Learning the Billings Ovulation Method is perfect for any woman who wants to learn about her fertility, no matter her phase of life! There are also specific times in life when the method can be particularly helpful. Select a goal from the buttons below to read about how the method could help you, or contact a teacher in your area to learn the method.
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Achieving Your Pregnancy Naturally
Capacity to conceive
Fertility reaches its peak at about the age of 24 in both men and women. In women, the ability to conceive declines between 30 and 40, then rapidly as the menopause approaches. In men, fertility gradually diminishes from about the age of 50, although a man has the potential for fatherhood into old age.
Of those couples trying to conceive, fewer than a third will succeed within the first month, only 50% by 6 months and 80-90% by 18 months.
Infertility is usually defined as the inability to conceive after 12-18 months of sexual intercourse without contraception. Approximately 15% of couples trying to have a child are unable to do so.
Recognising fertility
The joint fertility of the couple is dependent on sperm, ovulation and the presence of mucus. Mucus which produces a wet/slippery sensation at the vulva is an indicator of impending ovulation.
Most women can easily learn to recognise an obvious mucus discharge at the time of fertility. For some women this discharge may be slight in amount and not easily seen. However there will be a subtle change in sensation produced by the mucus at the time of fertility. No internal investigations are necessary.
The Billings Ovulation Method helps women to recognise this time of fertility and maximise the chance of conception.
Billings Ovulation Method
When a woman learns the Billings Ovulation Method, she is taught to recognise and understand her signs of fertility and infertility. She does this by observing the presence or absence of mucus at the vulva. This mucus, produced at the cervix, is essential for fertility. Sperm cells depend on this mucus for their survival and their ability to reach and fertilise the egg.
Mucus that has fertile characteristics indicates the approach of ovulation. Some women experience very little mucus and not in every cycle.
A couple having difficulty in conceiving can be assisted by a Billings Ovulation Method teacher. The teacher can assist the couple to understand the subtle changes in the mucus secretion or sensation, alerting them to the most fertile time in the cycle.
If there are no psychological or medical conditions preventing pregnancy, advice about timing of intercourse to coincide with this mucus provides the greatest success.
Achieving conception
The achievement of pregnancy involves special requirements and events:
- The reproductive hormones (oestrogen and progesterone) must be at the correct levels for normal ovulation.
- Healthy sperm cells must be present.
- The woman’s cervix must produce mucus to ensure selection, nourishment and transport of the best sperm cells to meet the egg in the fallopian tube.
- The fallopian tube must be unobstructed in order to allow the meeting of a sperm and ovum (conception) and allow the resulting embryo to pass into the uterus and implant.
- The uterine lining (endometrium) must be healthy and ready to receive the embryo.
Intercourse when the woman recognises the fertile characteristics of the mucus provides the maximum chance of conception.
Emotions affect the finely balanced functions of reproduction. In some cases the loving bond between the couple needs more nurturing before conception will occur.
It is essential that the couple have correct information about the requirements for conception. The Billings Ovulation Method can give this knowledge and may assist in identifying an infertility problem which may be amenable to correction. When this is treated by appropriate specialist management the couple can then use the knowledge of fertility recognition to provide the best chance for conception.
For locations across Canada, visit this page.
Managing Fertility Naturally During Breastfeeding
Do you have correct knowledge to help you to breastfeed and chart the Billings Ovulation Method?
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the natural next step after nurturing a baby within the womb and giving birth. It offers benefits to both the mother and her child.
Benefits to baby
Breast milk:
- is readily available
- comes at the correct temperature
- protects against allergies/diseases
- is nutritionally correct
- is hygienic
Breastfeeding promotes bonding.
Benefits to mother
Breastfeeding:
- is convenient
- is cost-free
- reduces incidence of premenopausal breast cancer
- helps uterus return to normal size
- maintains temporary infertility
- promotes bonding.
The Billings Ovulation Method of Natural Family Planning is truly compatible with breastfeeding.
It provides an extremely effective way of birth regulation. Scientific studies indicate that with proper instruction and motivation, this method in actual practice is 99% effective, without the negatives of contraceptive methods. Contraceptive medication passes to the baby through breast milk.
The Billings Ovulation Method does not interfere with breastfeeding, is free from drugs and devices and alerts a couple to their returning fertility after childbirth.
Returning fertility
Milk production is stimulated when the baby sucks on the breast. If there is no sucking, the milk will dry up. During breastfeeding the pituitary gland produces two hormones:
- Prolactin – for milk production
- Oxytocin – for the “let down” of milk.
Prolactin also has the effect of suppressing ovulation for a time.
This time of infertility is variable and depends on several factors. Efficient sucking is all important. Great care should be taken to establish breastfeeding as soon as possible. The baby is best fed on demand. Night feeding is normal for some time and is helpful in preserving a good supply of milk.
Fertility returns for a number of reasons, including dropping night time feeds and the illness of mother or baby.
Even with knowledge of breastfeeding, it must be remembered, every woman is still an individual and will return to fertility in her own time.
The Billings Ovulation Method
The Billings Ovulation Method of natural family planning allows the mother to recognise her individual return to fertility accurately.
When a woman learns the Billings Ovulation Method, she is taught to recognise and understand her signs of fertility and infertility. She does this by observing the presence or absence of mucus at the vulva. This mucus, produced at the cervix, is essential for fertility. Sperm cells depend on this mucus for their survival and their ability to reach and fertilise the egg.
When a woman is breastfeeding she remains infertile for a variable time. During this time she experiences, at the vulva, either a continuing sensation of dryness, or an unchanging discharge. The appearance of blood, or any change in the mucus or sensation alerts her to the possibility of her returning fertility.
A Billings Ovulation Method teacher will assist the couple to accurately interpret these signs. The couple can then make informed choices confidently about a further pregnancy.
When fertility returns, a mother may continue to breastfeed while using the totally natural Billings Ovulation Method.
- Breastfeeding is natural and best for mother and baby.
- Billings Ovulation Method has no harmful side effects.
- Breastfeeding and the Billings Ovulation Method are entirely compatible.
- Accredited Billings Ovulation Method Teachers help individual couples manage their fertility naturally.
- Infertility is easy to recognise whilst breastfeeding.
- Returning fertility is easily identified.
- The Billings Ovulation Method is a couple method, as is parenting.
- The whole family benefits.
For locations across Canada, visit this page.
Wanting to Postpone Pregnancy
Just because you do not want to have a child right now doesn’t mean you should use risky family planning. The method you choose should not interfere with your lovemaking. Spacing your family should be risk-free, dependable, easily reversible, and economical. The Billings Ovulation Method teaches women to recognise the fertile phase of their menstrual cycle by the presence of mucus and the sensation it produces at the vulva in the days leading up to ovulation. This mucus, produced at the cervix, is vital if sperm are to survive and to reach the vicinity of the ovum (egg) which is released at ovulation. Developed by Drs John and Evelyn Billings, the Billings Ovulation Method® teaches each woman to recognize changes throughout her menstrual cycle, especially in the mucus. The familiarity with patterns of fertility allows for remarkable accuracy in the prevention of pregnancy. The Billings Ovulation Method® is applicable to women in all stages of life and with all variations of cycles. Whether a woman is regular or not she can be taught to understand what is happening with her fertility and infertility. The couple apply the rules to avoid pregnancy, there are only 4 rules which cover all situations!
The woman’s voice
The Billings Ovulation Method® recognizes the uniqueness of a woman’s fertility by giving voice to her experiences. Rather than trying to standardize the charting, the Billings Instructor works each woman to understand her body’s unique patterns of fertility and infertility to help them postpone pregnancy. It is not a one-size fits all approach. Did you know that a study done in Australia found that less than one in five women had correct knowledge about their body’s sign and symptoms of fertility and infertility?
What are the benefits?
It is completely natural, easy to learn, simple to use, helps women understand their body and a highly effective method of birth regulation. Scientific studies indicate that with proper instruction and application, this method is 99% effective in avoiding pregnancy.
Learn to recognize the signs of fertility and infertility to delay or avoid pregnancy in an accurate and healthy way. Connect with one of our accredited instructors by registering to learn the method:
For locations across Canada, visit this page.
Managing Menopause Naturally
Knowledge gives assurance.
With the Billings Ovulation Method of natural family planning, free from manipulation by chemicals and devices, the woman learns to interpret her natural signs of fertility through all her changing circumstances from puberty to menopause.
This method of natural family planning engenders co-operation and respect between the woman and man. It develops love and concern for each other and for the child, thus enriching their relationship.
The Billings Ovulation Method is easy to learn and is highly successful when used by a couple to achieve or avoid a pregnancy.
What is menopause?
Woman is unique in that her reproductive capacity ends in middle life. The loss of fertility happens over a number of years, a time known as the climacteric (change of life). Menopause is more strictly applied to the natural end of menstruation, but many use the term to describe the years around that event, when hormone levels are changing in certain ways. Menopause is a natural phenomenon.
What happens during menopause?
After menopause, very little progesterone is secreted and the level of oestrogen drops dramatically. So, ovulation ceases and the cervix reduces its mucus production. During the fertile period of a woman’s life, the mucus causes wetness and slipperiness at the vulva. This mucus is essential for the life and vitality of the sperm and is an indicator of a woman’s fertility.
What are the signs of approaching menopause?
The change of life may occupy 5 to 10 years, or it may happen more quickly. A woman may experience a number of symptoms, including: breast tenderness, dryness of vagina, urinary irritability, irregular bleeding, hot flushes, weight gain, anaemia, tiredness and irritability.
Many women are not inconvenienced by these symptoms.
Irregular cycles and bleeding
Menstrual periods may stop without obvious warning and not begin again. Or periods may cease for months at a time, only to be followed by several apparently normal, or short, cycles.
Irregular ovulations cause irregular bleeding There may be a shortening of the post-ovulatory phase from the normal 11 to 16 days indicating infertility.
Not all bleeding is true menstruation. Oestrogen levels may stimulate the lining of the uterus causing it to bleed, without ovulation preceding it.
Sometimes bleeding will accompany ovulation, therefore intercourse during bleeding occasionally results in pregnancy.
The amount of bleeding may vary considerably from very light with prolonged spotting to very heavy with clotting.
Heavy bleeding with clotting may be associated with fatigue, lack of energy, light-headedness or depression. Iron supplements may relieve some of these symptoms. It is wise to consult your doctor for a medical diagnosis of any unusual bleeding.
The Billings Ovulation Method and Menopause
The Billings Ovulation Method is based on observations of the mucus secretion which accompany fertility. It is a natural method of understanding fertility which gives women knowledge of their own bodies. By observing the presence or absence of mucus, a woman can identify fertile and infertile times. During the change of life, it is common for dry days to increase in number, and for whole cycles or months to pass during which no mucus is apparent. Any return of possible fertility will be readily recognised at the vulva by the sensation of mucus.
The Billings Ovulation Method teachers can help you interpret your observations and explain guidelines to ensure avoidance of pregnancy if desired.
Wanting a reliable way to manage your fertility, naturally, at this time in life?
For locations across Canada, visit this page.
Natural Family Planning Association - Ontario 