These newly posted short commercials in the Apple vein were shot by seminarians at the Institute for Priestly Formation in Omaha. Major hoot. (See the two other videos on page 2.)
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Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
Jill, everybody,
This is off topic but I’m wondering what everybody thinks of the new no-period birth control pill? I’m considering it since I soon won’t be able to get pregnant anymore anyway (I’m quiverfull, but God has “finished” our family in His own mysterious way, and my husband is getting a vasectomy), and my periods have always been a trigger for my chronic depression. (The article I read said that skipping your period with the pill will help with cycle-related moodiness.) But I don’t know what the dangers are, and I don’t trust the MSM to tell me. What do y’all think?
Michelle, even on the surface those pills sound dangerous. But I was surprised to read a liberal feminist writer’s analysis a couple days ago advising against them:
http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2007/07/25/to-bleed-or-not-to-bleed
She also discussed her organization, Society for Menstrual Cycle Research, which I found fascinating when checking out the website.
Hi Jill,
thats an interesting quote-of-the-day, I wonder what the delay is regarding adult-stem cell heart treatments. I’ll have to look it up.
Hi Michelle,
sorry, I don’t know much about the period-free BC pill. I would be cautious though….
I believe that anything that could stop your periods indefinitely could be very dangerous to your physical health. There may be better ways to help your depression than the pill. Please really look into all of your options first… I hope that you will be able to find a way to help the depression, and I’m sorry you’re suffering from it.
I used to think that maybe the pill (now just the regular pill, not this type of pill, so it may be different) would control my mood swings each month when I had my period. When I took it, I found that while it did control the blood flow each month, instead of having mood swings once a month, I was having them all month long, every month. It didn’t help at all, it actually increased the problem…so I threw them away.
Michelle,
I don’t know alot about that pill specifically, but I do know that on the regular pill you don’t have “real” periods. You just have a huge hormone drop which causes you to shed the immature lining of your uterus. It’t not like a natural period where your hormones are regulated by your ovulation cycle. Basically the “no period” pill just stops those aburpt drops in hormones.
From that perspective, it’s probably very similar to the old fasioned “pill” in terms of safety, if not safer.
The question then hinges on the actual safety of the birthcontrol pill. I’m sure you’re aware of its many risks, and that thos risks build the longer you are on the pill. You are fairly young right? If so being on the pill for such a long time could be dangerous.
I see thta you say your main reason for wanting to be on the pill is to help regulate PMDD. I don’t know if you’d feel comfortable taking them, but there are anti-depressants marketed exclusively for this problem.
I hope this helps.
These gentlemen do extremely well what I was trying to explain with many words a few days earlier. And it’s hilarious: Contraceptive: “Who cares about intimacy? With me, you can get right to the “fun stuff.”” NFP: “She thinks I’m noble.”
Jasper, 9:05a: I found that interesting, too. I posted earlier this month on a Left blogger’s shock that someone had to go to China for treatment with umbilical cord stem cells:
http://www.jillstanek.com/archives/2007/07/its_umbilical_s.html
I wonder what’s going on. If you find out anything, please let us know.
Awesome! In your face, culture of death!
“I used to think that maybe the pill (now just the regular pill, not this type of pill, so it may be different) would control my mood swings each month when I had my period. When I took it, I found that while it did control the blood flow each month, instead of having mood swings once a month, I was having them all month long, every month. It didn’t help at all, it actually increased the problem…so I threw them away.”
That’s what I was afraid of.
“I see thta you say your main reason for wanting to be on the pill is to help regulate PMDD. I don’t know if you’d feel comfortable taking them, but there are anti-depressants marketed exclusively for this problem.”
I did not know that. Honestly, I never though of it as PMDD. It was just this coming and going chronic depression since I was a young teenager. My husband was the one who noticed that it gets worse before and during my period, in the first and third trimesters of pregnancy, and during the post-partum period. I don’t know what that means, but it’s very depressing for someone who loves being pregnant and having kids.
Michelle, I’m sorry to hear that you have been struggling with depression for so long. Have you seen anyone about it? I know it’s *really* hard to talk to someone about depression, but I’ve found that it can really help. Anti-depressants are better than they used to be.
Here’s a link to several PMDD sites-
http://www.understandpmdd.com/pmdd/index.jsp;jsessionid=954CD0FAA9B3BD505179EF0E219A634C
http://www.knowmycycle.com/pmdd.aspx?WT.mc_ID=10001&WT.srch=1&WTmc_ev=click
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pmdd/AN01372
It can mean a problem with low progesterone…you may consider taking a multi vitamin with Vitex in it. Vitex works on getting the pituitary glands to properly regulate your hormone levels. I’d also recommend seeing and NFP only practitioner or one who is familiar with NaproTechnology. These Drs look to find the underlying cause of the problem as opposed to covering it up with the use of birth control pills…
It can mean a problem with low progesterone…you may consider taking a multi vitamin with Vitex in it. Vitex works on getting the pituitary gland to properly regulate your hormone levels. I’d also recommend seeing an NFP only practitioner or one who is familiar with NaproTechnology. These Drs look to find the underlying cause of the problem as opposed to covering it up with the use of birth control pills…
I’ve heard some good things about Yaz, it doesn’t work the same for everyone though. Might look at that.
I’m not sure if my major depression is exactly PMDD, it is mild-moderate during most of the month, but brought on worse by the hormone changes in the week and a half before my period, and that is when I’ve had the major depressive episodes which have resulted in hospitalizations. In the past, I’ve been put on various regular birth control pills (in addition to anti-depressants) and at the recommendation of the psychiatrist at the hospital, am trying the new one for PMDD (it’s called Yaz). Also, I was started on a newer anti-depressant called Cymbalata, also recommended for PMDD.
If someone chooses to use NFP then thats their right but to pretend that somehow NFP is ‘morally’ superior to contraceptives or it makes for a ‘closer’ or ‘better’ relationship is idiotic. Trying to pretend there is something ‘wrong’ with sex that is not ‘open to conception’ is insane.
Michelle,
I second Sam’s advice. Run, don’t walk, to the nearest NaPro Technology knowledgeable medic so that they can dig deeper into the underlying cause. It could be something as simple as cutting out all forms of sugar in your diet and adding a supplement or two. Or it could be something super serious.
A word about hubby’s vasectomy: can he/you rethink the option? V’s have their own set of dangers, but most importantly, are a spiritual roadblock to God’s grace. Not judging, simply providing you with another view. I read a book about 25 couples whose lives were adversely affected by sterilization. When I find the title, I’ll post it.
Michelle,
Hello. I want to concur with the recommendation by Sam to consult with an NFP physician who is trained in NaProTechnology. They are better able to assess what is really going on with a woman’s natural hormone cycles by doing a careful analysis of what is going on naturally, without the mask of artificial bc that covers up what is happening naturally.
Here are some links:
http://www.naprotechnology.com
http://www.fertilitycare.org/mcteacher.htm
The second site directs you to physicians who have this training. God bless you.
Different contraceptives work differently. I never had any trouble using the pill. A good friend of mine started losing her hair when she took it. She commented that being bald would probably keep her from NEEDING the pill. Another friend swears by depo but it causes all kinds of trouble for some people. There is no ‘one answer’ on any contraceptive. Fortunately there are lots of options to choose from.
Michelle,
Here’s the title: “Sterilization Reversal: a Generous Act of Love” available through http://www.omsoul.com
Brother Francis beat me to the sites that provides a directory. Thanks Brother Francis!
@Texas Red: We’ve touched the NFP subject so many times on this site, I’m not up to repeating all the wonderful things in favor of NFP. I might be inspired to converse about it again, however, if we can refrain from the “idiotic” remarks. Then I’ll know you’re open to hearing some scientific truth.
Apologies for the double post.
I thought these skits were well written and humorous. They should write and act in some christian movies.
TexasRed, the same can be said of family planning advocate’s attitude towards natural family planning:
“If someone chooses to use conviental methods of contraception then thats their right but to not pretend that somehow such convientional methods are ‘morally’ superior to NFP or it makes for a safer method of pregnancy prevention is idiotic. Trying to pretend there is nothing ‘wrong’ with sex that is ‘open to conception’ is insane.”
Carder, thanks for the book recommendation, but I’ve been a member of the quiverfull community for several years so I have read ALL the negatives about vasectomies. It’s difficult to explain, but this is really where God is leading my husband to go.
The way I see it, I promised God I would follow him regarding fertility. He said in His word to follow my husband. My husband says vasectomy; I follow, therefore I am obeying God.
As for the depression / PMDD recommendations, I will look into them all. Right now I’m taking about 10 herbal pills a day (St. John’s Wort, B-complex, B-12, SAMe) and doing “better” but not good enough.
@Michelle,
sounds very much like the scenario I have talked about numerous times …. during pregnancy there are two PHASES were depressions usually occur (weeks 7-11 and the third trimester). there is an associated 3rd PHASE of depression immediately following the euphoria of birth (endorphin release) and is the famous postpartum one. A fourth PHASE begins on the arrival of puberty (early teens).
All these PHASES are periods of high zinc usage.
Zinc is in a ‘pool’ and does a myriad (like thousands literally) of jobs in humans. However, when we hear the word ‘pool’ we falsely assume an oasis of water-type … think ‘car-pool’ instead. Zinc is actually bound onto all membranes (cell walls in your body) by the amino acid taurine. So, taurine and zinc actually make a pair like bricks and mortar.
Why tell you this? Taurine is extremely important for proper brain formation. A child auto-produces taurine. However, this production stops when the brain has physically grown as much as it can – between ages 13-14 (sound familiar).
A young teen with mood swings likely has a problem with the zinc-taurine status. It is worse for girls, because the normal blood-loss of periods is itself zinc-depleting … PMS.
There are a few things you should know about this … that zinc-taurine bond not only feeds zinc to the inner mechanisms of the cell, but also acts as THE major membrane stabilizer and as THE only way for potassium to enter cells [this is vital for energy. Ever wonder why there is also a huge energy loss during periods.] This is also why some women react positively to 400-600mg of potassium supplementation.
There is also quite another reason for these kinds of depressions. The cerebellum (part of the brain) has unusually high amounts of zinc in the mossy-fiber layers. The cerebellum is the brain’s coordination center – usually emotions and muscle movement. If in this region of the brain zinc is disturbed (deficient), then a natural consequence is depression. [Ever wonder why young teen boys are so clumsy during growth spurts. They also have zits with this.]
Almost forgot to mention that the pituitary gland is another brain part with high zinc levels … it helps balance hormones and much, much else.
You will not find such info elsewhere. I’ve been assembling it for 3 decades now.
hope it helps ……..
Trying to pretend that NFP makes a couple ‘closer’ or is ‘morally superior’ to a condom etc, or that any sexual relations should be ‘open to conception’ doesnt have a thing to do with SCIENCE.
*************************************************
@Texas Red: We’ve touched the NFP subject so many times on this site, I’m not up to repeating all the wonderful things in favor of NFP. I might be inspired to converse about it again, however, if we can refrain from the “idiotic” remarks. Then I’ll know you’re open to hearing some scientific truth.
This will have to be my last post on this particular thread, as I am traveling tomorrow. . .
TexasRed, even speaking hypothetically, if the practice of NFP could be shown to be more healthy for women, then it certainly has at least something to do with science, wouldn’t you agree?
BC pills artificially manipulate a woman’s natural hormonal cycle, chemically suppressing the natural monthly cycle while also mimicking it by creating a little bleeding and so giving the appearance of a natural cycle. But it is certainly not. There are known health risks to the pill. Just check the insert.
However, NFP uses no artificial chemicals whatsoever, and leaves the woman’s natural hormonal cycle completely intact and unmanipulated.
If a method ‘A’ has genuine health risks and involves chemically altering the natural hormonal cycle, and a method ‘B’ has no health risks and involves no alteration of the natural hormonal cycle–doesn’t a comparison of the two have something to do with science? Or do the real health risks involved with artificial birth control not matter from a scientific point of view?
And, also, I would like to point out that human sexuality deals with a realm of human life that goes far beyond mere science. Sex is not simply for biological purposes; it also has to do with things of profound spiritual importance–matters of the heart–the union of two souls–in other words, with love. I hope our culture has not become so eager to worship at the altar of science that we can no longer even see that human love cannot be investigated with a microscope and gas chromatograph. This is because human beings are not simply material beings–we have souls also. And sex, in its proper context (a context that does not demean the dignity of the human person), should always involve genuine love. And love is a matter of the spiritual realm as much if not more than of the material realm. Science deals with the material only. So when talking about things which pertain to the sublime mystery of sexuality, let’s not be eager to speak as though it were something that could be understood using the principles of scientific study alone. If we do this, we will seem to have given up on thinking that sex has anything to do with spiritual, transcendent, eternal realities. There is a poetry of sexual love that mere science is not capable of perceiving. This requires the eyes of the soul.
You know, I heard recently that researchers found around 247 different reasons that human beings have sex- not a single one could be traced back to emotion. All of them can be traced to a physical desire for sex.
Michelle:
By His stripes we are healed.
I will stand in the gap for you that God does a miracle through a doctor or, by all the great advice you’ve been given or, however He chooses. He is over all and not limited to how He chooses to heal you. And He will if you don;t give up and you let him. It’s a battle but you can win through Christ.
Depression is the physical manifestation of a spiritual problem. I’m not saying you’ve done anything wrong and to try to figure out why you’re depresses is fruitless but you already know this. What I’m saying is that depression can be beat permanently. Do not and I say do not believe any negative reports. You must have great faith because God only let’s those with great faith to go through such pain and suffering. There is a reason but, you must not give up. Seek and you will find.
Please let us know when the good happens, please. It will happen, I know it.
Believe and trust…there’s no other way.
Using NFP as “reliable birth control” is like rolling the dice at a roulette wheel and hoping your number wins. Nine times out of ten, it will lose, and as far as I’m concerned, NFP is a loser. The contraceptive sex acts are far better at preventing unwanted pregnancies. You know, the ones that the hard-line talibangelists call “sins” because they’re all pleasure, no pain.
Ahhhh Ocean,
So nice of you to start out this beautiful morning with name calling. Were you up all night coming up with that gem?
What’s say we start today off on a friendly note?
How bout you repost sans the vitriol and we’ll respond in kind…
Once again, thank you very much, Brother Francis! I couldn’t have said it better myself.
John McD: do you mind posting where I could find more info on this zinc issue? Fascinating. And so necessary. It’s got to be readable for me, though. Not fluent in medical jargon :=)
Erin: Could you find out more about that study you heard of? I take Br. Francis position that science alone cannot encompass the scope of human sexuality, since the spiritual is beyond any scientific measurement. I’d also like to add that this physical desire for sex…it’s implanted in each of us, even animals. You’d never know it by the way sex is so trashed in our society, but we are called to more than just merely copulation. There’s a higher reason…
Ok, Michelle, back to you.
“It’s difficult to explain, but this is really where God is leading my husband to go.”
I’ve got time to listen. What is the difficulty? How did hubby arrive at that decision?
“The way I see it, I promised God I would follow him regarding fertility. He said in His word to follow my husband. My husband says vasectomy; I follow, therefore I am obeying God.”
That you desire only God’s will in your life…praise God! Then we can focus on hubby, as his leaderhsip can make or break the whole matter. I’m going to withhold further comment until you reply,that is, if you want to reply. I want to make sure I can help using the facts you provide.
Regarding the quote of the day: We first learned how to isolate and characterize adult stem cells by working on embryonic stem cells.
If Jill and her kind had had their way ten years ago, we would not have been able to study embryonic stem cells, and therefore we would not know how to work with adult stem cells today.
You can learn more about NFP at The Couple to Couple League website…
http://www.ccli.org/
Mike
Dear Ocean,
“As far as I’m concerned, NFP is a loser.”
Very good. Now, please enter in the space provided below reasons why you personally think NFP is a loser. Is it because it’s 99% effective when the rules are followed? Because couples who practice NFP have a significantly lower divorce rate? Because, as Br. Francis so eloquently posted, it leaves the woman’s natural hormonal cycle completely intact and unmanipulated? Or is it because it obligates the couple to communicate about the path their called to follow?(to conceive or not conceive?) Perhaps it’s because their is virtually no cost in using NFP? Or maybe it’s just horrible that there are no side effects when practicing NFP. (Please note: Rhythm Method answers will not be accepted since NFP is not Rhythm.)
Scandalous, I tell you…
I don’t know about you Ocean, but I’ve used NFP since my marriage 11 years ago and have 4 children today. They were all planned pregnancies. I also had 3 miscarriages and would probably have had at least one more but didn’t b/c I practiced NFP and knew something was wrong even though my Dr. said I was crazy! I found a Dr’s office (Naprotechnologist) who agreed with me and my findings and prescribed progesterone during the first trimester of my last pregnancy and we have a healthy baby girl today b/c of that! In my book, NFP is a definite winner! My husband and I have never used anything but NFP and we never will b/c we both see the benefits that it has brought to our family and our marriage…
Ah, my bad, it’s 237. Here’s the article.
http://www.comcast.net/news/health/index.jsp?cat=HEALTHWELLNESS&fn=/2007/07/31/728279.html&cvqh=itn_sexreasons
Hi carder,
these are not medical texts as such, but are research medical texts …. so it is most helpful to have a background in biochemistry. What I find refreshing about them is their total lack of reference to any drugs:
Zinc: main reference – 300+ text
‘Zinc and Copper in Medicine’ eds Sarper & Karcipglu @1983
Taurine: main references –
‘Symposium on Taurine 1974 (and 1976)’ eds A. Barbeau & R. Huxtable – Neurological Institute of Montreal.
Sorry carder, these are not easy reads and the info is dispersed throughout the texts … mostly at the front. It seems really weird to me that so much of modern psychiatric medicine re. depression revolves around prescription drugs or synthetic/horse(equine -prevarin) hormones for humans? ’tis a fantasy, no … or more medical bs?
I don’t know about you Ocean, but I’ve used NFP since my marriage 11 years ago and have 4 children today. They were all planned pregnancies. I also had 3 miscarriages and would probably have had at least one more but didn’t b/c I practiced NFP and knew something was wrong even though my Dr. said I was crazy! I found a Dr’s office (Naprotechnologist) who agreed with me and my findings and prescribed progesterone during the first trimester of my last pregnancy and we have a healthy baby girl today b/c of that! In my book, NFP is a definite winner! My husband and I have never used anything but NFP and we never will b/c we both see the benefits that it has brought to our family and our marriage…
Posted by: sam at August 1, 2007 09:07 AM
………………………………………………………………………………………
NFP is great for planning pregnancies but not so great for preventing them.
“BC pills artificially manipulate a woman’s natural hormonal cycle, chemically suppressing the natural monthly cycle while also mimicking it by creating a little bleeding and so giving the appearance of a natural cycle. But it is certainly not. There are known health risks to the pill. Just check the insert.”
So i assume you don’t use tylenol, asprin, or eat. There are always going to be some kind of side affect and for what the pill did for me it was so worth it.
Sally, I guess you didn’t really read my post. All 7 of my children (both living and dead) were planned. If NFP is used correctly, it has a 99% effectiveness rate so where are you getting your information about it being great for planning pregnancies and not being great for preventing pregnancies?
As for your comment Lil, using tylenol and aspirin and eating are all things that are inherently good. They don’t have side effects that can cause death just by using them correctly. Yes, if you overdose on the aspirin or tylenol or eat to much or choke on your food you can die but not if you use it correctly. Death is a side effect of the BC Pill. Oh, it doesn’t state that on the insert but it does say they may cause strokes, blood clots, etc. which may lead to a premature death. You never stated what it was that the BC Pill did that was so good for you. I think I would prefer to go to a Dr. who would try and solve my problem instead of masking it with artificial hormones that could lead to secondary complications…
Welcome sam!
Sally, I guess you didn’t really read my post. All 7 of my children (both living and dead) were planned. If NFP is used correctly, it has a 99% effectiveness rate so where are you getting your information about it being great for planning pregnancies and not being great for preventing pregnancies?
While NFP may have a 99% sucess rate for concieving, in reality in has a 25% failure rate as BC. If everyone using NFP were to be hypervigiliant the rate might be reduced to 1 to 9 percent. Humans being failable makes these estimates unrealistic. NFP is great if you don’t mind an oopsie but risky if you do mind. I used avoidance during the supposed fertile days coupled with a barrier method. Oopsie is 30.
Exactly what I said. If NFP is used correctly it has 99% effectiveness rating. Using a barrier method or withdrawal during your fertile time is not using NFP correctly. Of course you’re going to get pregnant if you do that b\c your having intercourse during your most fertile time! That doesn’t change the effectiveness rating of NFP though b/c those are attributed to user error…The couple that taught us NFP had a very good reason for not wanting to get pregnant again. The mother and baby almost died during her first pregnancy and the chance they were given of it happening again was 50%. That was over 10 years ago and they are still using NFP to this day w/o having conceived any more children. If your motivation is strong enough than you can achieve the 99% effectiveness rate. You also get all the marriage building that goes along with NFP (when used correctly) that you don’t get with BC.
I forgot to add that I don’t have to worry about the side effects of BC and I have an NFP OB/GYN that I know will find the root of any problem I may have and find a way to solve it w/o resorting to using BC to cover it up.