Contraception harms God's design
for married love and the gift of life

"The question of human procreation, like every other question which touches human life, involves more than the limited aspects specific to such disciplines as biology, psychology, demography or sociology. It is the whole man and the whole mission to which he is called that must be considered: both its natural, earthly aspects and its supernatural, eternal aspects. And since in the attempt to justify artificial methods of birth control many appeal to the demands of married love or of responsible parenthood, these two important realities of married life must be accurately defined and analyzed." (Humanae vitae, 7)

"Therefore We base Our words on the first principles of a human and Christian doctrine of marriage when We are obliged once more to declare that the direct interruption of the generative process already begun and . . .  all direct abortion, even for therapeutic reasons, are to be absolutely excluded as lawful means of regulating the number of children. Equally to be condemned, as the Magisterium of the Church has affirmed on many occasions, is direct sterilization, whether of the man or of the woman, whether permanent or temporary." (Humanae vitae, 14)

Similarly excluded is any action which either before, at the moment of, or after sexual intercourse, is specifically intended to prevent procreation—whether as an end or as a means. (Humanae vitae, 14)
 

On this page are resources that can be helpful in your ministry to educate about the immorality of contraception and its harm to married couples and society.

 

Please also visit the Pro-Life Committee's page on Conscience Protection to stay updated on USCCB efforts regarding the unjust HHS contraception/sterilization mandate.

To learn about the ethical methods of Natural Family Planning, please visit usccb.org/nfp.

Resources

Church Documents and Teachings

Visit our page on Catholic teaching about married love and the gift of life. And visit our page on the ethical methods of Natural Family Planning.
 

Fact Sheets

Fact Sheets

Articles and Publications

Columns and Commentary

Testimony and Letters

News Releases and Statements

Harmful Effects of Contraception

Resources

  • Video Series on the Harmful Side Effects of Hormonal Contraception
    The St. Augustine Foundation offers 10 short videos on the harmful side effects of hormonal contraception with Dr. Bill Williams, MD. The videos present the findings of scientific research that demonstrates the risks to women's health when using hormonal contraception.
     
  • Citizens' Petition to the FDA (2019)
    This well-documented review of research was submitted to the FDA in 2019 by the Contraceptive Study Group (CSG), requesting a warning label on hormonal contraceptives due to the harmful risks to women's health. Visit the FDA website to view the petition and comments. To listen to the lead author discuss the petition see NFP Conversations--The Harmful Effects of Contraception.


    NOTE: In 2022, the FDA responded in part, to the Citizens' Petition. They offered a partial acknowledgement on the breast cancer/hormonal contraceptives link. The FDA acknowledged a modest risk and changed their prescribing protocols while denying a black-box warning. This is hard to understand given the evidence including an acknowledgment of the breast cancer risk by the National Cancer Institute as well as a University of Oxford study See see the CSG's press release .

    The FDA noted that at a later date they will respond to other health risks for women that was raised in the Citizens' Petition.

    Related to the above, in May 2023, an expert panel of advisors recommended that the FDA allow over-the-counter purchase of hormonal contraception. The chairman of the USCCB's Committee for Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth urged them to reject this advise. See the full press release here.

  • 2023--Updated Citizens Petition to the FDA (October)
    In October 2023, the Citizens Contraceptive Study Group submitted an updated document of their original 2019 petition. A cover letter accompanied the document requesting further consideration about changing the prescribing protocols of hormonal contraceptives due to the many documented negative side effects.

  • Catholic Medical Association Public Service Radio Ad
    The Catholic Medical Association (CMA) developed a short Free Radio Ad on the risks of hormonal contraception. Feel free to download the audio file. Please note, the CMA ad has information at the end about one of their annual conferences. When you download the ad, you can edit the ending to insert local information about access to Natural Family Planning education.
     

Want to reject contraception and embrace God's plan for married love and the gift of life?

Visit out page on Natural Family Planning.

 

Expand All