The Billings ovulation method (BOM) is a method which women use to monitor their fertility, by identifying when they are fertile and when they are infertile during each menstrual cycle. Users pay attention to the sensation at their vulva, and the appearance of any vaginal discharge. This information can be used to achieve or avoid pregnancy during regular or irregular cycles, breastfeeding, and peri-menopause. Described by the BOM organization as "Natural Fertility Regulation", this method may be used as a form of fertility awareness or natural family planning, as well as a way to monitor gynecological health. Image of a woman on the Pioneer plaque sent to outer space. ... Fertile may be used in the following conrtext: Fertility, a term used to describe the ability of people or animals to produce healthy offspring. ... Fertility is the ability of people or animals to produce healthy offspring in abundance. ... Menstrual cycle The menstrual cycle is a recurring cycle of physiological changes that occurs in the females of human beings and great apes. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... A pregnant woman near the end of her term Pregnancy is the carrying of one or more embryos or fetuses by female mammals, including humans, inside their bodies. ... Menstrual cycle The menstrual cycle is a recurring cycle of physiological changes that occurs in the females of human beings and great apes. ... Breastfeeding an infant Symbol for breastfeeding (Matt Daigle, Mothering magazine contest winner 2006) Breastfeeding is the feeding of an infant or young child with milk from a womans breasts. ... Menopause is the physiological cessation of menstrual cycles associated with advancing age in women. ... Fertility Awareness (FA) is the practice of observing one or more of a woman’s primary fertility signs to determine the fertile and infertile phases of her menstrual cycle. ... Natural Family Planning (NFP) is a set of Catholic-sanctioned methods of family planning, which help women to achieve or avoid pregnancy by identifying times of infertility and potential fertility. ... The shamefulness associated with the examination of female genitalia has long inhibited the science of gynaecology. ...

In trials method related pregnancy rates have ranged between 0% to 2.9%.^[1] In a recent trial in China 992 couples using the Billings Method were compared to 662 couples using the IUD. The method-related pregnancy rate amongst Billings users was zero and the total pregnancy rate was 0.5%.^[2] In studies up to the 1980's teaching related pregnancies ranged between 0% to 6%.^[1] Total pregnancy rates vary between 1 and 25%.^[3]. Reasons for a higher total pregnancy rate include misunderstanding the method, risk taking, ambivalence toward pregnancy, and deciding to become pregnant. An intra-uterine device (intra meaning within, and uterine meaning of the uterus) is a birth control device also known as an IUD or a coil (this colloquialism is based on the coil-shaped design of early IUDs). ...

John Billings, described as a "staunch Catholic", developed the method as a form of natural family planning in accordance with his religious faith.^[1] He was recognized with a Papal knighthood in life, and condolences for his death were given by the Pope.^[2] Billings strove to raise awareness of the significance of cervical mucus to fertility to all people, regardless of their religion. Dr. John Billings (5 March 1918–1 April 2007) was an Australian doctor who pioneered the natural method of family planning known as the Billings Ovulation Method, the Ovulation Method, or simply the Billings Method. ... Natural Family Planning (NFP) is a set of Catholic-sanctioned methods of family planning, which help women to achieve or avoid pregnancy by identifying times of infertility and potential fertility. ... Papal Orders of Chivalry are orders of knighthood bestowed by the Pope. ...

Thomas Hilgers later created the Creighton Model FertilityCare System as a variation of the Billings method. ^[3] While Hilgers describes his method as a "standardization" of the BOM, the Billings refuted this claim in a position paper.^[4] The Creighton Model FertilityCare System is a new unique model of advanced procreative education. ...

History

The first recorded observations of the relationship between cervical mucus and survival of spermatozoa come from the mid-19th century.^[4] The topic was not systematically studied, however, for almost another century. In 1948, Erik Odeblad was studying mycoplasms in the female genital tract. During the course of his studies, he noticed that cervical mucus changed in a predictable pattern through the course of a woman's cycle. He continued his study of the cervix.^[5] Schematic frontal view of female anatomy The cervix (from Latin neck) is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina. ... A spermatozoon or spermatozoan ( spermatozoa), from the ancient Greek σπέρμα (seed) and (living being) and more commonly known as a sperm cell, is the haploid cell that is the male gamete. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Independently in 1953, Dr. John Billings (1918–2007) discovered the relationship between cervical mucus and fertility while assisting the marriage consultant for the Melbourne Catholic Family Welfare Bureau. Some of the couples he worked with had serious reasons to postpone pregnancy, and followed the Catholic Church's teachings of only using natural methods of pregnancy avoidance. While Dr. Billings was familiar with the Rhythm and Basal Body Temperature methods, he felt there was a need for something more flexible and more reliable. He embarked on a study of medical literature, and found the mid-19th- and early-20th-century references to cervical mucus and sperm survival. He instructed women using the Rhythm method to avoid intercourse also on all days, and for a few days after, they noticed vaginal discharge. This resulted in a dramatic decrease in unintended pregnancies among these couples.^[4] Dr. John Billings (5 March 1918–1 April 2007) was an Australian doctor who pioneered the natural method of family planning known as the Billings Ovulation Method, the Ovulation Method, or simply the Billings Method. ... Melbournes CBD has grown to straddle the Yarra River in three major precincts. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church... Natural family planning (NFP), sometimes described as periodic abstinence, is a form of birth control that involves recognizing the natural signs in a womans fertility. ... One of the many changes that take place in a womans body during her menstrual cycle is an increase in body temperature at the onset of ovulation. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with The 20th century in review. ...

In the early 1960s, Dr. James Brown took a position at the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. Dr. Brown had earlier developed the first tests to measure oestrogen and progesterone, and he used these tests to assist Dr. Billings in further study of the relationship between cervical mucus and fertility. Dr. Evelyn Billings joined the research team in 1965. By the late 1960s, the rules for identifying fertile days had been established and teaching centers began to be set up around the world. The method was called the Ovulation Method, to emphasize that the central feature of a woman's fertility cycle was ovulation, rather than menstruation. In the 1970s, a committee of the World Health Organization renamed it the Billings Ovulation Method.^[4] The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... Estriol. ... Progesterone is a C-21 steroid hormone involved in the female menstrual cycle, pregnancy (supports gestation) and embryogenesis of humans and other species. ... 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1965 calendar). ... Ovulation is the process in the menstrual cycle by which a mature ovarian follicle ruptures and discharges an ovum (also known as an oocyte, female gamete, or casually, an egg) that participates in reproduction. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979. ... The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. ...

Scientific verification of the Billings Method is ongoing. Dr. James Brown continued to study ovarian activity until his retirement in 1985.^[6] Dr. Erik Odeblad was acquainted with the Billings Ovulation Method in 1977, and reported that his research into the activity of the cervix confirmed all the conclusions made by Dr. Billings.^[4] Dr. Odeblad's research into the cervix and cervical mucus also continued for many decades.^[7] For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ...

Fertility

• A woman ovulates at only one time during her cycle, and an ovum can survive for only 12-24 hours.
• Cervical mucus enabling healthy sperm cells to navigate the genital tract is necessary for fertility
• Spermatozoa have an average life of only 3 days to 5 days in the presence of fertile mucus.
• Menstruation will occur about 2 weeks after ovulation.
• A study of 45,280 subfertile couples in China found that 32.1% of women were able to achieve pregnancy and live birth through the use of Billings.^[8]

A human ovum Sperm cells attempting to fertilize an ovum An ovum (plural ova) is a haploid female reproductive cell or gamete. ...

How the method works

In the days leading up to ovulation the cervix responds to oestrogen by producing mucus capable of sustaining sperm survival. This mucus leaves the vagina as the woman is in an upright position. The mucus is observed through the sensation at the vulva and by looking at any discharge. Daily charting of these observations will reveal either an unchanging pattern indicating infertility or a changing pattern of sensation and discharge indicating fertility. Both of these patterns follow the hormonal patterns which control sperm survival and conception.^[9]

Billings Method teachers help women recognize and understand their signs of fertility. This can help in the early diagnosis and treatment of gynaecological disorders, and can contribute to a woman's reproductive health.^[10]

References

1. ^ ABC response
2. ^ Papal message
3. ^ Creighton Model
4. ^ Some Clarifications Concerning NaProTECHNOLOGY and the Billings Ovulation Method

Notes

1. ^ Trials of the Billings Ovulation Method The Billings Method, Dr. Evelyn Billings & Ann Westmore, 2000, pg 215.
2. ^ Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Natural Fertility Regulation Programme in China: Shao-Zhen Qian, et al. Reproduction and Contraception (English edition), in press 2000.
3. ^ Contraceptive effectiveness rates: James Trussell et al. (2000). Contraceptive Technology — 18th Edition, New York: Ardent Media. On-press.
4. ^ THE QUEST - leading to the discovery of the Billings Ovulation Method, Billings, J., Bulletin of Ovulation Method Research and Reference Centre of Australia, Vol 29 No.1 March 2002, pp18-28.
5. ^ The Discovery of Different Types of Cervical Mucus, Erik Odeblad, Bulletin of the Ovulation Method Research and Reference Centre of Australia, Volume 21 No.3 September 1994, pp3-35.
6. ^ Ovarian Activity and Fertility and the Billings Ovulation Method: Dr. James B. Brown, 2000.
7. ^ Cervical Mucus and their functions, Erik Odeblad, Journal of the Irish Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons, Vol. 26 No.1 January 1997.
8. ^  Successfully Launching Billings Method: Dr. Shao-Zhen Qian
9. ^ Teaching the Billings Ovulation Method, Dr E. L. Billings AM, MB BS, DCH (London), 2001.
10. ^ Part. 2 Variations of the Cycle and Reproductive Health, Evelyn L. Billings and John J Billings.

See also

• Basal body temperature
• Creighton Model FertilityCare System
• Fertility awareness
• Natural birth control
• Natural family planning
• Toni Weschler

One of the many changes that take place in a womans body during her menstrual cycle is an increase in body temperature at the onset of ovulation. ... The Creighton Model FertilityCare System is a new unique model of advanced procreative education. ... Fertility Awareness (FA) is the practice of observing one or more of a woman’s primary fertility signs to determine the fertile and infertile phases of her menstrual cycle. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Natural Family Planning (NFP) is a set of Catholic-sanctioned methods of family planning, which help women to achieve or avoid pregnancy by identifying times of infertility and potential fertility. ... Toni Weschler is the author of the bestselling book on womens health and fertility, Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health. ...

External links

• World Organization Ovulation Method Billings
• Billings Ovulation Method Association - USA