 What
Is The Billings Ovulation Method ?
|
This Method has developed from the ground breaking research
into natural fertility regulation, first conducted by Dr
John Billings and Fr Maurice Catarinich in 1953. They were
later joined by Dr Evelyn Billings.
The Billings
Ovulation Method teaches women to identify the sensations
at the vulva. The scientific work of Professor Odeblad
and Professor Brown prove this sensation is a highly
reliable indicator of the fertility or infertility of the
woman on a day by day basis.
Because the
woman is taught to recognise infertility as well as
fertility the Billings Ovulation Method applies to all
phases of a woman’s reproductive life, including those times
when ovulation is delayed such as: breastfeeding,
pre-menopause, after ceasing chemical contraception, during
times of stress and menarche.
The Billings
Ovulation Method is highly effective in assisting the
sub-fertile couple to achieve a pregnancy. In a recent
trial conducted in Australia to assess the effectiveness of
the Billings Ovulation Method in achieving a pregnancy there
was a success rate of 72.5%. Many of the couples in the
study were classified as sub-fertile.
An understanding
of the signs of fertility and infertility alerts the woman
to any changes which may be indicative of pathology which
may require medical help.
The Billings
Ovulation Method has undergone extensive scientific research
and effectiveness trials (see attached) and is now taught
in most countries of the world.
The Billings
Ovulation Method is taught throughout the world to people of
all cultural and economic backgrounds many of whom are
illiterate. Illiteracy has never been a drawback of the
Billings Ovulation Method. Women using the Billings
Ovulation Method need only coloured stamps or symbols to
keep a record. Symbols only require paper and a pen. For
those people unable to use these tools, there are many
examples of charts using local symbols e.g. vine, twigs and
flowers; hearth ash.
Billings
Ovulation Method is now accepted by the Chinese Family
Planning Commission as a method of fertility control and
has become one of the most favoured methods in China. Up to
May 2005
39,319
Billings Ovulation Method teachers have been trained
3,847,600 fertile couples use the BOM for avoiding pregnancy
99%
success rate.
In addition:
16,650
of the 49,330 infertile couples achieed a pregnancy.
In certain
localities where the BOM has been widely used, not only the
birth rate but also the artificial abortion rate is
significantly decreased.
Summary
Billings
Ovulation Method:
-
Based on
sound scientific research
-
Applies to
all phases of a woman’s reproductive life
-
Effective in
helping the sub-fertile couple to achieve a pregnancy
-
Protects
woman’s reproductive health
-
Simple to
teach and use
-
Simple
recording system
-
Can be
taught to all people of cultural, economic or education
status
-
Result of
many Efficacy Trials resulting in a better than 99%
success rate
Some Trials
of the Billings Ovulation Method
Indian Council
of Medical Research Task Force on NFP (1995)
States of Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Pondicherry.
Published:
Contraception 1996, Vol. 53 pp. 69-74.
2,059 women, 32,957 women months of use.
0.86
Method related pregnancies per hundred women years in
initiates.
Jiangsu Family
Health Institute, China (1997)
Dr. QIAN Shao
Zhen
Published:
Chinese Medical Journal 1998.
1235
women, 14,280 women months of use.
No
method related pregnancies in initiates.
Evidence-based method-related Pearl Index for BOM
is 0-2.2
p/hwy in initiates.
Fr. Matthew Habiger OSB
www.nfpoutreach.org
mhabiger@kansasmonks.org
- back to
Q & A --
