Billings ovulation method: Difference between revisions
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imported>LR.127 Adding local short description: "Fertility awareness method", overriding Wikidata description "fertility awareness method" |
imported>Me, Myself, and I are Here |
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{{Short description|Fertility awareness method}} | {{Short description|Fertility awareness method}} | ||
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{{Infobox Birth control | {{Infobox Birth control | ||
|name = Billings ovulation method | |name = Billings ovulation method | ||
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The '''Billings ovulation method''' is a method in which [[Woman|women]] use their [[vaginal mucus]] to determine their [[fertility]].<ref name=Dub2010>{{cite book|last1=Poston|first1=Dudley L. Jr.|last2=Bouvier|first2=Leon F.|title=Population and Society: An Introduction to Demography|date=2010|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9781139489386|page=91|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CR-EXq4y8XAC&pg=PA91|language=en}}</ref> It does not rely on the presence of [[ovulation]], but identifies patterns of potential and obvious [[infertility]] within the cycle. Its effectiveness is not very clear.<ref name=Dub2010/> | |||
The '''Billings ovulation method''' is a method in which women use their vaginal mucus to determine their [[fertility]].<ref name=Dub2010>{{cite book|last1=Poston|first1=Dudley L. Jr.|last2=Bouvier|first2=Leon F.|title=Population and Society: An Introduction to Demography|date=2010|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=9781139489386|page=91|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CR-EXq4y8XAC&pg=PA91|language=en}}</ref> It does not rely on the presence of ovulation, but identifies patterns of potential and obvious infertility within the cycle. Its effectiveness is not very clear.<ref name=Dub2010/> | |||
== Evidence == | == Evidence == | ||
Typical use of this method is associated with a [[pregnancy rate]] of 1–22%.<ref name=Pal2009/> A [[World Health Organization]] study found that 15% is caused by a conscious departure from method rules.<ref name=Pal2009/> The percentage of people who stop using the method after a year is 1–24%.<ref name=Pal2009/> Perfect use has been estimated to result in [[pregnancy]] in 0.5–3%.<ref name=Pal2009>{{cite journal|last1=Pallone|first1=SR|last2=Bergus|first2=GR|title=Fertility awareness-based methods: another option for family planning.|journal=Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine|date=2009|volume=22|issue=2|pages=147–57|doi=10.3122/jabfm.2009.02.080038|pmid=19264938|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=Hat2007>{{cite book|last1=Hatcher|first1=Robert Anthony|last2=M.D|first2=Anita L. Nelson|title=Contraceptive Technology|date=2007|publisher=Ardent Media|isbn=9781597080019|page=345|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=txh0LpjjhkoC&pg=PA344|language=en}}</ref> Some studies of perfect use excluded those who could not detect [[secretion]]s that represented [[fertility]].<ref name=Pal2009/> | |||
==Fertility== | ==Fertility== | ||
[[File:Billings Ovulation Method - Observation Chart - en.svg|thumb|upright=2.5|An observation chart]] | [[File:Billings Ovulation Method - Observation Chart - en.svg|thumb|upright=2.5|An observation chart]] | ||
[[File:Cervical mucus1.jpg|thumb|]] | [[File:Cervical mucus1.jpg|thumb|Cervical mucus]] | ||
*A woman ovulates at only one time during her cycle, and an | *A woman typically [[Ovulation|ovulates]] at only one time during her cycle (except those with [[hyperovulation]]),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) |url=https://www.rcog.org.uk/for-the-public/browse-our-patient-information/ovarian-hyperstimulation-syndrome/ |access-date=2025-08-10 |website=RCOG |language=en-gb}}</ref> and an unfertilized [[ovum]] can survive for only 12–24 hours.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hospital |first=The Royal Women's |title=Ovulation and conception |url=https://www.thewomens.org.au/health-information/fertility-information/getting-pregnant/ovulation-and-conception |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=The Royal Women's Hospital |language=en}}</ref> | ||
*Cervical mucus enabling healthy sperm cells to navigate the genital tract is necessary for fertility. | *[[Cervix|Cervical]] [[mucus]] enabling healthy [[sperm cells]] to navigate the [[Reproductive system|genital tract]] is necessary for fertility. | ||
*Most commonly, spermatozoa live only one to three days in the presence of fertile mucus, with survival up to five days being rare. | *Most commonly, [[Spermatozoon|spermatozoa]] live only one to three days in the presence of fertile mucus, with survival up to five days being rare. The possibility of pregnancy from sperm survival longer than five days has been compared to "the chances of winning a huge lottery."<!-- | ||
--><ref name="kippley">{{cite book | first=John | last=Kippley |author2=Sheila Kippley | year=1996 | title=The Art of Natural Family Planning | edition=4th | publisher=The Couple to Couple League | location=Cincinnati, OH | isbn=978-0-926412-13-2 | pages=88 }}</ref> | --><ref name="kippley">{{cite book | first=John | last=Kippley |author2=Sheila Kippley | year=1996 | title=The Art of Natural Family Planning | edition=4th | publisher=The Couple to Couple League | location=Cincinnati, OH | isbn=978-0-926412-13-2 | pages=88 }}</ref> | ||
*Menstruation will occur about 2 weeks after ovulation. | *[[Menstruation]] will occur about 2 weeks after ovulation. | ||
*A ten-year study of 45,280 subfertile couples in China found that 32.1% of women were able to achieve pregnancy and live birth through the use of Billings.<!-- | *A ten-year study of 45,280 [[Infertility|subfertile]] couples in [[China]] found that 32.1% of women were able to achieve pregnancy and [[Live birth (human)|live birth]] through the use of Billings.<!-- | ||
--><ref>[http://www.woomb.org/bom/trials/chinaLaunching.html China Successfully Launching Billings Method] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061230184325/http://www.woomb.org/bom/trials/chinaLaunching.html |date=December 30, 2006 }}: Dr. Shao-Zhen Qian</ref> | --><ref>[http://www.woomb.org/bom/trials/chinaLaunching.html China Successfully Launching Billings Method] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061230184325/http://www.woomb.org/bom/trials/chinaLaunching.html |date=December 30, 2006 }}: Dr. Shao-Zhen Qian</ref> | ||
==Function== | ==Function== | ||
In the days leading up to ovulation the cervix responds to | In the days leading up to [[ovulation]], the [[cervix]] responds to [[estrogen]] by producing [[mucus]] capable of sustaining [[sperm]] survival. This mucus leaves the vagina as the woman is in an upright position. The mucus is observed through the sensation at the [[vulva]] and by looking at any cervical secretions. Daily charting of these observations will reveal either an unchanging pattern indicating infertility or a changing pattern of sensation and discharge indicating fertility. Both of these patterns follow the [[hormonal]] patterns which control sperm survival and conception.<ref name="cervix">Teaching the Billings Ovulation Method, Dr E. L. Billings AM, MB BS, DCH (London), 2001.</ref> | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
The first recorded observations of the relationship between [[cervix|cervical]] mucus and survival of [[Spermatozoon|spermatozoa]] come from the mid-19th century. The topic was not systematically studied, however, for almost another century. In 1948, Erik Odeblad was studying mycoplasms in the female genital tract. During the course of his studies, he noticed that cervical mucus changed in a predictable pattern through the course of a woman's cycle. He continued his study of the cervix.<ref name="mucus">{{cite journal | last1 = Odeblad | first1 = Erik | year = 1994 | title = The Discovery of Different Types of Cervical Mucus | url = http://www.woomb.org/omrrca/bulletin/vol21/no3/discovery.shtml#Index | journal = Bulletin of the Ovulation Method Research and Reference Centre of Australia | volume = 21 | issue = 3 | pages = 3–35 | access-date = 2006-10-19 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051220081928/http://www.woomb.org/omrrca/bulletin/vol21/no3/discovery.shtml#Index | archive-date = 2005-12-20 | url-status = dead }}</ref> | The first recorded observations of the relationship between [[cervix|cervical]] mucus and survival of [[Spermatozoon|spermatozoa]] come from the mid-19th century. The topic was not systematically studied, however, for almost another century. In 1948, Erik Odeblad<ref>[https://www.auntminnieeurope.com/clinical-news/mri/article/15644883/europe-celebrates-the-forgotten-pioneer-of-mri-dr-erik-odeblad ]</ref> was studying [[Mycoplasma|mycoplasms]] in the female genital tract. During the course of his studies, he noticed that cervical mucus changed in a predictable pattern through the course of a woman's cycle. He continued his study of the cervix.<ref name="mucus">{{cite journal | last1 = Odeblad | first1 = Erik | year = 1994 | title = The Discovery of Different Types of Cervical Mucus | url = http://www.woomb.org/omrrca/bulletin/vol21/no3/discovery.shtml#Index | journal = Bulletin of the Ovulation Method Research and Reference Centre of Australia | volume = 21 | issue = 3 | pages = 3–35 | access-date = 2006-10-19 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051220081928/http://www.woomb.org/omrrca/bulletin/vol21/no3/discovery.shtml#Index | archive-date = 2005-12-20 | url-status = dead }}</ref> | ||
[[John Billings (Australian physician)|John Billings]] ( | [[John Billings (Australian physician)|John Billings]] (1918–2007) was involved with the development of the Billings ovulation method.<ref name="quest">{{cite journal |last1=Billings |first1=J |year=2002 |title=THE QUEST – leading to the discovery of the Billings Ovulation Method |url=http://www.woombinternational.org/index.php/philosophy/item/33-the-quest-leading-to-the-discovery-of-the-billings-ovulation-method |journal=Bulletin of Ovulation Method Research and Reference Centre of Australia |volume=29 |issue=1 |pages=18–28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219081722/http://www.woomb.org/omrrca/bulletin/vol29/no1/thequest.shtml |archive-date=2007-02-19 }}</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
*{{Commons-inline}} | |||
*[https://billings.life/en/ Official site] of the Billings Ovulation Method | *[https://billings.life/en/ Official site] of the Billings Ovulation Method | ||
*[https://www.jabfm.org/content/29/4/508 The Performance of Fertility Awareness-based Method Apps Marketed to Avoid Pregnancy] | *[https://www.jabfm.org/content/29/4/508 The Performance of Fertility Awareness-based Method Apps Marketed to Avoid Pregnancy] | ||
Latest revision as of 04:28, 22 December 2025
Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox Birth control The Billings ovulation method is a method in which women use their vaginal mucus to determine their fertility.[1] It does not rely on the presence of ovulation, but identifies patterns of potential and obvious infertility within the cycle. Its effectiveness is not very clear.[1]
Evidence
Typical use of this method is associated with a pregnancy rate of 1–22%.[2] A World Health Organization study found that 15% is caused by a conscious departure from method rules.[2] The percentage of people who stop using the method after a year is 1–24%.[2] Perfect use has been estimated to result in pregnancy in 0.5–3%.[2][3] Some studies of perfect use excluded those who could not detect secretions that represented fertility.[2]
Fertility
- A woman typically ovulates at only one time during her cycle (except those with hyperovulation),[4] and an unfertilized ovum can survive for only 12–24 hours.[5]
- Cervical mucus enabling healthy sperm cells to navigate the genital tract is necessary for fertility.
- Most commonly, spermatozoa live only one to three days in the presence of fertile mucus, with survival up to five days being rare. The possibility of pregnancy from sperm survival longer than five days has been compared to "the chances of winning a huge lottery."[6]
- Menstruation will occur about 2 weeks after ovulation.
- A ten-year study of 45,280 subfertile couples in China found that 32.1% of women were able to achieve pregnancy and live birth through the use of Billings.[7]
Function
In the days leading up to ovulation, the cervix responds to estrogen by producing mucus capable of sustaining sperm survival. This mucus leaves the vagina as the woman is in an upright position. The mucus is observed through the sensation at the vulva and by looking at any cervical secretions. Daily charting of these observations will reveal either an unchanging pattern indicating infertility or a changing pattern of sensation and discharge indicating fertility. Both of these patterns follow the hormonal patterns which control sperm survival and conception.[8]
History
The first recorded observations of the relationship between cervical mucus and survival of spermatozoa come from the mid-19th century. The topic was not systematically studied, however, for almost another century. In 1948, Erik Odeblad[9] was studying mycoplasms in the female genital tract. During the course of his studies, he noticed that cervical mucus changed in a predictable pattern through the course of a woman's cycle. He continued his study of the cervix.[10]
John Billings (1918–2007) was involved with the development of the Billings ovulation method.[11]
References
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- ↑ China Successfully Launching Billings Method Template:Webarchive: Dr. Shao-Zhen Qian
- ↑ Teaching the Billings Ovulation Method, Dr E. L. Billings AM, MB BS, DCH (London), 2001.
- ↑ [1]
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External links
- Template:Sister-inline
- Official site of the Billings Ovulation Method
- The Performance of Fertility Awareness-based Method Apps Marketed to Avoid Pregnancy
- Fertility Awareness-based Method Apps for the Billings Method
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