Hanna Klaus, M.D., F.A.C.O.G. Executive Director Natural Family Planning Center of Washington, D.C. and the Teen STAR Program. 8514 Bradmoor Drive Bethesda, MD 20817-3810 USA Information about the Billings Method can be found on the Billings website: http://www.woomb.org. BOM teachers are found in 39 states and territories and they are listed by the Billings Ovulation Method Association http://www.boma-usa.org. Additional scientific information can be accessed in H. Klaus, NFP-a Review, 2nd ed., avail from author. Tel. 301-897-9323; Fax 301-571- 5267.
Contact: hklaus@dgsys.com
Natural family planning is planning for achieving or preventing a pregnancy by the timing of intercourse. By observing and recording certain natural symptoms and bodily changes that occur in a woman's menstrual cycle and using the information as a guide, a couple can learn to identify the fertile and infertile phases of the menstrual cycle. If the couple wishes to achieve pregnancy, they can be aware of the best days for this to occur. If the couple wishes to avoid pregnancy, they should abstain from intercourse or genital contact during the fertile or risk period of the cycle. Natural family planning for preventing pregnancy is also referred to as "periodic abstinence." The World Health Organization (WHO) defines periodic abstinence as voluntary avoidance of intercourse by a couple during the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle in order to avoid pregnancy.
Date posted: 2007-04-08
Her narrative relies on the retrospective, adult understanding of women who reflect on their adolescent behaviors. Despite the fact that adult women wished that they had learned to understand and value their fertility much earlier in their lives, giving unnecessarily complicated physiological information to girls who are still growing toward adulthood and do not process information the same way adults do, does not begin to meet their needs.
Date posted: 2007-03-23
"How do I know when a reproductive technology is morally right?"
Date posted: 2006-01-28
Until the paradigm shift in medical ethics brought about by the acceptance of contraception and later, abortion, Roman Catholics and those who shared their views on the inviolability of human life were not considered counter-cultural. However, in the last half century, those who refused to condone, let alone participate in abortion were quickly marginalized if they sought admission not only to post-graduate training programs in obstetrics and gynecology, but even entry to medical school. Soon, not so subtle discrimination extended to those who refused to participate in surgical sterilization or, even worse, prescribe contraception.
Date posted: 2002-09-18
Despite recent declining rates in adolescent pregnancy in this country, more than four in ten teenage girls still get pregnant at least once before age 20. About two-thirds of all students have sex before graduating from high school, potentially exposing themselves to STDs. And one in four sexually experienced teens do contract an STD each year, some of which are incurable, including HIV, which is terminal or at least life-threatening (Kirby, 2001)
Date posted: 2001-12-31
It seems clear that all modern NFP methods currently offered in the U.S. can help couples regulate their fertility equally well. The choice of method depends on the availability of teachers and on the temperament of the user couple. As a provider of the Billings Method my bias is obviously in the direction of this, the simplest, easiest, and most versatile of all the methods, based as it is on the woman's own observation of the sensation of her mucus. It is easily taught and learned, requiring few visits until the couple is autonomous, thus making it very inexpensive. It is also the most widespread method, operating currently in over 120 countries.
Date posted: 2001-12-30