Doctor Evelyn Billings, who was one half of a remarkable husband and wife partnership that became world-renowned pioneers of natural fertility regulation, passed away on February 16 aged 95.
Together with her husband, Dr John Billings, she founded the Method of natural fertility regulation which bears their name.
The Billings Method, as it is known today, is based on helping women to recognise periods of fertility and infertlity during their monthly cycle using vaginal mucus secretions as a key indicator.
Dr Evelyn Billings’ studies on breastfeeding mothers and women approaching menopause made a major contribution to the work.
For half a century the couple traveled the world teaching and promoting the Billings Ovulation Method in faithfulness to Pope Paul VI’s call to “men (and women) of science (and) physicians (to) be obedient to the Lord’s call and to act as faithful interpreters of His plan.”
She was the author of the best selling non-fiction book The Billings Method, first published in 1980. The book was reprinted 16 times with seven new or revised editions.
The latest completely revised edition was published in 2011. Access to this book, published in 22 languages, made the Billings Method a household name and gave hope to millions of couples throughout the world.
In 2003 Blessed Pope John Paul II made Evelyn a Dame Commander of St Gregory the Great; she was also an active member of the Pontifical Academy for Life. She was recognised with honorary doctorates from universities around the world.
In 2002 the International Catholic Federation of Medical Associations jointly declared Drs John and Evelyn Billings International Catholic Physicians of the Year.
Couples in more than 100 countries bear testament to the work of the couple. In China alone, where they trained thousands to teach their Method, a substantial drop in the abortion rate has been attributed to their work.
Countries struggling with population growth such as India and China, to name a few, have also invested heavily in Billings fertility education centres because of the Billings method’s high success rate in helping space conception or preventing it.
The method also substantially aided many couples experiencing infertility to cenceive.
She is survived by eight of her nine children, 39 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren.