Psychological Effects of Abortificients
|
|
Everyday, more groups collect and publish data about the widespread use of contraceptives. But information about their effects that some contraceptives actually cause abortions, i.e., they are abortifacients--is still largely unreported today. The fact that women suffer from contraceptive-induced post-abortion syndrome also is not often reported. Most of the groups gathering data about contraceptives, in fact, do not recognize (or reveal) the moral, psychological and medical consequences of abortifacients.
|
The World Population Profile by the U.S. Bureau of the Census reported the prevalence of contraceptive use among married women in the world's ten largest countries. For instance, in China (1992), over 75 percent of married women used contraception; in India (1992-93), nearly 40 percent; United States (1990), 70 percent; Brazil (1996), almost 80 percent; Russia (1994), almost 70 percent; and, Japan (1992), 65 percent.
In addition, the 1998 statistical report from the UN Development Plan noted that in North America alone, 71 percent of married and/or cohabiting people use contraceptives. Worldwide figures show that 58 percent of married and/or cohabiting people use contraceptives.
But the main reason contraceptive information is gathered is to examine current population size or to project future population size, and in this context, contraceptive use is considered beneficial to society, the acceptable norm and the means to provide more sexual freedom to women. Silenced amidst these false realities is an important, yet ignored, issue: How the widespread use of contraceptives is harming women.
Contraceptives such as the IUD, RU-486, Norplant, Depo Provera and the Pill are also abortifacients. This means that when ovulation breakthrough occurs, subsequently conception can occur; and the contraceptives will create a hostile environment in the mother and not allow the child to implant in the womb. In the United States alone, about 10.4 million women currently use birth control pills and it is by far the most common form of birth control. In Japan, between May 1989 and May 1999, there were reports of 2,408 cases of damage to health due to the Pill, including 104 deaths. This information concerns only the medical side effects of the Pill. There is more to be said about the scientifically documented medical and psychological effects for all the other abortifacient contraceptives.
The Psychological Effects of Abortifacients Despite the documented ill side effects of contraceptive use, the lie constantly communicated through the media is that women have nothing to lose by contracepting, but everything to gain (mainly sexual freedom). This kind of reckless advice has cost the lives of children and the health of mothers.
Despite the fact that contraceptive lies continue to spread, the truth is being recognized by some. Mothers who have used abortifacient contraceptives are now making the horrendous realization that they may have aborted their children. These women are seeking psychological help for a problem that most people will not recognize, validate or provide support. For example, when the average person (including pro-lifers) considers an abortion and its effects, they imagine a girl entering a clinic, a doctor aborting the child, then a few years later the girl suffering from post-abortion syndrome. They do not think in terms of a mother suffering from an abortion because she was taking an abortifacient pill. Many caring mothers who had been fed the contraceptive-lie and possibly used contraceptives with the best of intentions, now know the truth and are experiencing post-abortion syndrome.
A woman mourns when she realizes that she aborted her child. She knows she violated her basic instincts to protect her children. When women recognize this violation, it is devastating to them. For instance, Sarah (not her real name) called Human Life International the other day. She is mourning her past "choice" to use an abortifacient IUD and the repercussions that followed that choice--that she could be the mother of several unheld and unseen children in heaven. She mourns the possibility that she never gave her babies life and the chance to be loved. Sarah sought help from various post-abortion syndrome support groups, charities and even from some priests. But, she did not get help. Some of these people even told her,"Don't worry; everyone uses contraceptives." Not one person confirmed her pain of knowing that she could have aborted her children.They did not recognize that an abortion is an abortion whether a life is destroyed at the moment of conception or some time later in the progression of development in the womb. After Sarah told us her problem, the first thing we did was validate her feelings. It is natural that she mourns for an abortion (s) that could have happened. The proper response from fellow Christians is to help her embrace God's forgiveness and healing love. All is not lost--not even the baby with an immortal soul.
The reason for the silence What keeps the world silenced about the widespread effects of contraception? Largely, it is money. Doctors, pharmacists, drug stores, grocery stores, gas stations, family planning clinics and abortionists all make money from people using contraception. Enormous sums of money continue to be invested in the production of pharmaceutical products to facilitate the spread of abortion, another multi-billion dollar industry. Scientific research is also preoccupied with developing products that are more simple and effective in suppressing life and which at the same time are capable of removing abortion from any kind of control or social responsibility.
If all the women who have suffered from contraceptive use and post-abortion syndrome shared their stories, imagine how many lives could change. Doctors would fear lawsuits and stop prescribing contraceptives; priests would preach the devastation of contraceptive use; antiabortion groups would also become anti-contraceptive groups; pro-contraceptive pharmaceutical companies wouldstop producing contraceptives and some population groups would provide real medicine instead of contraceptive drugs. It seems that many more children will be destroyed, more mothers and fathers devastated and more money spent on doctor bills before the exploitation of women, in the name of preventing unwanted pregnancies and upholding women's choices, ends.
So, who will help the women who now suffer and the women who will suffer when their consciences are informed and they recognize the truth? The Church has always taught couples that their sexuality is to be in service to life and love. Our Christian support has to start with that teaching and be accompanied by ministry to those who have not embraced this Gospel of life. If the10.4 million women who use birth control pills in the United States embrace the full Gospel message, are we prepared to validate their pain and be a source of healing for their wounds? Pro-lifers should reeducate themselves on the dignity of the child from the moment of conception to natural death, and learn as much as they can about post-abortion syndrome. It is imperative to children and parents that we have this natural understanding of a mother's mourning at whatever stage she may have aborted her child.
by Sherri Nally
Sherri Nally is Manager of Education for HLI.
|
|
Sa HEALTH CENTER LIBRE CHECK UP FOR PREGNANT MOTHERS!
