Example of a CrMS chart: three cycles charted for the CrMS showing the occurrence of menstruation, the pre-Peak dry days, the mucus cycle, the Peak Day (P), and the post-Peak dry days. The pre-Peak phases are variable in length (14, 9, and 20 days) but the post-Peak periods are consistent (14, 15, 13 days). Photo: Pope Paul VI Institute/ NaPro textbook p46
By Theresia Titus
A standardised system with a standardised language used by all women to describe the observations of their health is how Perth doctor Amanda Lamont describes the Creighton Model FertilityCare System (CrMS).
It was co-developed by Obstetrician-gynecologist Professor Thomas Hilgers, who is also the founder and director of the Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction in Omaha, Nebraska.
His continuing research in CrMS allowed him to develop NaProTECHNOLOGY, which uses the CrMS charting system.
Dr Amanda Lamont, a Fertility specialist and founder of FertilityCare and NaProTechnology in Perth holding NaProTECHNOLOGY textbook by Professor Thomas Hilgers. Photo: Marco Ceccarelli.
Having established the first Australasian centre for NaProTECHNOLOGY and FertilityCare with the support of St John of God in 2002, Dr Amanda Lamont spoke to The Record.
“All Fertility Awareness-Based Methods (FABM) of family planning such as FertilityCare CrMS are based on observation of natural biomarkers to determine the fertility or infertility of any given day of a woman’s cycle,” Dr Lamont said.
“These methods observe fertility as a natural part of health and teach couples to work with their natural fertility cycles to plan their families.”
In contrast, artificial contraceptive methods “aim to suppress or interfere with a person’s natural fertility” and can have a devastating effect on women.
The oral contraceptive pill that is classified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a Group One carcinogen (having cancer-causing agent properties).
Couples who wish to implement NaProTECHNOLOGY into their family planning will need to attend an initial medical consultation, as well as separate charting teaching sessions to ensure they are comfortable with the charting process.
“Further diagnostic tests, sometimes including surgical procedures, may be needed after a review of the charts and initial investigations,” Dr Lamont said.
“A management plan would be developed and regularly reviewed with hormonal monitoring using the FertilityCare CrMS charts, blood tests, ultrasounds and other investigations if and when needed.”
By using CrMS and NaProTECHNOLOGY, couples have the opportunity to attain knowledge which allows them “to be active participants in God’s wonderful plans for their family by choosing to time their intimacy” following their natural fertility cycles.
“This contrasts with the use of artificial contraceptives such as the Oral Contraceptive Pill, which suppresses a woman’s fertility as though it were a disease to be ‘treated’”, Dr Lamont said.
“A woman is able to notice any changes in her reproductive health by observing her FertilityCare chart and can bring any concerns to her FertilityCare charting teacher or NaProTECHNOLOGY doctor.
“NaProTECHNOLOGY does not involve the suppression of any hormonal systems but instead aims to restore normal function to the reproductive system,” she explained.
Dr James Kho Photo: Supplied.
Dr James Kho, NaProTECHNOLOGY medical practitioner who had worked alongside Dr Lamont, estimated they both have seen a few hundred patients.
Based in Thornlie Medical Centre and moving to Rapha Women’s Health Centre in Osborne Park next year, Dr Kho said he would have been of service to more than 100 patients within the past five years.
Dr Lamont also explained that the model involves the observation of female bodily discharges, to identify times of fertility and infertility in the women’s cycle, as well as any suggestive hormonal deficiencies that could lead to miscarriage.
“There are many other changes observable in a woman’s cycle which can indicate problems associated with subfertility, miscarriage and women’s health problems,” she said.
“Problems such as PMS and Polycystic Ovarian Disease, for example, show some detectable charting patterns which would trigger investigation and management in the hands of a trained NaProTECHNOLOGY doctor. “
Depending on the case of each couple, hormonal medications or supplements may be necessary to use iand surgeries may even be needed.
Conditions such as endometriosis, blocked fallopian tubes and pelvic adhesions can “only confidently be diagnosed at the time of surgery”.
“Natural hormones such as progesterone, together with vitamins such as Vitamin D and minerals such as Zinc may be used in situations where a person is deficient in hormones, vitamins or minerals,” Dr Lamont said.
Dr Lamont also highlighted studies have confirmed NaProTECHNOLOGY is able to lower divorce rates as “high levels of communication and cooperation between spouses are fostered” and has been shown to be 99.3 per cent method-effective in avoiding pregnancy.
“The combination of the FertilityCare system and NaProTECHNOLOGY offers a unique, highly effective and ethically sound approach to women’s’ health care and fertility management,” Dr Lamont said.
“Couples are thoroughly investigated to find the cause of their problem, then offered a tailored treatment plan which incorporates care for their long-term reproductive and general health as well as management of their immediate health needs.
“NaProTECHNOLOGY is offered in a manner which is deeply respectful of the dignity of each family member: wife, husband and child,” she concluded.