Christmas and Contraception
Posted on 27. Oct, 2009 by Rome Jorge in Oplan Pepe
As we celebrate the birth of a Man immaculately conceived this Christmastime, know what conception truly is.
American and British laws define the beginning pregnancy and the conception of human life not at fertilization—when sperm and egg fuse to form an embryo—but at implantation—when an embryo adheres to the wall of the mother’s uterus. Implantation occurs about a week after fertilization.
Doctors, bioethicists and law experts define implantation as the beginning of human life for several reasons:
- The ability to create embryos in vitro (such as in test tube baby fertilized outside the womb) has proven that fertilization does not automatically result in pregnancy. Only after implantation does an embryo’s existence have an effect on the mother’s body. It is only upon implantation that a fetus receives oxygen and nutrients from the mother to grow into a human being. It is at this point when the fetus cannot survive except within the woman’s body. Any rights granted to it must come at the expense of the pregnant woman. Note that to be pregnant—which is to be implanted—means risking one’s life for nine months to bear a new one.
- Majority of fertilized eggs do not go on to become infants. With unprotected sex, many embryos are formed yet never undergo implantation. If fertilization were to be defined as the conception of life, then countless souls have been killed without knowledge or intent.
- After fertilization and implantation, an embryo can segment to become identical twins—separate and distinct individuals who, despite their similarities, develop their own personalities, experiences and decisions and possess their own unique DNA, fingerprints, etc. If segmentation defines the start of an individual with an indivisible soul, then an embryo prior to the stage of possible segmentation cannot be defined as an individual.
However, religious conservatives continue to believe that “ensoulment”—the creation of a soul within a human being after which its destruction would be tantamount to mortal sin—begins at fertilization. Because of this, they argue, certain contraceptives such as intrauterine devices (IUDs) and “morning-after pills” that prevent conception even a few days after unprotected sex are abortifacients—substances that induce abortions.
IUDs and morning-after pills work by preventing both fertilization and implantation. Preventing implantation is abortion, so argues religious conservatives.
However, doctors, scientists and legal experts in many countries define the beginning pregnancy and the conception of human life at implantation, hence the classification of IUDs and morning-after pills as contraceptives and not abortifacients under British and American laws.
Tellingly, religious conservatives opposed to the Reproductive Health Act pending in Congress not only oppose IUDs and morning-after pills but also contraceptives that only prevent fertilization and not implantation. They oppose condoms—the only contraceptive device that protects sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV/AIDS as well as accidental pregnancies. They also are against sex education and knowledge empowerment of young adults. Their definition of conception is but one of many arguments against reproductive health, responsible parenthood and gender empowerment.
This Christmas Season, know more about conception and know more about your reproductive health rights.
To know more about reproductive health, visit http://reproductivehealth.com.ph.