot chocolate, a soft blanket and a good book by a great saint--female--if possible.
Follicular phase. (days 10-18) This is when the dominant egg(s) mature in the ovary.
Opportunity cost #1. Days 7-15 are the best part of womanhood. God's special cocktail of FSH, LH and oestrogen create soaring feelings of happiness, confidence, love and joy, which even animals detect. This calm radiance and natural glow is God's priceless gift to women. If women track their cycles, as with Natural Family Planning, this phase is protected and preserved. If the pill is prescribed--a synthetic progestin mix--the pituitary gland is underminded which blocks FSH and LH secretion. Synthetic progestin+ overshadows and replaces natural progesterone which freezes every cycle in the final phase. Without the "fun" hormones (FSH and LH) the woman is subject to an entire month of PMS-like symptoms, depending on the progestin+ doses. Moreover, after stopping the pill, there are no guarantees that the pituitary will return to full function or normal ovulation. If infertility results, IVF enters the picture. This is an article for another day since it too, is crawling with problems.
The Ovulation phase is day 14 in a normal 28-day cycle. A sudden increase in LH helps the ovary release its egg, measurable by home testing kits.
Luteal phase. (days 15-28) The egg(s) travel through the fallopian tube to the uterus. If the egg is fertilized, it attaches to the uterine wall. If pregnancy doesn’t occur, oestrogen and natural progesterone levels drop, and the uterine lining is shed.
Natural family planning (NFP) is sanctioned by the USCCB. NFP is an umbrella term for methods to either achieve and avoid conception. It is not difficult, requires daily checks of cervical mucus, temperature and occasional hormones but it is fun once symptoms are understood. There are phone apps with reminders followed by detailed instructions plus hormone test kits available at drug stores. Abstinence during the fertile 36-hours is practiced, which leads to a 0% failure rate and zero side effects. NFP requires no drugs, devices, or surgical procedures. NFP advantages and rewards are virtuous: it preserves the woman's dignity and potential for future children. By respecting the love- and life-giving boundaries of marriage, NFP strengthens the tri-marital bond between God, husband and wife.
Opportunity Costs.
1. See yellow highlights.
2. Fertility is not a disease; it is a gift. When a woman's sacred ability to give life is removed, her role in sex becomes as an object of pleasure. This role is beneath the dignity of woman. It is contrary to the meaning of married love, unselfish gifting of self, love for the other and appreciation for individuality. Women are not the means to sexual gratification ends. We are daughters of a King.
3. Disrespect for women occurs. A woman through her creative potential; must be honored, respected and loved. If birth-prevention chemicals are introduced, respect for women plummets. Women become disposable. This works against relationship longevity, love of family and ultimately, love for God through obedience. God's command to "go forth and multiply," is found in the Bible not once, not twice, but 4 times: Genesis 1:22, Genesis 1:28, Genesis 9:7, and Genesis 35:11.
4. Moral standards drop. Marital affairs increase in women. With porn, already we see a sinful view of sexuality, promiscuity and objectification of persons, as well as many other evils. Contraception use is a grave sin since it requires acts of active disobedience to the pope (4th commandment) and worse, the Author of Life (1st commandment). Willful contraception, cuts our umbilical cords with God and severs us from sanctifying grace-protections. Absent NFP, childlessness may satisfy temporarily in a passing way, but evil undertones, desires and guilt slowly destroy our souls. This is because we have to choose. Either we satiate our soul's spiritual thirsts or we satiate ourselves in passing worldly pleasures. We cannot have both. Without confession, the Eucharist is not an option.
5. Birth control hormones harm women. See Catholic365 article, Part 1 for graphic examples. Additional risk-statistics are below.
Master or Slave? St Dominic wrote, "A man who governs his passions is master of his world. We must either command them or be enslaved by them. It is better to be a hammer than an anvil." Marriage is a sacrament designed by God to reflect love for His Church. With God's blessing, coupling is a physical expression of 2-bonded humans, who unselfishly exchange their bodies, souls, and wills. Through uniting of heart, mind and soul with God, the couple catapults each other's holiness toward God's perfect will. Even if an unplanned pregnancy occurs, it is either God's active or passive will. God knows our finances, our limitations and our strengths. As spoken in the Our Father, He gives us each day, our daily bread. As each new soul arrives, we trust in a generous God of infinite abundance.
Mother Mary, pray for us.
Jesus, we trust in You!
Sources:
7 Key Points: A Humanae Vitae Summary | hli.org
Oral Contraceptives (Birth Control Pills) and Cancer Risk - NCI cancer.gov
Menstrual Cycle Calendar and Phases | Conception Advice conceptionadvice.com
Natural Family Planning | USCCB
Physiology, Menstrual Cycle - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf | ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Science cannot explain suffering. As Lay Passionist and nurse, she challenges modern health care assumptions; contraception, abortion, euthanasia, herd immunity and more. Behind every health dilemma, God asks us to abide in Him. Author of 7 books & >20 peer-reviewed nursing journal articles; she also writes as "The Catholic Nurse" on Substack, see "Archives." She is a veteran of the Army Nurse Corps. Her primary charism is mercy through which she explores redemptive suffering, spiritual healing and the joy of bringing of souls to God.
