MarRissa Nelson 1

MarRissa Nelson
Engl2010
Report Draft
7/19/15
Why is it that so many people use some form of contraception or birth control with all the
risks and side effects that are associated with them? To some there is a logical answer to that
question, which is they are simply trying to prevent their chances of becoming pregnant.
Although to others that question is something they do not know the answer to because they
simply do not understand why a person would want to prevent a pregnancy or why a person
would want to take the risks that come from some methods of contraception. Another important
question to consider is whether the choice of birth control now is going to impact my ability to
conceive in the future and if so will it cause risks to my baby.
History of Birth control
John M. Riddle, Chairman of the Department of History at North Carolina State
University, wrote a book titled Eves Herbs. In this book he discusses some of the history behind
pregnancy prevention and different forms of prevention throughout history. Egyptian scrolls that
were written sometime between 1550 and 1500 B.C.E was written about recipes that are made
for woman. This scroll discusses how to terminate pregnancy using unripe fruit (pg 35-36).
1200s there are records recorded of various people and their philosophies behind contraception.
Riddle talks about the many natural methods used. For example, herbs or certain fruits were
believed to help lessen ones chances of becoming pregnant. More recently and a little closer to
home he mentions laws that were passed here in the United States. He discusses one law in
particular called The Comstock Act of 1873 was passed to stop the advertisement of abortion and

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contraception. This was the first time the federal government was involved in abortion and
contraception bans (pg 245-247). The study of contraception and risks that can be associated
with contraception is nothing new. It is an ongoing ethical and moral issue.
Types of Contraceptives
There are many different types of contraceptives (see figure one). There are
contraceptives both for men and woman. Some of them have more risks and side effects than
others. Also some are considered more morally accepted among different religious groups,
societies, and medical personnel. It is important to understand different birth controls and how
they work in order to understand why different people and groups would support the use of
contraception or be against the prevention of pregnancy. One of the more common forms of birth
control is a barrier method called a condom. A condom is used only during intercourse and is
discarded after each use. It does not contain any hormones. This method is more commonly used
for woman who desire to become pregnant in the future because it does not alter the hormonal
makeup of the woman. It just creates a barrier during intercourse.
Another method of contraception contains artificial hormones that prevent a woman from
getting pregnant. These methods have many side effects and a woman who one day may want to
become pregnant might choose to opt out of these methods because they do not want to interfere
with their chance of becoming pregnant in the future. The most common form of birth control
today is classified under the category of hormonal contraceptives and is known as the pill. This
is a medication taken orally by a woman usually daily. Another type of hormonal contraceptive is
similar to the pill although it is in the form of a shot known as Depo-Provera. There are also
intrauterine devices which are small devices that are placed by a doctor into a womans uterus

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known as the IUD, which also contain artificial hormones. This method is a more permanent
form of contraception.

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Figure 1:

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A Religious View on Contraceptives

So why do these methods of birth control cause so much controversy among so many
people. In a religious perspective many believe that contraception disrupts part of mans nature
to multiply and replenish the earth or to have children. Thus, we shouldnt try to stop nature. In a
column written by Antonio C. Campo titled Which is greater Evil: extreme poverty or use of
contraception?, he discusses the Catholic Church and the perspective of church leaders on this
issue. Mentioned in the article is that church leaders are very clear that they do not support any
form of contraception. Although controversial statements have been made by church officials
like the one mentioned in this column which stated the Catechism is silent on die subject; the
use of contraception by Catholic couples. This means that Catholic couples are allowed to use
contraception. So yes, there is even talk inside religious groups on what is approved and ok and
what isnt. Some religious groups allow the use of barrier methods such as condoms because
they do not change what the body naturally does but are against changing the natural functions of
men and womans bodies through hormones to stop pregnancy. Thus, they do not support any
hormonal birth control, intrauterine devices, or surgical procedure to prevent reproduction such
as Vasectomy (see figure 1).
Womens View on Contraceptives
What do woman as a whole think about this issue? Many womens opinions are weighted
by their religious beliefs. Overall the kind of birth control used or if any contraceptives are used
is a personal decision that each woman needs to make individually. There is so much to consider.
Side effects and risks come with each type of birth control. A certain type of birth control might
work great for one person and not for another; therefore, it is an individual decision but does
affect woman as a whole. Many women who agree that using birth control is morally and

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ethically ok and choose to use birth control for long periods of time choose a more permanent
and sure method such as the IUD. The IUD is about 99 percent effective and after placement the
IUD can be left inside the uterus for between 5 and 10 years depending upon the type of IUD.
The hormone is released in the uterus and a very small amount of medication actually enters the
blood stream. That is one reason many people like this method. There are a lot fewer side effects
because the amount of hormone in the blood stream is so small but yet it is still effective. This
method is sometimes not chosen because it is more long term and permanent. A womans body
sometimes takes several months or even years to adjust after the removal of an IUD which can
cause difficulty becoming pregnant. Some women, who have a completely normal cycle before
using the IUD, have abnormal cycles after removal. This is a huge problem when trying to
conceive.
There are woman who do not want anything left in their bodies for long periods of time
or do not want a birth control option that is so long term. Thus, they choose to use something like
the pill or the shot that they can terminate at any time. Those who chose to use birth control for
only a short period of time for example as they are recovering from a previous pregnancy and
want to wait awhile before having more children may choose one of these less permanent forms.
Although the shot and pill are less permanent they too can have side effects similar to the IUD
when discontinued. What women do not like about these options is all the side effects that come
with taking the pill. Unlike the IUD or any intrauterine devices, the pill is a hormone that affects
the entire body. It runs though the blood stream. Some of the side effects may include weight
gain, mood swings, acne problems, bloating, and menstrual cycle irregularity.
This introduces those who do not agree with the use of contraception in its entirety
because of all of the side effects that are associated with birth control. They simply do not

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understand why a woman might bring upon themselves such harmful risks. Contraception also
affects the younger generation. So much has been said about minors and educating them about
birth control, contraceptives, and sex. Many believe that education would help in the prevention
of teen pregnancies, although many also believe that educating minors on birth control and sex
might encourage sexual behavior at a young age. Those who support educating minors might
start with simple facts. If a teen is sexually active and wants to protect themselves against
sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and pregnancy, then they can use condoms which are
accessible and easy to obtain. You do not need a prescription to buy condoms. STDs are
dangerous for a woman who eventually wants to conceive because the baby can be born with the
infection. They can also cause problems both during pregnancy and during the birth of the baby.
Its safe to say that everyone wants to prevent the spread of STDs, so if abstinence isnt what a
teen is practicing, then they do need to think about contraception.
A Medical View on the Issue
Doctors, physicians, nurses, and medical experts also have different opinions about birth
control. Some argue that it is the worst thing a woman can do to their body because they are
changing their bodies natural cycle. Due to those changes the body may never be the same again.
Others might say that birth control can help with many different things besides just pregnancy
prevention for example regulating irregular menstrual cycles or helping with acne. According to
an article written by The Washington Post 99 percent of women in America have used some form
of birth control in their lifetime and 60 percent of those women have used it for something other
than family planning. Therefore many doctors are prescribing birth control with many different
intentions. Some women simply do not have regular menstrual cycles on their won. To fix this
problem they are prescribed birth control pills to regulate their menstrual cycle for a few months.

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Once their cycle is regular they discontinue the pills are able to become pregnant right away.
This is a perfect example of why birth control might actually help a woman conceive rather that
destroy their chances. Each person is going to react differently to each form of birth control. This
is why it might be important to consult with a doctor on what they think is best when trying to
conceive either now or in the future or preventing pregnancy all together.
The use of contraceptives is an ongoing issue. For centuries it has been discussed and
argued. There are many forms of birth control and contraception. There are many beliefs and
opinions why some are better than others or if they should be used at all. The issue is never going
to be resolved because each person has different background and beliefs. Every person has to
make a personal decision for themselves. Some may choose to opt out of the use of
contraceptives all together to reduce the risk of future problems occurring and others may see no
harm in the use of contraceptives.
Work Cited:
Winikoff, Beverly, and Suzanne Wymelenberg. The Whole Truth about
Contraception: A Guide to Safe and Effective Choices. Washington, D.C.: Joseph
Henry, 1997. Print.
Minkin, Mary Jane., and Carol V. Wright. A Woman's Guide to Sexual Health.
New Haven, CT: Yale UP, 2005. Print.
Riddle, John M. Eve's Herbs: A History of Contraception and Abortion in the
West. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 1997. Print.
Upadhya, Krishna K., Cora C. Breuner, and Maria E. Trent. "Emergency
Contraception." Pediatrics 130.6 (2012): 1174-1182. Health Source - Consumer
Edition. Web. 25 Mar. 2014.
Felice, Marianne E., and Ronald A. Feinstein. "Contraception And Adolescents."
Pediatrics 104.5 (1999): 1161. Health Source - Consumer Edition. Web. 25 Mar.
2014.
Geddes, Jennifer Kelly. "Birth Control While Nursing." Baby Talk 68.7 (2003):
90. Health Source - Consumer Edition. Web. 25 Mar. 2014.
Developed by Phyllis G. Cooper, RN, MN, and RelayHealth. "Intrauterine Device
(IUD): Teen Version." CRS - Pediatric Advisor (2013): 1. Health Source Consumer Edition. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.

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Ingersoll, Karen S., et al. "Risk Drinking And Contraception Effectiveness Among
College Women." Psychology & Health 23.8 (2008): 965-981. Health Source:
Nursing/Academic Edition. Web. 18 Mar. 2014
Schonfeld, Toby L., et al. "Women And Contraception In Research: A Pilot
Study." Journal Of Women's Health (15409996) 18.4 (2009): 507-512. Health
Source: Nursing/Academic Edition. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
Kim, Sandra L., and Mitzi Wasik. "Contraceptive Treatments: A Review Of
Current Hormone Options And Newer Agents For Women. (Cover Story)."
Formulary 46.2 (2011): 54-63. Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition. Web.
22 Mar. 2014.
"Epidemiology And Efficacy." Annals Of Internal Medicine 157.7 (2012): 1TC42-1TC4-6. Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition. Web. 22 Mar. 2014.
Reifsnider, Elizabeth, et al. "Contraception And The Obese Woman." Journal Of
The American Association Of Nurse Practitioners 25.5 (2013): 223-233. Health
Source: Nursing/Academic Edition. Web. 23 Mar. 2014
Campo, A. C. (2011, May). Which is greater evil: Extreme poverty or
use of contraception? Filipino Reporter. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/871228049?accountid=28671
Kessler, Glenn. "Fact Checker: 'Birth control' for something other than
family planning?." The Washington Post 2014: Opposing Viewpoints in
Context. Mon. 28 Apr. 2014.