ProLife

Birth Control
This material appears courtesy of Silent Voices

Decisions about birth control are very personal and private... they can also be confusing, especially for the Christian couple who is concerned about God's plans for their family. This information is designed to help you understand the various contraceptive choices you have, and give you some insight into how these choices may or may not line up with scripture...

• Definitions
• Methods of Birth Control
• Birth Control and the Bible

Definitions
Before discussing the various types of birth control that are available, it would be helpful to know what certain terms relating to conception mean.

In 1965 the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) published a terminology bulletin that is still in use today. Here are the terms and definitions that doctors use to define pregnancy:

"Fertilization is the union of spermatozoan and ovum (sperm and egg)."

"Conception is the implantation of a fertilized ovum."

"Pregnancy is the state from conception to expulsion of the products of that conception."

It is important to keep these definitions in mind when choosing a form of birth control, especially if you believe that life begins from the moment of fertilization, not implantation (which usually takes place 7-10 days later). Some contraceptives work primarily by inhibiting "conception," not "fertilization."