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Human sexual appetite is so strong that it’s not
realistic to rely on personal discipline or religious belief.
Priests and nuns who are supposed to be models of chastity have been
known to succumb to the lure of sex.
The most cited reason for birth
control is the need to limit family size. Responsible parents, as
a general rule, do not want to have more children than they can
nurture and educate within their means. Studies by economists and
demographers show a positive correlation between poverty and family
size.
Preventing the transmission of
venereal diseases, especially HIV/AIDS, is another reason. These
diseases can be contracted by both homosexuals and heterosexuals.
Genetically determined diseases
should not be passed on to offspring. There are two kinds:
sex-linked and autosomal disorders. Examples of sex-linked disorders
are hemophilia and Down’s syndrome. Hemophilia occurs in males and
transmitted by females. Examples of autosomal disorders are
achrondroplasia, cystic fibrosis and Marfan’s syndrome.
Genetically determined diseases are caused by mutation or
aberrations during mitosis. These disorders can be detected early
enough for parents to make an informed decision on what to do.
It’s best for hemophiliacs not to have children at all.
Victims of rape and incest should
be allowed to terminate pregnancy.
Contraception
The natural methods do not
involve chemical or mechanical devices. The most common is flushing
the vagina with water (douching) after intercourse. Although widely
practiced, it has never been effective.
The rhythm method or the timing
of intercourse during a “safe period” is based on the fact that
both ova and spermatozoa survive only for 24 to 48 hours after
release. However, this method is fallible because it’s not easy to
time ovulation. The most fertile period is between 10 to 17 days of
a regular 28-day menstrual cycle which is sometimes variable. For
most women therefore the so-called safe period could be longer and
may not follow a regular cycle. This is the method that the Catholic
Church advocates.
The last natural method is coitus
interruptus or the withdrawal of the penis before ejaculation.
Considerable will power is involved to make this effective.
The best known of the artificial
methods is the condom. It was invented in Europe in the 16th
century. Early versions were made of linen. Condoms today are made
of siliconized latex. The condom is still the best protection
against AIDS and other venereal diseases. They are mandatory in
brothels in some European countries.
Other mechanical devices are
diaphragms or caps. These are inserted in the vagina to prevent the
sperm from penetrating the uterus. For this reason, they are called
intrauterine devices or IUDs. They are made either of metal or
plastic. The more expensive IUDs are coated with a spermicidal
compound. They are not easy to insert into the uterus and often
require the help of a trained person. IUDs have to be retained for 6
to 8 hours after intercourse.
The contraceptive pill is by far
the most convenient to use and the most effective as proven by
clinical trials. It inhibits ovulation. The pill is made of a
synthetic steroid that mimics the female sex hormones estrogen and
progesterone. It has to be taken continuously for 21 days followed
by a 7-day interval during menstruation. Women older than 35 might
experience blood clotting due to the pill. Progesterone taken alone
is not as effective as estrogen/progesterone.
Post-coital contraceptives, also
known as the morning-after pill, contain synthetic estrogen
stilboestrol. This chemical prevents the implantation of any
fertilized egg. It’s not as effective as an ordinary contraceptive
pill but is used after unplanned intercourse or emergencies like
rape.
Abortion
In countries where abortion is
legal, it is performed before the 24th week of pregnancy before the
fetus becomes viable.
Roe vs. Wade that the US Supreme
Court promulgated in 1973 permits abortions during the first six
months of pregnancy.
Miscarriage or the natural
expulsion of the fetus occurs in about 20 percent of normal
pregnancies.
Drugs like prostaglandins and
mitepristone can induce abortions.
Late-term abortions should be
performed only by a surgeon.
Since abortions are illegal in
the Philippines, they are performed sub-rosa. Laws against abortions
should be revisited to allow victims of rape and incest to terminate
their pregnancies.
Sterilization
This involves surgery to render a
person unable to conceive. In the male the procedure is to divide
each vas deferens where it emerges from the inguinal ring. This is
called vasectomy. In the female the procedure is to ligate the
uterine tubes. In either case, ova and spermatozoa are kept apart.
The Catholic view
Pope Paul VI issued Humanae Vitae
40 years ago to reiterate the Catholic Church’s prohibition of
artificial birth control. Opposition to it was immediate and
widespread. Catholic and Protestant theologians found fault with the
Pope’s reasoning. Catholic bishops openly criticized it. The laity
were encouraged by all this to defy the Papal edict.
The purpose of marriage,
according to Humanae Vitae, is to foster love between the partners
and for them to have children.
The late ‘60s were a period of
growing secularization in Europe, North America and Latin America.
July 25, 1968, is a convenient date to mark the decline of the
influence of the Catholic Church in these continents.
When John Paul II became Pope he
expanded Humanae Vitae by introducing the “theology of the
body.” This became, during his 27-year reign, the basis of
Catholic sexual morality. He argued that human sexuality is a
reflection of the creative love that emanates from the Trinity. In
this sense, it is the expression of God’s love for humanity. Birth
control “changes the language” of sexuality by preventing
life-giving love from becoming the dominant force.
With this teaching Humanae Vitae
became the orthodoxy of the Catholic Church on sex and marriage.
Most of the Catholic countries
ignored these Papal edicts. Recent surveys show that Catholics in
Europe and the Americas do not agree with the Church’s teaching on
birth control, often by majorities exceeding 80 percent.
Rep. Edcel Lagman is probably
right. There’s an undercurrent of support for his Reproductive
Health Bill.
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