Intrauterine Devices and Abortion
Question
I had two babies in two years and had to stop breast-feeding my first baby when I found out about the second pregnancy. It was very difficult being pregnant and taking care of the first baby. So now I am afraid I will be pregnant again and I feel I have to use birth control methods. I understand that each method of birth control has some side effects but I am not worried about that. What really concerns me is how these methods work. Obviously I am referring to birth control pills and intrauterine devices. The pills prevent ovulation while the latter prevents fertilization but in both cases if it comes to fertilization then the fertilized ovum (embryo) is prevented from settling in the uterus. Would you describe this as preventing the pregnancy or terminating it after it occurs? When does pregnancy really begin, how can we be sure? Are there any sayings of the Prophet (pbuh) or verses of Quran on this topic?
Response
Before I answer your question, I must let you know that I am not an expert in the medical field. However, in order to understand your question, I did consult someone who knows this area. In addition, I also briefly studied the process of birth control before composing my answer. Here is my understanding on the subject:
In medical world, a pregnancy is considered to have begun when implantation has occurred because it is only after this happening that the host body receives a signal to start producing the hormones. This is where pregnancy is really registered by the body. In case it is unknown when the process of implantation took place, physicians generally take the beginning of the pregnancy to be when the first menstrual cycle is missed. If we take the definition of medical term to mean pregnancy and abortion be defined as the nullification of pregnancy then according to this definition they are clearly in a serial order. The process can be represented as:
Ovulation -> fertilization -> implantation -> beginning of pregnancy -> missed periods
In the above line, it is only considered abortion when pregnancy is stopped in the fourth stage (or later) that I have labeled 'beginning of pregnancy' and not before that. Therefore, the birth control method that you are referring to do not seem to fall in the category of those causing abortion rather only forestalling pregnancy since they just prevent implantation.
As for the sources, it is difficult to clearly find a definition of 'pregnancy'. Some scholars have used verses of Surah Al-Hajj and Al-Muminun from Quran but those, in my opinion, do not draw a clear line of when the pregnancy begins. I believe that pregnancy really begins after the implantation of the fertilized egg.
Just as a side remark, this is not the only contraceptive method and I am sure you are aware of the many other contraceptive methods available which can also be considered if you are uncomfortable with this option.