Contraception broken down = “against (contra) conception” or more simply “against life”. The term was first coined in the late 1800’s and in the 20th century gained considerable momentum. See the timeline below, which gives a brief history of contraception:
/trendsContraceptiveUse2015Report.pdf
Contraception refers to any method – whether natural or chemical – that seeks to prevent pregnancy. Below we have listed three forms of contraception that are not commonly thought of as “against life”. We will explain how each form of contraception works and why it separates openness to life from sex.
Let us begin…
1. Condoms
While condoms don’t hormonally alter a woman’s body as does the pill, this latex form of contraception nonetheless separates babies from sex.
A condom is a latex cover that goes over the man’s penis during sex, which prevents his sperm from entering the woman’s body. Without the presence of sperm in the woman’s body, the fertilization of an egg is impossible. When a couple uses condoms they render each sexual encounter infertile. The fruitfulness of their love making is stifled.
2. Withdrawal
This form of contraception is the oldest one in the book. It can even be found in the Old Testament, read below:
“Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the LORD’s sight; so the LORD put him to death. 8
Then Judah said to Onan [Er’s younger brother], ‘Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.’ 9 But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. 10 What he did was wicked in the LORD’s sight; so the LORD put him to death also.”
– Genesis 38:6-10
As we see from the scripture passage above, withdrawal is the purposeful ejaculation of semen outside of a woman’s vagina during sex.
Why is withdrawal “against life”? Just as condoms seek to prevent pregnancy, so too does withdrawal seek to prevent fertility by thwarting the travel of a man’s sperm to a woman’s egg.
Even though no outside help is used (i.e., condoms, the pill, spermicide, the diaphragm), there is still a sterility that is created by withdrawal. When a couple engages in this kind of contraception their sexual union is not fully open to life and so is not totally self – giving.
3. Vasectomy
This method of contraception is the most invasive of the three listed here. Vasectomies consist of either the blocking off or the cutting of the tubes that are responsible for the transmission of sperm in the man’s reproductive system.
As it is a procedure that is meant to be permanent, it is difficult to reverse. How is this “against life”? It is “against life” because it takes away a man’s ability to impregnate his spouse.
Even if he reaches orgasm and ejaculates, there will be no sperm present in the semen. The vasectomy literally stops a man’s reproductive system from functioning properly, similarly to how the pill deprives women of a healthy ovulatory cycle.
Want to know learn more about contraception and it’s effect on reproductive health? Take a look at our 13 week course here and consider learning more about the purposes of sex and God’s design for our bodies.
May God Bless you.
