I was surfing the forums of one of my favorite websites and the topic was posted about whether or not certain birth control methods were considered "aborifacients" (IUD/IUC, DepoProvera, Pill, etc.) Some stated emphatically that all were, while others couldn't disagree more, and I discovered that these opinions were based on one very important detail that I really never considered before, simply because I never thought it debatable; namely the fertilization of and egg and its subsequent implantation onto the uterus. Whether or not the above mentioned forms of birth control are considered "abortifacients" hinges on the users belief that life begins when an egg is fertilized OR life begins once the fertilized egg implants in the uterine wall. I had no idea that there was such a wide variety of opinion on this subject and I know there've been blog posts before discussing various forms of birth control, but what I want to know from you the reader is whether or not you believe that life begins when an egg is fertilized, or if you consider life to have begun when said egg implants on a woman's uterus? Any and all opinions and points of view are welcome! I'm sincerely interested in what the general public thinks, so...let me know!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Friendly Debate?
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9 comments:
I have been wondering about this myself. Last year a friend of mine faced an abortion issue within his family (nothing to do with him, btw). So it really got me thinking about this.
My initial thought was, the Bible says that blood is the lifeline. So is it possible that a soul doesn't enter a body, that it's not a person yet, until the blood flow starts? Which would mean it would have to implant itself first. Then I had the thought that, if I accepted this view, I wouldn't have a right to be opposed to morning after pills and such. I couldn't reconcile that, so I decided I could adopt this view.
I would almost have to say I believe, thought, without having done extensive research or anything, just by logic alone, that life wouldn't truly begin until the fertilized egg is implanted. Without the implantation, there's no chance of growth, anyway. And even in the rare cases of tubal pregnacies, as far as I know, there's no hope of that the egg will live to full term and has to be taken out, to prevent damage to the mother.
I am not stuck on this view, however. Maybe this view, now that I think about it, also lends itself to the whole morning after pill debate I've already had with myself. This might sound like a stupid question, but how long after fertilization does it take for the egg to implant itself?
So I'm not sure I've helped this cause in any way...sorry, Jess. :) I guess y'all know which views I don't agree with, lol...
I believe life begins at fertilization. For one, I think it's best to err on the side of protecting life, but I don't think it's an error anyways.
sperm + egg = baby. life. human.
My OB is a Christian, and his take is that life begins at implantation. We've expressed our beliefs (when the topic of birth control comes up), and his response is that "half of all fertilized eggs don't implant anyway". Maybe so, but we're not going to be the ones to choose that the other half also not be able to implant. God has stated that children are a blessing...more times than can even be counted (I'll have to research that number now)...I'll take my chances. We'll always welcome a new life in our home with welcome arms.
I usually side more on life beginning at implantation, because, like Kayla said, a fertilized egg doesn't always implant, and thus has no chance at life anyway.
Personally, I don't have a problem with birth control, I think it's taking responsibility and being a good steward of resources - if you don't have the resources for another child then prevention is a good thing (however accepting a child if one is conceived is also necessary). However, I don't use any of the methods available for other reasons - mostly I don't like putting fake hormones or devices in my body.
I also believe that life begins at fertilization. I do realize that many fertilized eggs do not implant, but like Kayla said, if it happens by nature/God then it happens, but I'm not going to prevent the egg from implanting. If you do believe this, then it does leave you with precious few birth control methods, which like Steph I think is perfectly fine to control. I am still struggling to decide on a method I really feel comfortable with. It is always a dilemma.
From what my doctor told me, the Pill prevents conception by not allowing the sperm to reach the egg, therefore not allowing fertilization in the first place.
Um, I would consider conception to have occured once the egg becomes fertilized. However, I have not thought this through exhaustively.
Here's a question: Is there a difference between the time an egg is fertilized, and when the soul enters the egg? I think the answer to this delimma may help this debate a little. If a soul enters the egg as soon as fertilization occurs, then what happens to the soul if the egg doesn't implant? But if the soul enters upon implantation, then that leads creedence to that particular belief in light of this debate. I'm not saying I know the answer, cause I don't, but it may help to talk it through...
I've thought about this also, I think I've settled on believing that life begins at implantation. Partially because the zygote has to implant to get the nutrients it needs to grow, and partially because the woman's body doesn't change until the egg has implanted. Unless the egg implants, your body will flush that cycle (start a your period) even though the fertilized egg is still in your uterus. I think God made it that way on purpose, to give the chance for most imperfect zygotes to not implant and prevent many birth defects and/or actual miscarriages.
When the sperm enters the egg it starts to change and rapidly multiply its cells so from what I know as a nursing student I would say life begin at fertilization. If the baby lives or implants is just a matter of the next step to life.
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