**

The Moral Issues of Contraception and Sterilization

A. CONTRACEPTION
- Uses artificial means that prevents the union of sperm and egg.
-Synonymous with:
- Family planning
-Planned parenthood
-responsible parenthood
-Birth control

**Is there such a term as birth control?

- Birth control is a misnomer: the birth of a baby cannot be prevented once it is conceived in
the womb.

B. STERILIZATION
Involves: -Positive use of artificial methods
-rendering useless the sexual capacity of both man and woman
-usually done surgically
**Types according to willingness
a. voluntary
b. Involuntary

** Types according to purpose

a. Therapeutic
b. contraceptive
c. eugenic
d. social
e. Punitive

1. Therapeutic Sterilization
-removal of part or all of the reproductive organ
-to save one’s life or promote bodily integrity
-principle of totality under natural law ethics

**Principle of Totality - an individual has the right to dispose of his organs or to destroy their
capacity to function only to the extent that the general well-being of the whole body demands
it.
**

**Moral Issue : Is it Ethical to remove a weakened uterus?

** Is it morally justifiable to castrate a male with a tumor or cyst on his vas deferens?

2. Contraceptive sterilization

* Justifications :

a. serious illness of either husband or wife

b. probability of genetic abnormality
c. Financial burden
d. Child-bearing is detrimental to health

3. Eugenic and Social Sterilization

* purpose of hindering the conception of undesirable and physically or mentally unfit offspring.
* Social Engineering - frees society with individuals afflicted with “social diseases”

-grave mental defects

-lepers, idiots
-imbeciles
-morons
-insane
-carriers of congenital defective genes

4. Punitive sterilization

-done as punishment for crime or anti-social behavior

-Catholics defended this under the principle of “double effect”
* the sterilization is not direct since the primary and intended effect is punishment, and the
contraceptive effect is therefore “indirect” or secondary.

**JUSTIFICATIONS OF CONTRACEPTION
1 Parenthood and birth are matters of moral responsibility and intelligent choices.
2. An individual should determine his / her fertility, and should be able to control his /her
fertility. (fecundity)
3. One should be able to decide the number of children one should be able to bear and
support.
4. Contraceptive technology makes men and women persons of will and decision and not inert
or powerless bodies subject to church proscriptions.
5 . Contraception checks the transmission of recessive disorders or genetically-linked disorders.
Ex. Genetic testing and chromosomal analysis
**

**METHODS OF CONTRACEPTION
1. Folk methods
- Pre-coital / postcoital douche
- Prolonged Lactation
- Withdrawal ( Coitus Interruptus ) , Coitus reservatus

2. Mechanical methods
-condom
-diaphragm
-sponge

3. Chemical Methods
-vaginal suppositories and tablets
-vaginal jellies, foams, creams

4. Hormonal Methods
-contraceptive pills
-injections and implants

5. Abortifacients
-Intrauterine device
-DES (Diethylstilbestrol)
-Prostaglandin
-anti pregnancy vaccine
-low dose contraceptive pill

6. Surgical Methods
-Tubal ligation
-Vasectomy
-hysterectomy

7. Natural or Behavioral Methods

-Rhythm or Calendar method
-temperature method
-Ovulation (mucus) method
-Sympto-thermal method
-sex relations during menstruation
**

**Application of ethical theories regarding contraception and sterilization

A. Natural Law Ethics

- approves only Rhythm method and Abstinence
-Voluntary sterilization is wrong

B. Utilitarianism
- Justifies sterilization and contraception for the greatest happiness and benefits

C. Pragmatism
- Contraception and sterilization is practical, useful and beneficial.