We live a life of grace in a fallen world and couples live within this environment – Challenges are inevitable: Fertility and its control and delays in achieving conception.

1. Fertility & Natural Family
Planning
Dr. Henry Osazuwa
O b s t e t r i c i a n / G y n a e c o l o g i s t
W E L L S P R I N G S H O S P I TA L
(Sub-fertility, Napro-tech & Billings method)

2. INTRODUC TION
A life of grace in a fallen world.
Couples live within this environment – Challenges are
inevitable.
Fertility and its control.
Delays in achieving conception.

3. Challenges in conception (Sub-fertility).
Ethical methods for resolving sub-fertility (NAPRO
Tech).
Natural family planning (Billings Method).
FOCUS
INTRODUC TION

4. SUBFE RTILITY
Fertility is a spectrum – High, normal or poor (Sub-fertility).
Human fertility is relatively poor.
Normal couples: Month ly 20 – 25%; 50% at 6 month s .
Up to 10% of normal couples are without a
pregnancy at 12 months.

5. SUBFE RTILITY
The woman is the limiting factor in fertility.
Egg survives for about 24 hours (can be fertilized for about
12 hours).
If ovulation is monthly (hardly the case!), pregnancy can
potentially occur only in 6 – 12 days of 365 days in a
year.
Luckily the sperm can stay in the body for up to 3 – 5 days
(increases the monthly chance).

6. SUBFE RTILITY
DEFINITION The inability of a couple to achieve pregnancy
after one year of marriage in spite
of adequate conjugal union.

7. SUBFE RTILITY
10 couples.Incidence - 10%

8. SUBFE RTILITY
10 couples.Incidence - 10%

9. SUBFE RTILITY

10. SUBFE RTILITY

11. NATURAL PROCREATIVE TECHNOLOGY
Jeremiah 5
5 Before I formed you in the womb I
knew you, and before you were born I
consecrated you; I appointed you a
prophet to the nations.
Developed by Thomas W. Hilgers, an obstetrician/gynecologist, at
the Pope Paul VI Institute in the United states.

12. NAPRO TECH
Involves monitoring hormonal events
during the menstrual cycle as well as
charts similar to the billings method.
It cooperates with the menstrual and
fertility cycles to correct infertility.
Medications (tablets/Injection) as
well as surgeries are incorporated.

13. NAPRO TECH
Fertility awareness using Cervical mucus
assessment (Billings method) with or without the
use of medications
Hormone test to study the fertile period.
Rhythm method/calculations.
D r ug - Clomiphene citrate,
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) &
Human Menopausal Gonadotropin (HCG).
OPTIONS

14. NAPRO TECH

15. NAPRO TECH

16. NAPRO TECH
Sub-fertility
Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion
Premenstrual Syndrome
Postpartum Depression
Need for Progesterone Support
Prevention of Preterm Birth
Surgical NaProTechnology

17. BILLINGS ME THOD
FAMILY PLANNING: The right to determine the
number, the timing and spacing of
children.

18. BILLINGS ME THOD
FAMILY PLANNING: The right to determine the
number, the timing and spacing of
children.
METHODS
I R R E V E R S I B L E
R E V E R S I B L E

19. BILLINGS ME THOD
FAMILY PLANNING: The right to determine the
number, the timing and spacing of
children.
METHODS
I R R E V E R S I B L E
BTL – Women
VASECTOMY - Men
R E V E R S I B L E

20. BILLINGS ME THOD
FAMILY PLANNING: The right to determine the
number, the timing and spacing of
children.
METHODS
I R R E V E R S I B L E
BTL – Women
VASECTOMY - Men
R E V E R S I B L E
MEDICATED/DEVICES
Pills
IUCD - Coil
Injections
Implants
Barrier methods
R E V E R S I B L E
NATURAL FAMILY
PLANNING
Rhythm method
Basal body temperature
Breast feeding (LAM)
BILLINGS METHOD
R E V E R S I B L E

21. BILLINGS ME THOD
IRREVERSIBLE; MEDICATED; DEVICES
Significant side-effects (SE)
Regrets
Some irreversible
Poor libido
Poor mood
Abnormal bleeding
Menstrual cramps
Delays in regaining fertility
NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING
Methods for preventing Pregnancy BASED ON
observing the natural signs and symptoms of
the fertile and infertile parts the menstrual
cycle.
Avoids the SE of hormonal methods
Abstinence encourages bonding.
Knowledge of reproductive function
Reversible
Low cost
Sex selection

22. BILLINGS ME THOD
BILLINGS METHODEasy to learn.
Can be used by every woman.
It is natural and simple to use.
No drugs or devices are involved.
No side effects.
Effective.
Morally acceptable to all cultures.
ADVANTAGES

23. BILLINGS ME THOD
Observations made at the vulva as she goes about her normal
daily activities.
No internal examination.
Most fertile characteristic of day recorded each evening.
One or two words recorded to describe sensation and
appearance.
Colored stamps or symbols used on chart
FEATURES

24. BILLINGS ME THOD
CHARTING

25. BILLINGS ME THOD
CHARTING

26. BILLINGS ME THOD
When trying to AVOID pregnancy:

27. When trying to GET pregnancy and SEX SELECTION:
BILLINGS ME THOD
X - Peak – Day of OVULATION

28. Key to SUCCESS:
Take time to understand the charting.
INTERCOURSE MAY lead to errors in charting wetness.
Adhere to the period of abstinence.
The longer the period of abstinence, the more reliable.
BILLINGS ME THOD

29. CONCLUSION
Family size and structure is important – Economic and
ethical arguments! Let’s be wise.
The church promotes effective, scientifically proven
approaches – control of fertility and sub-fertility.
We live in a fallen world, but a life of GRACE!