On this matter, each Christian couple can evaluate the relevant facts and Bible principles. Then they should make a decision in such a way as to maintain a good conscience before God.

Back when there were just two humans (and after the Flood, eight), Jehovah commanded: “Be fruitful and become many.” (Gen. 1:28; 9:1) The Bible does not say that such a command applies to Christians. Hence, it is up to each couple to determine whether to use some form of birth control to limit the size of the family or to determine when to have children. What factors merit their consideration?

Christians ought to weigh any birth control method in the light of Bible principles. Thus, Christians reject abortion as a means of birth control. Voluntary abortion conflicts with what the Bible says about respect for life. Christians would not choose to terminate a life that in time would normally result in the birth of another human being. (Ex. 20:13; 21:22, 23; Ps. 139:16; Jer. 1:5) What about the use of an IUD?

This matter was addressed in The Watchtower of May 15, 1979, pages 30-31. Most IUDs that were then widely available were inert plastic objects inserted in the uterus (womb) to prevent pregnancies. The article noted that it was not fully known how such IUDs functioned. Many specialists said that inert IUDs caused a reaction in the uterus that interfered with sperm reaching and fertilizing a woman’s eggs. If fertilization did not occur, a new life did not begin.

 Yet, some evidence suggested that an egg occasionally could get fertilized. The newly fertilized egg might grow in a Fallopian tube (an ectopic pregnancy) or might travel into the womb. In the latter case, the presence of the IUD could interfere with the fertilized egg’s implanting in the lining of the womb and progressing as a normal pregnancy would. Ending the developing life would be like an abortion. That article concluded: “The sincere Christian concerned about the propriety of using an IUD should seriously weigh such information in the light of a Bible-based respect for the sanctity of life.”​—Ps. 36:9.

Have there been significant scientific or medical developments since that article was published in 1979?

Two types of IUDs have come to the fore. One type of IUD that incorporates copper became widely available in the United States by 1988. In addition, IUDs that release a hormone came on the market in 2001. What is understood about how these two types function?

Copper: As mentioned, IUDs seem to make it difficult for sperm to survive passing through the uterus to reach an egg. In addition to that, with copper-releasing IUDs, the copper appears to be toxic to sperm, acting as a spermicide. * Moreover, copper-containing IUDs are said to alter the lining of the uterus.

Hormone: There are different types of IUDs that contain a hormone similar to what is often found in birth control pills. These IUDs release the hormone in the uterus. It appears that such IUDs suppress ovulation in some women. Of course, if no egg is released, fertilization cannot occur. Beyond that mechanism, it is held that the hormone in these IUDs thins the lining of the uterus. * It also thickens the mucus at the cervix, thus creating a barrier to sperm moving from the vagina into the uterus. These effects are in addition to that produced by inert IUDs.

As noted, both types of IUDs appear to alter the lining of the uterus. Yet, what if ovulation does occur and an egg is fertilized? It might enter the uterus but fail to implant in the less receptive lining. That would end the pregnancy at an early stage. However, instances of such “failed” implantations are thought to be rare, even as seems to be the case occasionally with oral contraceptive pills.

Hence, no one can say with certainty that IUDs that include copper or a hormone never allow for the fertilization of an egg. However, scientific evidence suggests that because of a number of mechanisms mentioned above, pregnancy rarely occurs with the use of such IUDs.

A Christian couple considering the use of an IUD might discuss with a qualified medical professional the IUD products available locally as well as possible benefits and risks to the wife. The couple should not expect or allow a third party, not even a physician, to determine what they will do. (Rom. 14:12; Gal. 6:4, 5) It is a private decision. They should make their decision as a couple interested in pleasing God and maintaining a clean conscience before him.​—Compare 1 Timothy 1:18, 19; 2 Timothy 1:3.

Vbe nọ dekaan ọna, te ọ khẹke ne dọmwadẹ Ivbiotu e Kristi ni ru orọnmwẹ nẹ, mu ukpa mu uwerhẹn ghee ẹre deghẹ ọ gu ilele Baibol ro, ne iran mieke na ru atamuolọyan nọ gha ya iran gha mwẹ ekhọe ọguọmwaziro nọ hianrẹn vbe odaro Osanobua.

“Wa ghi biẹlẹ emọ nibun.” Ọna ọre iyi ne Osanobua yi ne Adam kevbe Ivi, ẹre ọ vbe yi ne Noa vbe ẹgbẹe ọre vbe iyeke urhọmwẹ amẹ ọghe ọgbagbọn. (Gẹn. 1:28; 9:1) E Baibol ma kha wẹẹ te ọ khẹke ne Ivbiotu e Kristi gha lele iyi nii. Nọnaghiyerriọ, dọmwadẹ Ivbiotu e Kristi ni ru orọnmwẹ nẹ, ẹre ọ gha ru atamuolọyan nọ dekaan obẹlẹ ne iran gha loo ne iran ghẹ biẹlẹ bun gbe ra ẹghẹ ne iran hoo ne iran ya suẹn gha biẹlẹ emọ. De emwi eso ne iran gha ka ziro yan?

Te ọ khẹke ne azẹ ne Ivbiotu e Kristi rhirhi ru vbe nọ dekaan emwamwa na, hẹnhẹn egbe yan ilele ni rre Baibol. Ọna ẹre ọ zẹe nọ ma na khẹke ne Ivbiotu e Kristi gha kpannọ ẹko rhunmwuda iran hoo ne iran fian emọ na biẹlẹ kanmwa. Te ọmwa nọ mema kpannọ ẹko rraa uhi nọ rre Baibol nọ dekaan arrọọ kevbe wẹẹ, ọmwa vberriọ ma ya aro nọ ghaan ghee arrọọ. Nọnaghiyerriọ, Ovbiotu e Kristi gha gheghe kpannọ ẹko, ọni rhiema wẹẹ te ọ gbe ọmwa rua. (Ẹks. 20:13; 21:22, 23; Psm. 139:16; Jer. 1:5) Ọ gele khẹke ne Ivbiotu e Kristi gha loo IUD, nọ re evba ziẹn ye uviẹn nọ rrie ako ọmọ ne okhuo ghẹ mieke na gha hanmwa ra?

E Watchtower ọghe May 15, 1979 ipapa 30-31 ka guan kaẹn ẹmwẹ na. Evba ziẹn ye uviẹn nọ rrie ako ọmọ ne okhuo ghẹ mieke na gha hanmwa, ne a miẹn vbe ẹghẹ nii, keghi re ne a ya araba ru. E Watchtower nii keghi kha wẹẹ, a ma wa rẹn otọ re fo vbene IUD ọghe araba ya winna hẹ. Sokpan emwa nibun nii rri egie ebe khare wẹẹ, te evba ziẹn ye uviẹn nọ rrie ako ọmọ ne a ya araba ru, degue uviẹn ne eku la sẹ ehe ne ekẹn ye vbuwe egbe okhuo. Adeghẹ eku ma sẹtin sẹ ehe ne ekẹn ye vbuwe egbe okhuo, okhuo i sẹtin suẹn gha hanmwa.

 Ọrheyerriọ, osẹ rhiẹre ma wẹẹ, ugbẹnso, eku ye sẹ ehe ne ekẹn ye vbuwe egbe okhuo. Ọ gha sunu vbenian, ọmọ ghi suẹn gha waan vbe ehe nọ ma khẹke, ọni ọre vbe uviẹn ne ekẹn la sẹ ako ọmọ. Ọmọ nọ da suẹn gha waan na, sẹtin gberra ghee ako ọmọ. Ọ ghaa yerriọ, evba ziẹn ye uviẹn nọ rrie ako ọmọ ne okhuo ghẹ mieke na gha hanmwa, ghi rhia ekẹn ọmọ nọ te waan dee nii rua. Emwi vbenian gha sunu, ọ yevbe ne a kpannọ ẹko. Vbe ufomwẹ ọghe uhunmwuta na, e Watchtower nii keghi kha wẹẹ: “Ọ khẹke ne Ovbiotu e Kristi nọ mwẹ ẹkoata mu ukpa mu uwerhẹn ghee ẹmwẹ na, deghẹ evba ziẹn ye uviẹn nọ rrie ako ọmọ ne okhuo ghẹ mieke na hanmwa biẹ nọ loo, gu ilele ọghe Baibol ro kevbe deghẹ ọ rhiẹre ma wẹẹ, ọ ya aro nọ ghaan ghee arrọọ.”—Psm. 36:9.

Alaghodaro rhọkpa he rhiegbe ma vbe irẹnmwi ọghe avbe umẹwaẹn kevbe avbe ọbo ebo, ke ne a ya gbẹn e Watchtower na ladian vbe 1979 ra?

Aro eva ọghe evba ziẹn ye uviẹn nọ rrie ako ọmọ ne okhuo ghẹ mieke na gha hanmwa ọ he ladian ke ẹghẹ nii gha dee. Ọkpa vbọ keghi re ọghe oze, nọ wa gha rre atẹ vbe United States vbe ukpo 1988. Nogieva keghi re ọghe “hormone” nọ ladian vbe ukpo 2001. De vbene ena ya winna hẹ?

Ọghe Oze: Ze vbene a ka rhan otọ re ban, evba ziẹn ye uviẹn nọ rrie ako ọmọ ne okhuo ghẹ mieke na hanmwa biẹ keghi mu eku rhia, ọ vbe degue uviẹn ne eku la sẹ ehe ne ekẹn ye vbe egbe okhuo. Ọghe oze na keghi ya eku khian amẹ amẹ. * Yevbesọni, ọ vbe fi uviẹn nọ rrie ako ọmọ werriẹ.

Ọghe Hormone: Te ọna yevbe na ghee ikpẹ ukhunmwu ne ikhuo minọ re, ne iran ghẹ mieke na gha hanmwa. Zẹ vbene Osanobua ya mwamwaẹn, uki uki, ọ mwẹ ẹghẹ ne ekẹn ọmọ ya ladian vbe egbe ikhuo, sokpan evba ziẹn ye uviẹn nọ rrie ako ọmọ ne a guan kaẹn na, keghi fi emwamwa nii werriẹ. Ọ gha sẹ ako ọmọ ọghe ikhuo eso, ekẹn ọmọ nii i ghi sẹtin ladian vbe egbe iran. Deghẹ ekẹn ọmọ ma ladian, okhuo i sẹtin gha hanmwa. Yevbesọni, te evba ziẹn ye uviẹn nọ rrie ako ọmọ ne a guan kaẹn na, ya uviẹn nii wẹnrẹn sayọ. * Ọ vbe yae kii ighẹ emwi nọ yevbe ori nọ rre uviẹn nọ rrie ako ọmọ, odẹ vberriọ, ọ ghi degue uviẹn nii nọ rrie ako ọmọ ne eku ghẹ sẹtin sẹ evba.

Zẹ vbene a nanaẹn dee sin, ma bẹghe ẹre wẹẹ, te IUD fi uviẹn nọ rrie ako ọmọ werriẹ. Ugbẹnso, a sẹtin miẹn wẹẹ ekẹn ọmọ ladian vbe egbe okhuo, ekẹn ọmọ nii sẹtin suẹn gha waan deghẹ eku na vba re. Ekẹn ọmọ nọ suẹn gha waan na, sẹtin la ako ọmọ. Ọ gha laọ, ekẹn ọmọ nọ te waan dee ghi rhia, rhunmwuda afiwerriẹ nọ ghi rre evba. Ọ gha sunu vbenian, ọni rhiema wẹẹ, te a kpannọ ẹko nii. Vbọrhirhighayehe, emwi vbenian i rherhe sunu. Ọ vbe zẹdia sunu daa ikhuo ni minọ ikpẹ ukhunmwu re, ne iran ghẹ mieke na gha hanmwa.

Nọnaghiyerriọ, ọmwa rhọkpa i wa sẹtin ya obọ sudu tae wẹẹ, okhuo i ghi sẹtin hanmwa deghẹ ọ na gha loo evba ziẹn ye uviẹn nọ rrie ako ọmọ ọghe oze ra ọghe “hormone.” Vbọrhirhighayehẹ, ọ lọghọ okhuo ke do gha hanmwa deghẹ ọ na loo obẹlẹ rhọkpa ne a guan kaẹn sin.

Ivbiotu e Kristi ni ru orọnmwẹ nẹ ni hoo ne iran loo obẹlẹ rhọkpa ne a he guan kaẹn sin, sẹtin muẹn ma ọbo ebo nọ gbegba, nọ mieke na rhie ibude nọ khẹke ne iran. Ọdọ vbe amwẹ ẹre ọ khian tobọ iran ru azẹ ne egbe iran. Ọ ma khẹke ne iran kue ne ọbo ebo ra ọmwa ọvbehe tama iran emwi ne iran gha ru. (Rom 14:12; Gal. 6:4, 5) Atamuolọyan ne ọdọ vbe amwẹ gha tobọ iran ru nọ. Te ọ khẹke ne azẹ ke azẹ ne iran ru, gha ya ẹko rhiẹnrhiẹn e Jehova, ọ vbe ya iran gha mwẹ ekhọe ọguọmwaziro nọ hianrẹn vbe odaro ọre.—Yae taa 1 Timoti 1:18, 19; 2 Timoti 1:3.