Patients often surprised when low-tech approach works
Patients often surprised when low-tech approach works

By Chris Jones Comments 0
Published: June 24, 2008

When Dr. Mary Martin talks to patients about the Billings Ovulation Method, many are skeptical.

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Billings Ovulation Method

Dr. Mary Martin, who specializes in obstetrics, gynecology and infertility answers the most frequently asked questions about the Billings Ovulation Method.

•How effective is the Billings Method?

80 percent worldwide.

•Do I have to take my temperature?

No, this method was discontinued in 1963, because there are too many variables.

•How do I know which discharge is fertile?

It is based on a changing or unchanging pattern, and not on the characteristics such as color or the quantity.

•How long will it take to conceive?

Failure to conceive is based on three fertile cycles. Not all cycles are fertile cycles.

•How is it determined if the spouse has a problem?

The husband can be referred to a urologist for a workup, or a post-coital test can be done during the fertile phase. The fertile phase is not based on the calendar date.

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Martin, who specializes in obstetrics, gynecology and infertility, is on staff at St. Anthony Hospital in Oklahoma City. She advocates the natural form of family planning developed by John Billings, an Australian neurologist who developed a natural contraception method endorsed by the Roman Catholic Church.

Billings, who died in 2007, was married to pediatrician Dr. Evelyn Billings. He began studying natural contraceptive techniques in 1953 at the request of the Catholic Marriage Bureau in Melbourne. The couple created the Billings Method. The method relies on a woman's ability to sense changes in the amount and texture of her cervical mucus, which helps predict ovulation and fertility.

Jennifer Daly, 29, experienced years of painful health problems due to endometriosis beginning in her teen years. When she married, she and her husband discussed adoption, because her doctor recommended a hysterectomy. She took a risk with her health and finances and went through an in-vitro fertilization process with a 52 percent chance of success. She credits the birth of 3-year-old Clara to the power of faith and prayer and said the couple believed she would be an only child.

When Daly began seeing Martin, she was told about the Billings Method.

"I had never heard of the Billings Method, and it seemed too simple,” Jennifer Daly said. "I thought, ‘OK, we just spent $14,000, and you tell me I will have a baby. I just take this prescription to correct ovulation, and do some charting.'”

Daly followed the Billings Method and in two months was pregnant with Charlie. On April 21, the couple had a third child, Colt, an 8-pound, 12-ounce boy. The Caeserian section birth was followed by a hysterectomy, a procedure Daly said she could no longer postpone due to her health.

"I talk to so many women who are trying to get pregnant,” Daly said, "and I know people are going bankrupt to go through in-vitro. I just think if they knew about the Billings Method, they would want to try it before going through so much.”

The Billings Method is considered more accurate than earlier natural contraceptive methods such as the rhythm method, which is based on a woman's menstrual history and the calendar to predict statistically when her next ovulation will take place. Many women have irregular menstrual cycles, making accurate prediction of ovulation difficult.

Nicole Foss, 38, and her husband, Alan Foss, 38, are the parents of three adopted children: Abigail, 10, Preston, 8, and Simon, 5. They were happy and thankful for their children, and after 13 years of marriage had no reason to expect any additions to their family.

Two years ago, Nicole Foss became Martin's patient. She began taking Metiform for irregular menstrual cycles and laughed when the doctor told her she wouldn't be surprised if there was a pregnancy.

"I didn't go to her for infertility issues,” she said, "I wanted a female doctor I could talk to, and I wasn't expecting to become pregnant. Dr. Martin gave me information about the Billings Ovulation Method, but we didn't use the method. When I told my husband what she said about getting pregnant, we both just blew it off.”

On June 9, the Fosses learned they are expecting a baby.

"We did three home pregnancy tests,” Nicole Foss said. "Dr. Martin did an ultrasound, and she said, ‘There is your baby.' When she told us, it was breathtaking, and we were pretty much speechless.”

The appeal for many couples who choose to use the Billings method is the simplicity in a technological world, the absence of invasive procedures and chemicals, and the cost savings.

It's an old method just being discovered by a new generation.