NaPro Technology

sacredcello

Hello friends,

This is my first post here, and just wanted to say hello and to share.  My husband and I began TTC in March, 2010.  I had my first appointment with a fertility specialist last month.  She practices what is called NaPro Technology.  It is based on the work of Dr. Hilgers who, along with his co-workers, developed the Creighton Model FertilityCare System (CrMS) which is a new and unique model of advanced procreative education which is completely natural and cooperative with a woman's menstrual and fertility cycles. 

 Anyway, I am excited about the journey.  Already, my doctor has discovered that I have very low progesterone levels.  She was able to accurately test my blood because I went in for the draw on days Peak +5, +7 and +9.  Since my husband and I are trained Natural Family Planning instructors, we are aware of and have been charting my cycles for two years now. My doctor has prescribed that I take Prometrium (a bio-identical form of progesterone) on days Peak +3 to P +12.  She says it may take a couple of cycles in order to raise my levels in order to get pregnant.   I think the next step will be diagnostic laparoscopy for possible endometriosis, or blockage, etc., but we're going to see how the Prometrium works out first. Also, from the blood work that she ordered, we found out that I don't have PCOS or autoimmune disease.  I am happy about that, but I know that other women have been treated for these by NaPro doctors and have been healed and have conceived naturally.

 Anyone else had a similar experience, or wish to share?

Thanks!

 

Edwina.McDunnough

NaPro is basically glorified charting and we've had occasional marketing personnel come on the board, sometimes posing as patients.

Women on this board are generally seeing an RE and going through medical treatment for their infertility such as IUI and IVF. I do not think you are going to find the companionship or information you seek since NaPro is against all of these interventions. However if you feel this is the place for you then welcome and good luck!

sacredcello

Thank you, Edwina.   I am new and still having to look up the meanings of the abbreviations that are used by folks here to find out what people are talking about!  

I can assure you that I am definitely a patient with infertility who is seeking medical treatment by a board certified doctor.  Also, I doubt that any doctor has come to this site posing as a patient...my doctor has a thriving practice and wouldn't have time to waste looking for new patients here.  I was just looking to see if any other ladies might be interested in or are already seeing a NaPro doctor.  Here is a video of a couple who went through several failed rounds of IVF and then were treated successfully through NaPro Technology (it is definitely much more than glorified charting):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1qKeOb47rI

and part 2:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1qKeOb47rI

 Best wishes to you.

 

 

Texas77again

can you explain more about the advanced procreative education?  i'm interested in hearing about it.  i've been charting for a few years, so i'm familar with that. 

is your plan to take the prometruim and then have timed intercourse?  do you use ovulating predictor kits (OPK's)?  are you planning to try insemination or in vitro fertilization? 

sacredcello

Hi Texas,

My husband and I have been charting by the Sympto-Thermal Method for the last 2 years.  With this method, there are 3 fertility signs: CM, BBT and cervix (how soft or hard - open or closed).  The Creighton Model, which is what NaPro medicine is based upon, is only cervical mucus, but it is much more specific about the quality, quantity, how much stretch there is to it, etc.  My doctor let me look at her textbook which is like a massive encyclopedia with photos of CM, etc.  All her other patients are working with a Creighton Model teacher, but because my hubby and I are NFP STM teachers, my doctor just gave me a mini-lesson in her office during my visit about CrM. 

 Our plan, according to our doctor, is to take Prometrium from Peak +3 to Peak +12 and then see if AF comes and/or take an hpt.  Peak Day means the last day of fertile mucus, but you probably already know that since you've been charting.

 We don't use OPK's, because we're confident in the fertile signs that are abundantly clear.  But, we don't have anything against them.

We will not do IVF, as we are Catholic, and that is considered a violation of the dignity of the human person.  IUI is a possibility if the semen is collected from a perforated condom from a natural act of intercourse.  But, there are so many other tests that we have to have done, before even thinking about that.  We are thinking adoption, if we get to that point.

 thanks for writing, and best wishes to you Texas!

Texas77again

ok, cool.  thanks for the info. 

what do they recommend to women who don't have a lot of CM or poor quality CM? 

have you seen this website?  i really like it.  https://www.beautifulcervix.com/cervix-photo-galleries/photos-of-cervix/

 

sacredcello

What an amazing website with photos of the cervix through the whole cycle.  Wow!  Thank you for sharing it.

For improving the quality and amount of CM, my doctor recommended taking Mucinex 2x per day from end of menses to P + 3.  Also, Vitamin B-6 - 200 mg 2x per day.  I had been taking 300 mg, but when I went up to 400 mg per day, the CM improved.  She also had me stop taking Vitamin C, because that dries it up.

all the best to you, Texas!

love2b_mrst

sacredcello:

My husband and I have been charting by the Sympto-Thermal Method for the last 2 years.  With this method, there are 3 fertility signs: CM, BBT and cervix (how soft or hard - open or closed). 

Hmmmm, this sounds like glorified charting to me.

sacredcello

My husband and I learned charting through the Sympto Thermal Method in order to avoid conception and totally apart from NaPro Technology.  When we began TTC and a whole year went by, we made an appointment with a NaPro doctor.  My understanding is that NaPro doctors require their patients to be charting for two full months before the first appointment.  This gives the doctor vital information about the state of the woman's health, her fertility, etc. to then make informed decisions about further tests and possible surgery such as wedge resection or laparoscopy.

 

Here is a side by side comparison chart of NaPro Technology vs. ART

Comparison subject             NaPro Technology        ART/IVF

Diseases are identified          Yes                            No

Diseases are treated             Yes                            No

Foundation is laid

for future success                  Yes                           No

More total pregnancies

are achieved                         Yes                           No

Fertility-focused intercourse    Yes                          No

Speed to pregnancy is

shorter*                                  ---                            Yes

Cycle-by-cycle pregnancy

rate is greater*                       ---                              Yes

Built on foundation of

destroying life                        No                             Yes

More cost effective                 Yes                            No

__________________________________________________

*When successful, but overall much lower "per woman" success. 

 

kthappy76

sacredcello:

My husband and I learned charting through the Sympto Thermal Method in order to avoid conception and totally apart from NaPro Technology.  When we began TTC and a whole year went by, we made an appointment with a NaPro doctor.  My understanding is that NaPro doctors require their patients to be charting for two full months before the first appointment.  This gives the doctor vital information about the state of the woman's health, her fertility, etc. to then make informed decisions about further tests and possible surgery such as wedge resection or laparoscopy.

 

Here is a side by side comparison chart of NaPro Technology vs. ART

Comparison subject             NaPro Technology        ART/IVF

Diseases are identified          Yes                            No

Diseases are treated             Yes                            No

Foundation is laid

for future success                  Yes                           No

More total pregnancies

are achieved                         Yes                           No

Fertility-focused intercourse    Yes                          No

Speed to pregnancy is

shorter*                                  ---                            Yes

Cycle-by-cycle pregnancy

rate is greater*                       ---                              Yes

Built on foundation of

destroying life                        No                             Yes

More cost effective                 Yes                            No

__________________________________________________

*When successful, but overall much lower "per woman" success. 

 

This is a joke, right?  You say you are just interested in finding others or more information and you post this?  I don't know if you know that you have insulted most members of this board with your judgement, including many fellow Catholics.

I wonder if you RE has mentioned that low progesterone (which I also have) is a sign of weak ovulation?  Have you done any research on your own?  P4 supplementation alone is unlikely to be successful, though I tried this too in hopes of avoiding futher medical intervention.  Many members of this board have tried for years using dx and non-ART methods to conceive.  You apparently are weeks into your IF dx.  You have demonstrated a general lack of knowledge not only of the process, but of the people on the board that you claim to want to join.  I suggest you spend more time lurking to see if this is in fact a place where you are interested in learning from others experiences.  No one here wants/needs to be preached to.

The claim that ART/IVF is "built on the foundation of destroying life" is beyond ridiculous.  I'd be interested to hear your own explanation of this, that is not c&p from a website.  If you are Catholic and/or believe that babies should only come from the marital act and fertilization only within the body, then that is your choice, but this is not a true statement.  We spent two years trying to avoid IVF (because of the time, expense, etc.): multiple RE's, surgeries, treatments, drugs, acupuncture, herbs, etc.  But it was only IVF that has helped us create any form of life.  Of the five embryos we created, we lost one, and the other four have been transferred into me (over two cycles) in order to have a chance at life.  No life has been destroyed only created.

FWIW, disease testing and treatment is also a part of routine IF treatment. 

You might want to take time to educate yourself before coming here to spout off on things that you are clearly misinformed about.

 

SLPMel

sacredcello:

 

Here is a side by side comparison chart of NaPro Technology vs. ART

Comparison subject             NaPro Technology        ART/IVF

Diseases are identified          Yes                            No

Diseases are treated             Yes                            No

Foundation is laid

for future success                  Yes                           No

More total pregnancies

are achieved                         Yes                           No

Fertility-focused intercourse    Yes                          No

Speed to pregnancy is

shorter*                                  ---                            Yes

Cycle-by-cycle pregnancy

rate is greater*                       ---                              Yes

Built on foundation of

destroying life                        No                             Yes

More cost effective                 Yes                            No

__________________________________________________

*When successful, but overall much lower "per woman" success. 

 

Wow-how disgusting of a chart.  

Diseases not identified?  I was diagnosed with a laparoscopy with Endometriosis.  I was only diagnosed with Hashimoto's when I went to my RE who did the bloodwork, and my PCP told me it was "normal".  My husband would NEVER have been diagnosed with TESTICULAR FAILURE without the bloodwork and full work up from my RE.  That's THREE different diseases identified.

Diseases treated?  Well, my endo was treated with a lap, and they were able to save my ovary from the Endometrioma.  My Hashimoto's was treated with Synthroid.  My husband's testicular failure was treated by surgery which allowed us to access sperm.  Three ways that our different diseases were "treated". 

BIL and SIL tried NaPro for (FIVE!) years, and got pregnant on their 2nd IUI cycle.  

I think those that want to try NaPro have every right to.  But HOW DARE you come in and try and tear apart what the majority of the women are going through on this board with a misinformed, prejudiced, and biased chart? Can't you give us the same respect that you yourself would like to have?  Or are you that close minded that you think your way is the "better" way of going about this for everybody else?

It sounds like you came here to "share" and "teach" us about this method that you think is the better way.  The women here are highly educated, and struggle with the constant decisions that IF throws at us.  We spend hours researching, meeting with specialists, and examining the FACTS from multiple sources and multiple doctors.  We have second or THIRD opinions with doctors.  We have constantly questioned, expanded out knowledge, changed our diets, our vitamin regimen, acupuncture, therapy, sexual habits-all in hopes that moving on to IUI or IVF wouldn't be necessary, or have a higher rate of working.

If you think anybody here hasn't made the decisions that are *right for them* without serious thought, financial commitment, and emotional and physical pain,  you obviously haven't thought about anybody except yourself and your opinions on any treatments.

 

sacredcello

The intent of my post is genuine, and I am at least glad to have learned something new from Texas 77 from her link with the photos of the cervix.

Yes, kthappy, I am a convert to Catholicism, so like many converts, I like to read up on what the Church that I joined is all about.  I've learned a great deal from reading the CCC, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and talking with others.  My husband is a philosophy professor, so we almost never stop talking!  

I have not come to joke or anything else that is derogatory.  In fact, I saw a prior post from last year about NaProTechnology and was saddened that this person was bullied off of the forum for a mere mention of this topic.  So, I thought, in all justice, to bring up the topic and give it another go.

In light of Edwina's recent new thread in which she chastises me, I have taken her suggestion and written to the moderators of The Bump and asked for a new forum for NaPro Technology.  This is the second thread in which the original poster on the topic of NaPro has been bullied due to bringing up a legitimate field of medical practice that is lesser known in the treatment of infertility.  I believe that this topic deserves a more full discussion and shouldn't be relegated to a specialized website that is for Catholics only.   One does not need to be Catholic in order to be treated by a NaPro doctor, in fact, the subject of religion never came up in the two appointments that I have had thus far with my doctor.  But, it is clear that her practice is built on a respect for life.

 

sacredcello

SLPMel:

Diseases not identified?  I was diagnosed with a laparoscopy with Endometriosis.  I was only diagnosed with Hashimoto's when I went to my RE who did the bloodwork, and my PCP told me it was "normal".  My husband would NEVER have been diagnosed with TESTICULAR FAILURE without the bloodwork and full work up from my RE.  That's THREE different diseases identified.

Diseases treated?  Well, my endo was treated with a lap, and they were able to save my ovary from the Endometrioma.  My Hashimoto's was treated with Synthroid.  My husband's testicular failure was treated by surgery which allowed us to access sperm.  Three ways that our different diseases were "treated". 

 

I am glad to hear that your endo was treated with a lap and you received a diagnosis in regard to Hashimotos in order to treat it.  Neither of these treatments are under the category of IVF/ART.  In fact, these are diagnoses and treatments that one would expect to receive with a NaPro doctor as well.  It is really not all that different, it is the same field of medicine, except that the surgical techniques are different in NaPro in that the surgeons use a number of techniques that, in the end, are proven to leave the patient with fewer adhesions.  And, of course, the IVF/ART treatments are not included in the NaPro approach, and the time from initial visit to achieving pregnancy is longer than it is with IVF/ART.

Best wishes to you!