In the last several months I’ve been looking into this issue. My wife has been on the pill for years, and I don’t like the health side effects. I started looking at other methods, then I looked at how some work, and I was horrified.
The UED I think they are called are inserted. They don’t stop the sperm from reaching the egg, just stop the egg from travelling down the tube. It essentially aborts the inseminated egg.
To all who say getting snipped is harmless and a good route, I would have to disagree after reading some Christian authors on the subject too, along with some other research. People don’t even fully comprehend the long term health hazards from this, not to mention it can go wrong to begin with.
If anyone has good suggestions on birth control, by all means, let me know, until then I’m looking at the calendar method (forget what the correct terminology is), and praying for God’s will. We have three kids already, and not really wishing for more, but who am I to even make that call?
We should ALL be fully aware of the effects as well as the workings of the pill and, were I still able to conceive a baby (had a hysterectomy at 35), I would NOT even consider taking it nor ANY other hormones that can and do prevent a fertilized egg from implanting (essentially an abortion). There are other methods available to couples wanting to space childbearing. They include:
Condoms (male or female) should always be used if you are at risk of getting or spreading a sexually transmitted disease, such as genital herpes, chlamydia, or HIV.
Fertility awareness (periodic abstinence or natural family planning)
Fertility awareness requires that a couple chart the time during a woman's menstrual cycle when she is most likely to become pregnant and avoid intercourse or use a barrier method during that time. Fertility awareness is not a good choice if you need a highly effective form of birth control.
Breast-feeding may work as a form of birth control in the first 6 months after giving birth if you follow specific guidelines. For this method to work, you must breast-feed your baby every time. You can't use formula or other supplements. This is called the lactational amenorrhea method (LAM). Although LAM has been shown to be 98.5% effective when these conditions are met, many doctors recommend that you use another birth control method.2
Permanent birth control (sterilization)
Sterilization is a surgical procedure done for men or women who decide that they do not want to have any (or more) children. Sterilization is one of the most effective forms of birth control. Sterilization is intended to be permanent, and although you can try to reverse it with another surgery, reversal is not always successful.
Tubal ligation or implants. Tubal ligation is a surgical procedure where the fallopian tubes, which carry the eggs from the ovaries to the uterus, are tied, cut, or blocked. A new nonsurgical sterilization technique uses a small metal coil, or tubal implant , inserted up into each fallopian tube. Over time, scar tissue grows around each tubal implant, permanently blocking the tubes. Most women are able to return home within a couple of hours after either procedure. You must use another form of birth control for 3 months after receiving tubal implants. At 3 months, you will need to have an X-ray taken to make sure that your tubes are closed.
Vasectomy. In this minor surgery, the vas deferens, the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the seminal fluid (semen), are cut and blocked so that the semen no longer contains sperm . This does not interfere with a man's ability to have an erection or enjoy sex. Men must have a sperm count check after having a vasectomy before relying on this for birth control.
Female sterilization is more complicated, has higher risks of problems after surgery, and is more expensive than male sterilization. (http://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/birth-control-birth-control-methods?page=2)
As young Christian couples determine how they will respond to God's will in their lives in this area, being pro-life should be the goal. Above all, trusting God to provide the means to support your children and seeing children as a blessing, rather than a burden, is the best way we Christians can do what is right before God and others. Our world needs positive role models in families and to see that God's design for society is truly best communicated in a family where both the father and the mother put the raising of their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord as their top priority. God bless you and your family!