I realise that there was recently a thread discussing this topic, however, since I cannot locate it, I have decided to register and ask the question once more for my personal benefit.

My fiancee and I are currently facing a problem. She, unfortunately, has struggled with various health problems surrounding menstruation since puberty - in particular, extremely irregular periods and crippling pain. She has recently been diagnosed with having an ovarian cyst (undoubtedly related to the aforementioned problem), which, while relatively common among women, can potentially lead to ovarian cancer and infertility. We have not been able to schedule another appointment with the doctor. It is likely that the doctors will recommend that she take the Pill to regulate her hormones.

I have two questions:

1) Is it allowable to take the Pill for legitimate health concerns (in which case, the contraceptive effects of the Pill would be merely secondary effects)?
2) Are there any risks of future infertility associated with short-term usage of the Pill?

Needless to say, we are both orthodox Catholics and have absolutely no intention of contraception after marriage. Unmarried as we currently are, any sɛҳuąƖ activity would be intrinsically sinful with or without contraceptives.

Thank you.

Don't take the Pill.  It is killing women.  

Better to live with the problem, (cysts do go away) than for her to have a stroke.

As well, contraceptive use, and estrogen meds, seem to lead to more statistics of cancer.

Talk to your priest but honestly, if she plans to quit the pill when you are married, why start? The havoc it will wreak on her body will not go away as soon as she quits, it can take a long time to right it again. And if she has an imbalance to start with, that will only complicate her recovery. She could look into natural progesterone cream, which is a targeted replacement hormone that will not interfere with fertility but will help if it used on the correct days. But hormones aren't something to mess with, even the natural ones, without thoroughly researching and testing her need for them before trying them. There are many online and FB groups she could join that will help her without contraceptives.

Does she have a diagnosis like endometriosis or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), or does she only know that she has one cyst?

Many women have bad cramping etc.  We deal with it.  

As a rule of law, always check the things that go into your body and that go on your body. My wife was developing skin problems and was attributing it to being pregnant, but by process of elimination, she found out it was her shampoo!!

Try to eliminate any synthetic thing which is made to come in contact with your body like, lotions, fragrances, shampoos and soaps. If you want an easier on the skin soap, use Dr. Bonner's mild unfragranced soap. How does one shave? Use coconut oil and Dr. Bonner's soap. If you need lotion, use coconut oil (unrefined, cold pressed)

As for food, eliminate anything that has additives and chemicals. If you are eating Cheetos, Doritos, hot pockets and frozen pizza, soda...you get the gist, stop.

If there is synthetic clothing that comes in contact with your skin--trousers, skirts, shorts, undergarments etc..stop. There are 100% cotton options.

Try this for a week and see what changes in your health.

Have her look up endometriosis. If her pain is debilitating and beyond what she can just deal with she may have this condition and it would be worthwhile to have it diagnosed. She can also look up PCOS to see if her symptoms are similar. Doctors can't do much, she will have to rely on diet, exercise and a few well-chosen supplements, but it will help if she knows what she is dealing with.

I recommend she find the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility. There is also a website but the information in the book is what she needs first. If she learns to track her cycle it will give her more insight into her irregular cycles and whether she is deficient in progesterone. She will better understand her patterns and symptoms which will also help her take steps to improve her condition. It will also help immensely with trying to conceive when the time comes.

She can look into Dr. Lee's research. There is a wealth of information here. http://www.johnleemd.com/ From there she can also order hormone saliva tests so she won't have to wait to see a doctor to confirm estrogen dominance/progesterone deficiency. She will receive a report from the lab and can go from there. When she does see her doctor she should still ask for blood tests as well. Both blood and saliva tests should be taken on specific days of her cycle to give an accurate idea so that's one more reason she needs to track it. Her doctor may or may not advise her to take them on certain days, it may be up to her to insist.

So, first get Taking Charge of Your Fertility. (Only to be used with traditional Catholic purposes of course)

And as mentioned above, clean up her diet. Only simple whole foods; no processed, dyed, chemical foods, they are estrogenic and actively contribute to estrogen dominance. Have her eat healthy animal fats -- whole milk, cream, yogurt, lard, -- as well as olive and coconut oils. Avocados. The body needs fat to make and store hormones.  

She also likely has a copper/zinc imbalance. That is a little more complicated to correct and requires testing to know for sure, but cod liver oil, pastured animal liver once a week, and a whole food vitamin c will go a long way in helping correct that as long as she is eating balanced meals. No fad diets! That includes the current raw and paleo. Grains are not the enemy they just have to be prepared properly by soaking, sprouting and fermenting so that their nutrients are digestible.

If you or she have any more specific questions you are welcome to PM once you are able to but this should give you lots to start with!