A recently released five year study showing remarkable success, yet deplorable lack of knowledge among women of the Billings Ovulation Method, has prompted its teachers to launch a new web site.
The study revealed great success with couples from all backgrounds and age groups achieving pregnancy and live birth, including those typically classified as “sub-fertile” or “infertile”. Pregnancy was achieved by older women and by some who had been unsuccessful with IVF procedures. In these cases, providing information of the significance of the changing pattern of fertility, with an emphasis on the recognition of optimum fertility by the vulval sensation of slipperiness, proved to be the key to success.
One of the most significant findings of this study was the lack of knowledge of fertility, which applied across all groups.
A “staggering” 18 per cent only had correct information about the signs and symptoms of fertility. This is a remarkable statistic in an age of information and indicates that there is a definite lack in the provision of education and accurate information on this important subject, said Marie Marshell from the Ovulation Method Research and Reference Centre of Australia.
The old website, www.woomb.org, still functions as an information site, especially for the “scientifically inclined” health professional, with an internet teaching service where people can register and be put in touch with a personal instructor and chart online.
The modern new site, www.billingslife.org, is linked to Twitter and Facebook and is constantly updated with fresh information, while constantly sending out reminders and information to its ‘followers’ and ‘friends’ on the social networking site.
The new site is also less specifically Catholic in its content and is targeted at a wider audience, and also has a facility to download a chart to email to a teacher, but has the added bonus of a teaching service. It also lists on its “Resources” page teaching centres around Australia and all affiliated teaching services around the word where people can get individual instruction.
While the old site will be redesigned and will continue, organisers plan to have a “single landing site” directing people to both the new, more personal user-friendly site and the old, more formal site that has more in-depth information.
The study demonstrated that a non-invasive method of couple instruction from trained teachers of the Billings Ovulation Method can empower couples and improve pregnancy outcomes for many who considered they had little chance of conceiving their baby, she said.
“Stress is relieved when couples learn that there are times when ovulation is delayed, such as when breastfeeding or recovering fertility after ceasing chemical contraception. They will be able to identify infertility and the signs of returning fertility,” she said.
“This finding alone gives us good reason to recommend that there is a need for the promotion of services which empower couples and women.
“Promotion of this essential knowledge should be seen as part of the range of reproductive choices available to all couples.
“However, it seems that a request for referral to reproductive technology is often the first route considered by the couple experiencing difficulty in achieving a pregnancy.
“It is well documented that the increase of invasive therapies continues to rise despite considerable physical, emotional and financial cost. Alternatively, the low costs involved in learning to understand your own fertility will be with you for life, regardless of your reproductive life stage.
Joan Clements, director of WOOMB International (World Organistaion of the Ovulation Method) told The Record that the study’s findings “did give us a kick up the backside, but emphasised to us how little women know about their fertility, so we needed to get our message across better”.
If you are interested in learning more, contact Billings LIFE in Perth on bnfpwa@westnet.com.au or call 0409 119 532. Its national office is 4B/303 Burwood Hwy, East Burwood 3151. Phone 03 9802 2022
Email: the billingsmethod@woomb.org Website: www.billingslife.org.