Billings Ovulation Method – A Healthy Alternative to Managing Fertility

For most women in our society there is a need at some time in their reproductive years to consider family planning. Commonly used contraceptive methods can have unwanted side effects and for some women contraception may impair their fertility for extended periods of time.

There is a reliable and safe alternative – shown by studies to be approaching 100 per cent effective (1). It is the Billings Ovulation Method of natural family planning, which was developed in Australia some 30 years ago and named after Drs John and Evelyn Billings of Melbourne. In collaboration with others and with the cooperation of many couples they were able to show that a woman can accurately recognise and interpret signs of her fertility and infertility.

The breakthrough which allows a woman to understand her own fertility is the realization that near the time of ovulation (release of an egg from her ovary) she can detect a special type of mucus at her external genital area. This mucus is produced at the cervix and is necessary for sperm to survive to reach the egg. Because this special mucus is only present for a few days at a time and ovulation occurs on only one day in a cycle, a woman is infertile most of the time. This information allows couples wishing to avoid a pregnancy to time sexual activity for when conception can not occur. For those wishing to achieve a pregnancy the method allows them to recognise when intercourse is most likely to result in conception.

Women learn to keep a daily record of the sensation at their external genital area and of the appearance of any mucus they see. This record may be a chart with coloured stickers or symbols, or in less modernized societies things such as beads, or knots on a string, sticks, leaves, flowers etc. may be used.

Once learned the Billings Ovulation Method can be used in all phases of a woman’s reproductive life, including menopause. It is particularly suitable for use during breastfeeding as there are no drugs or chemicals used and no risk of contamination of breast milk or reduction in the amount of milk produced.

The Billings Ovulation Method has been scientifically proven and is widely accepted in many countries and cultures throughout the world. It has been established in over 100 countries by women teaching women. Chinese authorities have recognised it as a more reliable and healthy alternative to the I.U.D. which is a very common form of birth control used there. Knowing what is normal has allowed some women using this method to recognise disease of their reproductive system in time to seek early treatment which has saved their lives. It is knowledge that women deserve to have.

The Billings Ovulation Method is user friendly, inexpensive, portable, uses no drugs or devices, has no side affects and is environmentally friendly. The Method promotes joint responsibility for a couple’s fertility and therefore develops love and concern for each other. The Billings Ovulation Method offers confidence in its reliability.

(1) Figures quoted are from various trials including some conducted by the World Health Organisation. Best possible reliability depends on good understanding of the method and correct application of method rules.

For further information contact the Ovulation Method Research and Reference Centre of Australia at 27 Alexandra Parade, Fitzroy North, VIC 3068. Phone; (03) 94811722. Email: billings@ozemail.com.au. Website: www.billings-centre.ab.ca.