Birth Control to salvage Fertility? WWDD

[acat7]

I had a "what would the Duggars do" question while on the phone with my best friend today.

She has had a horrible time dealing with her "female functions" ever since she first got her period at 9. She's had ovarian cists three times, and has endometriosis, causing her to once have her period for 56 days straight. Her periods are also (obviously) painful, irregular, and erratic.

Anyways, she has been on birth control since she was 10 to try and solve her issues, and has tried everything from the pill, the shot, the implant, and the little thing that goes in your arm (I dont remember what that's called). Finally at 20, she has gotten her cycle under control. Doctors have been very candid with her about the benefits horomonal birth control has had on her. In fact, she was told that had she NOT used hormones to regulate her system in her teens, it would be near impossible for her to have children when she presumbaly wants to later in life.

Got me thinking, what would the Duggars do? Using BC is against their beliefs, but their SAHD are presumably not having sex, so is it really "killing" anything? What if it was the only way to ensure the girls could have children later in life? :think: :think: :think:

[anjulibai]

I wonder, too, what they would say. And what would they say about my existence.

My mom had similar problems to your friend. This was back in the 60s, and many doctors didn't put girls on birth control back then to regulate things because it was considered to encourage the girl to have sex. My mom was told by various doctors over the years that she wouldn't be able to have kids.

Then she saw a doctor when she was 27 who told her to go on BC pills for three months to even her cycle out. She did, went off the pill, and got pregnant with me that month.

I am here because of birth control.

I suppose the Duggars and their like would say my mom should have trusted God, and that she was simply blessed and it had nothing to do with BC. I'd tell them they were dumb.

[TrueRebel1]

I would venture to say that most ATI/fundie parents would not allow birth control under any circumstances for their daughters or wives. I know personally of one teenage girl raised in a classic ATI home. She started her periods and had horrendous bleeding, to the point of being unable to function in daily life. Her parents refused to take her to a Dr. for it, because the knew (after consulting friends in the medical field-- they weren't entirely irresponsible) that the treatment would be birth control. The could not have their daughter on birth control because 1) it would be aligning them with the evil Planned Parenthood regime, and 2) it would "make their daughter turn into a whore, because she could have sex without consequences". Fast forward several years, and the girl is married but has no end of trouble regarding fertility and female problems, and has no hope at this point of becoming pregnant.

[Coco]

They also think it's dangerous to take proven, effective medicine that has years of research behind it. While doing crazy treatments with essential oils and herbs. :angry-banghead:

[cindyluvs24]

Norplant goes in the arm. I don't know if its still around. My mother went on the pill when it first came out - much higher levels of hormones in them than now, she had a TIA attack at 25. Anyhoo, she forgot to take it one day, took two the next day. Didn't work. Here I am. My mother in law tried for 10 years to get pregnant. She was so ignorant of the facts of life (she was born in 1924) she didn't realize that getting your period twice a year is NOT normal. When the doctor asked her if her periods were regular, she answered "yes" because she thought that WAS regular. My FIL refused to consider adoption. She went to a specialist who gave her "a little white pill". She doesn't know what it was, and got pregnant three times in two years.

[Want More Babies]

My daughter has been on birth control since she was 15 for horrible periods. They were so bad, she could hardly move. Birth control has done wonders for her. Fuck the fundies who allow their daughters to suffer needlessly. :angry-banghead:

[DGayle]

They've shown they'll use medical science to get and keep pregnant, so I think they'd use BC if it meant they could get pregnant after marriage.

[nolongerIFBx]

Depending on the age of the daughter, they might just give her the BC and tell her it was a "vitamin" or "hormonal supplement" to help with her pain and not tell her that a side affect was birth control. Until marriage, the birth control isn't controlling any births (theoretically), so it would not be wrong.

[It'sFunToRun]

Norplant goes in the arm. I don't know if its still around. My mother went on the pill when it first came out - much higher levels of hormones in them than now, she had a TIA attack at 25. Anyhoo, she forgot to take it one day, took two the next day. Didn't work. Here I am. My mother in law tried for 10 years to get pregnant. She was so ignorant of the facts of life (she was born in 1924) she didn't realize that getting your period twice a year is NOT normal. When the doctor asked her if her periods were regular, she answered "yes" because she thought that WAS regular. My FIL refused to consider adoption. She went to a specialist who gave her "a little white pill". She doesn't know what it was, and got pregnant three times in two years.

I'm so curious about what that little white pill was! They sure didn't have clomid back then.

[SoybeanQueen]

I'm guessing the ATI types wouldn't be OK with it for any reason. I'm basing that on my experiences reading at a natural family planning forum with some pretty conservative Catholic women. Whenever someone brought up using BC for treatment, someone inevitably started in about how that was all a lie and BC does more harm than good, etc. A good many of them truly did not seem to believe there was any medical benefit to it at all.

More than one woman at that forum said she would never allow a daughter to take BC even to control a physical problem, and I remember at least one saying that she wouldn't even allow her daughter to see a regular OB/GYN for fear that the doctor would tell the girl about all of her options. That last part sounds like it could come out of an ATI training book, eh?

[Kitty Luna]

I'm so curious about what that little white pill was! They sure didn't have clomid back then.

Clomid was developed and used in the 60's and it is a little white pill. Metformin was available, but was not used for infertility until the 90's.

[It'sFunToRun]

Clomid was developed and used in the 60's and it is a little white pill. Metformin was available, but was not used for infertility until the 90's.

Interesting to know. OP's mil would have been 36 in 1960, so that makes sense after ten years of trying. I think we've got a good candidate.

[RachelB]

Norplant goes in the arm. I don't know if its still around. My mother went on the pill when it first came out - much higher levels of hormones in them than now, she had a TIA attack at 25. Anyhoo, she forgot to take it one day, took two the next day. Didn't work. Here I am. My mother in law tried for 10 years to get pregnant. She was so ignorant of the facts of life (she was born in 1924) she didn't realize that getting your period twice a year is NOT normal. When the doctor asked her if her periods were regular, she answered "yes" because she thought that WAS regular. My FIL refused to consider adoption. She went to a specialist who gave her "a little white pill". She doesn't know what it was, and got pregnant three times in two years.

Norplant is still around-- I've got a friend who has it.

[RosyDaisy]

I would follow my doctor's advice. It's as simple as that. Nobody should have the right to tell me what what to do or what to take when it comes to my reproductive organs. That's between me and my doctor. Everybody else can fuck off.

[scc12]

I don't think the D's would allow da ebil birf control pill under any circumstances.It is their main political rant,and they would not allow any form of hormonal help (unless it's otc,like progesterone cream,which I don't think would work) and Jill would pull out the old birthing ball and have her sis roll around on it in pain,while she has her drink herbal tea and gives her Tylenol at the most.jmo

[louisa05]

I'm guessing the ATI types wouldn't be OK with it for any reason. I'm basing that on my experiences reading at a natural family planning forum with some pretty conservative Catholic women. Whenever someone brought up using BC for treatment, someone inevitably started in about how that was all a lie and BC does more harm than good, etc. A good many of them truly did not seem to believe there was any medical benefit to it at all.

More than one woman at that forum said she would never allow a daughter to take BC even to control a physical problem, and I remember at least one saying that she wouldn't even allow her daughter to see a regular OB/GYN for fear that the doctor would tell the girl about all of her options. That last part sounds like it could come out of an ATI training book, eh?

Catholic teaching allows birth control for medical purposes. A lot of terribly conservative people insist it does not, but that is not what is taught by the church. We were told in high school religion class at Catholic school (by a priest so conservative he later had a dress code for masses at his parish) that using the pill to control heavy periods or hormonal issues is acceptable. That was in the Most Conservative Diocese in America no less. There was, in fact, a post on a blog by someone employed at the very conservative Catholic Answers that reiterates that point just this week: michellearnold.org/2014/07/23/nfp-and-the-single-girl/#more-261

[scc12]

Fundies are stricter than Catholiocs tho.esp JB and M,who despise the pill and everything it stands for. (women working and in control of their lives).

In retrospect,they may allow hormones under the guise of 'fertility treatments',esp as long as the hormones do not involve the actual pill,and are actually used for fertility problems.

There are many ways to get around that,as hormones can be delivered in many different ways.....one could get a compound pharmacist to administer the hormones separately..such as skin patches,under the tongue drops,skin creams,etc,like they do for menopause.

So in effect,they could indeed be given the same hormones in the pill,just not given in a pill form.I think some might find that acceptable.

I do wonder what the D's would say if one of their offspring were to need fertility treatments,since they are so big on saying it is God who opens and closes the womb.I wonder how they would twist that one.My guess is they would just keep it silent.(God needs a little helps sometimes,imo!)

[scc12]

That led me to another thought...the D's and fundies are so quick to snark on the pill...it goes to show how behind the times they are.Nowadays we have shots,implants,iud's,skin patches,etc.But most of them are stuck on the pill.they might mention plan b and iud's at the most.but that's about it.

imo they don't mention the depo shot b/c it shuts down the ovaries,leaving them unable to produce any eggs at all,as long as the hormone is in the system.which means it is NOT able to prevent an egg from implanting into the uterus...b/c they're aren't any to implant.yet it still yields a woman control over her own body.and fundies can't stand that! :P

[Chowder Head]

Instead of a pill how about a fertility microchip? http://www.naturalnews.com/044902_micro ... ntrol.html

Although I see most fundies screaming mark of the devil

[ILoveJellybeans]

Instead of a pill how about a fertility microchip? http://www.naturalnews.com/044902_micro ... ntrol.html

Although I see most fundies screaming mark of the devil

Wow, that is sooooo cool! Medical science is amazing. Apparently it can keep on giving medication for 16 years! That would be really helpful for anyone who has a condition that needs to be managed with regular medication-no need to worry about forgetting a dose at all.

Forget all the mark of the beast shit, and whatever Natural News's point is....this could change lives!

[JellyHope]

Depending on the age of the daughter, they might just give her the BC and tell her it was a "vitamin" or "hormonal supplement" to help with her pain and not tell her that a side affect was birth control. Until marriage, the birth control isn't controlling any births (theoretically), so it would not be wrong.

Dgayle:

They've shown they'll use medical science to get and keep pregnant, so I think they'd use BC if it meant they could get pregnant after marriage.

I don't think they'd let their girls (even tho half are women) get within 20 yards of any form of bc. No matter what. Partly out of stubborn principle, partly out of ignorance.

[Evangeline]

I don't think they'd allow it. I know a few women (religious but not fundy) who believe 100% that the pill makes you infertile. They know this is true because some woman of their acquaintance took the pill for several years and then couldn't get pregnant when she wanted to.

One of these women is infertile, even though she never took the pill. And the other's husband has been using the pull-out method for the entirety of their 15-year marriage, except for times they've been trying for a baby. Logic is not their strong suit.