Contraception is Not the Answer

One of the most common misconceptions so prevalent in today's era is that artificial contraception leads to less 'unwanted' pregnancies, therefore society should provide as much access possible to condoms, the pill, or other forms of birth control.

Of course not only has modern history proved this theory erroneous, so does our experience every day working with pregnant women. While it makes sense on paper that birth control would lead to fewer 'unwanted' pregnancies, when it is applied to actual people, the scenario plays out completely differently.

I spoke today with two women who both turned out to not be pregnant. In this scenario, the discussion not only includes the truth about abortion, but also highlights the truth about human sexuality. Both women had been sexually active for quite some time and had used contraceptives sporadically.

Those in favor of contraception say that the answer is to make sure people use it every time, but the fact that people don't and never have I consider as evidence of a greater truth about sexuality. Indeed, it is the 'contraceptive mentality' that desensitizes individuals and society as a whole that babies are the natural consequence of the sexual act. A phrase I've heard someone say and often relate to the women with which I speak is "when a pregnancy results from a sexual act, that is something that has gone right, not something that has gone wrong."

It is a truth so obvious no one can dispute it - well at least no client I've spoken to has - and yet it comes as such a shock when a pregnancy arises. Apart from the failure rate (which is higher than most like to believe) and misuse of contraception which results in babies - I believe these more subtle, societal, and mental affects of the 'contraceptive mentality' is what is causing pregnancies to come about in less-than-ideal situations far too many times.

Luckily, hope is not lost; the truth resonates with even the most hardened of women, and with at least the two women today with which I spoke, lifestyle changes toward chastity are seen as not only morally correct, but practical and achievable.

To end abortion people need to get back to the idea that sexual relationships and babies go together, and however simple that sounds, it may be one of the most formidable challenges the pro-life movement faces. That is why we try to do it one girl at a time.