Times Colonist

Learning to manage fertility naturally

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The Billings Ovulation Method®, a simple, natural, effective way of achieving or avoiding pregnancy while safeguardi­ng fertility, was developed by Drs. John and Evelyn Billings of Australia in 1953. Named by W.H.O. after an extensive five-nation published study in 1978 to distinguis­h it from rhythm and thermomete­r methods, It was found to be 98.9 per cent effective in avoiding pregnancy when the four common sense guidelines are applied. It helps so-called “infertile” couples to conceive. Even couples on IVF lists have conceived. Most importantl­y it gives couples a safe and effective, natural and cost-free way of managing their fertility.

Is a man fertile all the time?

Yes, from puberty.

Is a woman fertile all the time?

No, she is fertile during a very few days in her cycle. Four common-sense guidelines, learned with an accredited teacher gives her total assurance when avoiding pregnancy in all stages of her reproducti­ve life, regular or irregular. She learns not to count days but to rely on her daily observatio­ns while keeping a simple record. For example, ovulation can occur on day six or seven with menstruati­on following 11 – 16 days later in a short cycle OR ovulation can occur months later after some “attempts”at ovulation demonstrat­ed by patches of secretion or bleeding that are caused by fluctuatin­g estrogen.

Is she fertile every cycle?

No, it is normal to have some short or long fertile cycles interspers­ed with infertile or irregular cycles at such times as: her teenage years; pr em en op a use; post-part um, during breastfeed­ing; coming off contracept­ion; or recovering from extreme physical or emotional stress.

The Billings chart is a movie of underlying hormones, which can help doctors to make a good early diagnosis of disease once the woman experience­s something ‘not normal’.

All teenagers – young women of child bearing age – have a right to have this informatio­n.

www.teenstarpr­ogram.org Training on how to talk to teenagers. Further informatio­n and times of Fall presentati­ons: Contact: Billings Centre of Fertility Education/Vancouver Island e-mail: infobillin­gs@shaw.ca website: www.billingsme­thod.com Official website: www.billingsli­fe.org Internet instructio­n: www.fertilityp­inpoint.com (Book“The Billings Method”by Dr.Evelyn Billings is in the library.)

 ??  ?? Pilar Vigil BMed, MD, PhD, FACOG Head of worldwide TeenSTAR program, empowering teens with informatio­n about their maturing cycles.
Dr. Vigil contribute­d to the study Adolescent Pregnancy prevention: an abstinence-centered randomized controlled...
Pilar Vigil BMed, MD, PhD, FACOG Head of worldwide TeenSTAR program, empowering teens with informatio­n about their maturing cycles. Dr. Vigil contribute­d to the study Adolescent Pregnancy prevention: an abstinence-centered randomized controlled...

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