Question from a reader:

One of my church elders recommended the article on your website on the abortive potential of BC pills. Suffice it to say that reading the article was certainly gut-wrenching.
     I am on the pill (Ortho Tri-Cyclen), recommended by my gynecologist to “alleviate” my monthly cramping, and also to “conveniently” know the days of my cycle. I read articles before on how once the woman decides to get pregnant, she can just go off the pill, and the uterus resumes its normal functions without much trouble. Technically (I guess), since this isn’t a birth control measure for me, would taking the pill still pose an abortive threat?

Answer from Randy Alcorn:

I’m not so certain that once a woman goes off the pill her body returns to normal and she can get pregnant easily. I know too many women where that was not the case.

If you are sexually active, then yes, the pill can work as an abortifacient. The fertilized egg has the possibility of not being able to implant because of the inhospitable uterus lining. We don’t know how often this happens, just that it can.

If you are on the pill for medical reasons, then it would be wise to use a nonabortive type of birth control such as NFP, condom, and diaphragm (assuming you’re married?). But my understanding is that there are other medical concerns with the pill. Ask your doctor what the side effects can be.

Here are some sites you might want to visit for alternative birth control methods. 

Couple to Couple League: http://www.ccli.org

BOMA-USA: www.boma-usa.org

Creighton Model FertilityCare System: http://www.creightonmodel.com

For more information on this subject, see Randy Alcorn's book Does the Birth Control Pill Cause Abortions?