The landscape of reproductive medicine has undergone significant transformations over the past half-century. While advancements in hormonal contraceptives and assisted reproductive technologies (ART) like in vitro fertilization (IVF) have become commonplace, an alternative approach, Natural Procreative Technology (NaProTech), offers a distinct perspective on women's health and fertility. Developed at Creighton University, NaProTech operates on the principle of understanding and cooperating with a woman's natural biological and physiological processes, rather than suppressing or bypassing them. This women's health science focuses on identifying and treating the root causes of reproductive and gynecological issues, aiming to restore natural function and support the ability to conceive naturally.
Understanding the Foundation: The Creighton Model FertilityCare System
At the core of NaProTech is the Creighton Model FertilityCare System (CrMS). This standardized method of observing and charting a woman's menstrual and fertility cycles provides crucial data for understanding her reproductive health. CrMS tracks various biological markers, including menstrual flow and its variations, mucus flow, and dry days. These biomarkers are directly linked to hormonal events within the menstrual and fertility cycles. By meticulously recording these observations, women can gain a detailed understanding of their cycles, identify times of fertility and infertility, and crucially, detect abnormalities that may indicate underlying health issues. The prospective accumulation of this objective and standardized data is fundamental to NaProTech's diagnostic and treatment protocols, distinguishing it from retrospective approaches that may overlook subtle but significant indicators.
The CrMS is not solely for achieving or avoiding pregnancy; it serves as a vital tool for gynecological health maintenance. Women chart their cycles to monitor their overall reproductive well-being. This proactive approach allows for the early identification of issues that might otherwise go unnoticed until they become more severe. The American Academy of Fertility Care Professionals, an international organization of healthcare professionals, actively teaches couples how to track their fertility using the CrMS, underscoring its widespread adoption and recognized efficacy.
Identifying Root Causes: Beyond "Band-Aid" Solutions
A central tenet of NaProTech is its commitment to uncovering the underlying causes of fertility difficulties and gynecological problems, moving beyond what is often described as a "band-aid" approach. Unlike some conventional reproductive technologies that may mask symptoms or treat them without addressing the fundamental issue, NaProTech views conditions like infertility as symptoms of underlying disease or dysfunction. For instance, a medical interpretation of abnormal CrMS observations can lead to targeted biochemical and hormonal evaluations. These evaluations aim to identify specific organ dysfunctions that may contribute to fertility challenges.
Examples of such identified dysfunctions include decreased production of estrogenic cervical mucus, intermenstrual bleeding or spotting, short or variable luteal phases, and suboptimal levels of ovarian hormones like estrogen or progesterone. By pinpointing these specific issues, NaProTech can develop tailored treatment plans. These medical applications often involve interventions such as inducing or stimulating ovulation, prescribing medications to enhance cervical mucus quality, or providing hormonal support during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. The goal is not merely to achieve pregnancy but to restore the body's natural capacity to conceive by correcting the physiological imbalances that hinder it.
Restoring Natural Function: Medical and Surgical Interventions
When medical applications of NaProTech are insufficient, surgical intervention becomes a critical component of the treatment strategy. NaPro surgical techniques are designed with a specific philosophy: precision, minimal scarring, and long-term reproductive health benefits. These specialized forms of gynecologic surgery aim to reconstruct the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, thereby restoring their natural function.
One notable surgical technique is ovarian wedge resection, which involves the surgical removal of a portion of an enlarged ovary to restore its normal size. This procedure can be particularly effective in treating polycystic ovaries, which are often associated with endocrine and menstrual cycle abnormalities. A significant advantage of surgical NaProTECHNOLOGY is its emphasis on "near adhesion-free" surgery. Postoperative adhesions are a common complication of traditional gynecological surgery, potentially leading to reduced tubal motility and even bowel obstructions requiring further surgery. NaProTech surgical protocols meticulously focus on detail and employ systematic approaches, including the use of Gore-Tex adhesion barriers, to minimize adhesion formation. Published research on Gore-Tex protocols has demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in subsequent adhesion scores during second-look laparoscopy, a benefit that has, for reasons not entirely clear, been overlooked in some recent adhesion prevention reviews.
Other surgical techniques within NaProTech include laser vaporization and pelvic excision and repair surgery (PEARS) for endometriosis. PEARS is a form of plastic reconstructive surgery aimed at removing diseased tissue within pelvic organs and repairing them in a manner that prevents the formation of pelvic adhesions. These surgical approaches underscore NaProTech's commitment to not only treating immediate issues but also preserving and enhancing long-term reproductive health.
Efficacy and Comparative Outcomes: NaProTech vs. ART
The effectiveness of NaProTech, both in its medical and surgical applications, is often compared to that of assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Studies suggest that NaProTech infertility protocols can achieve comparable, and in some aspects, superior outcomes. For instance, while the cumulative live birth rate for IVF can range between 45-55%, a study involving 1,045 patients treated with NaProTech infertility protocols showed that over 60% became pregnant within 24 months, and nearly 70% within 36 months.
The "per-woman" NaPro pregnancy rate is reported to be higher than that of ART. This is partly attributed to the high rate of patient dropout or discontinuation often observed in IVF treatment. Furthermore, a meta-analysis comparing conventional surgery and IVF for endometriosis-related infertility revealed significantly higher per-woman pregnancy rates with surgery (55.3%) compared to IVF (9.9%). While it is acknowledged that patients treated with NaProTech may have a lower overall fecundability rate (a 3.13% chance of conceiving within a given period) compared to those treated with IVF (13.3%), the total number of women who ultimately achieve pregnancy with NaProTech is higher than with ART. This suggests that while the immediate conception rate might differ, the long-term success and sustained pregnancy achievement can be more robust with NaProTech.
Ethical and Philosophical Underpinnings: A Holistic View of the Human Person
Beyond its medical and surgical methodologies, NaProTech is grounded in a distinct ethical and philosophical framework that views the human person as an integrated body-soul unity. This perspective rejects the notion of the body as a separate entity from the higher spiritual powers of reason and will. Instead, it posits that we "are our bodies," and the human body is an integral aspect of personhood. Consequently, fertility and sexuality are seen as essential, natural aspects of human embodied nature that should be utilized to pursue good.
This understanding extends to marital sexual acts, which are viewed as uniting the bodily and spiritual dimensions. These acts possess both a procreative significanceâthe potential to bring forth new lifeâand a unitive significanceâan expression of loving union between spouses. Within this framework, marriage is considered the sole appropriate context for the conception of a new human person. The child is understood to have a right to be conceived, gestated, born into, and raised within the supportive environment of marriage.
ART, particularly IVF and procedures involving donor gametes, are seen as deviating from these principles. IVF is criticized for potentially divorcing procreation from the marital act and, when donor gametes are used, for preventing the couple from becoming parents solely through each other. Furthermore, concerns are raised about IVF's ethical implications regarding embryonic human beings, including the destruction of embryos based on morphological or genetic abnormalities and the practice of cryopreservation, which suspends lives. NaProTech's procreative ethics, therefore, calls for husband and wife to use their procreative capacities virtuously and responsibly, in a way that upholds human flourishing and respects the dignity of all involved.
What is NaProTECHNOLOGY? | Dr. Jamie Hernandez
A Cooperative and Empowering Approach to Women's Health
NaProTECHNOLOGY stands as a distinct approach in women's healthcare, emphasizing cooperation with natural biological processes rather than suppression or destruction. It empowers women by providing them with the knowledge and tools, primarily through the CrMS, to understand their bodies and identify the root causes of reproductive and gynecological issues. This cooperative approach aims to correct conditions, maintain the body's natural "human ecology," and sustain procreative potential. Unlike approaches that might view fertility as a disease or a burden, NaProTech regards the menstrual and fertility cycles as normal, vital physiological processes.
Furthermore, NaProTech is supportive of a couple's decision regarding pregnancy. Whether the goal is to achieve or avoid pregnancy, the system respects these choices. Pregnancy itself is viewed not as a pathology or a mere demographic event but as a profound occasion that calls for support and care. The developing child within the mother's womb is seen with respect, neither as a parasite nor as a mere potential human being. This holistic view extends to the management of specific health concerns, such as prematurity. The NaProTechnology Prematurity Prevention Program, for example, has demonstrated significant success in reducing prematurity rates, cutting them from a national average of 12.1% to an impressive 7%.
Physicians and patients who conscientiously object to the therapeutic use of hormonal contraceptives or morally oppose ART have found in NaProTech a medically sound and ethically aligned alternative. It offers a pathway to practice and receive medically effective reproductive interventions that genuinely promote bodily-spiritual well-being for both patient and physician. Educational programs, such as those offered by the Pope Paul VI Institute and Creighton University School of Medicine, are available for healthcare professionals seeking to train in the medical applications of NaProTECHNOLOGY, further disseminating this comprehensive and personalized approach to women's health. For those seeking a deeper understanding and personalized care that respects their body's natural rhythms, NaProTECHNOLOGY offers a path toward optimal well-being.
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