Infertility

Infertility is a suffering endured by one out of every six couples in the United States.  The confusion, hurt, and frustration that couples experience as they bear this cross can be crushing.  Couples can be left feeling alone and neglected both as a couple and even individually.  In the face of this trauma, the Church wants to reassure couples that Jesus Christ is with them, and his plan is for them to have life to the full.

Billings Center for Fertility and Reproductive Medicine

608 NW 9th Street, Suite 5000
Oklahoma City, OK 73102
Phone: (405) 272-7026

Dr. Mary Martin M.D., F.A.C.O.G., is an ob/gyn in Oklahoma City who specializes in the Billings Ovulation Method. Her practice includes treatment of infertility and women's gynecological conditions. The Fertility and Reproductive Medical Center is also available to ob/gyn residents to learn about the Billings Method. Dr. Martin said the idea was inspired, in part, to being frequently asked if there was a place where medical people could learn the clinical aspects of the Billings Method. One of her goals is to attract someone with a mind for research to continue the work of the late Professor James Brown of Australia. Professor Brown's research included the completion of nearly one million hormonal assays. The center was officially dedicated November, 2008.

NaPro TECHNOLOGY (Natural Procreative Technology)

NaProTECHNOLOGY* is a new women's health science that works cooperatively with a woman's menstrual and fertility cycles. NaProTECHNOLOGY is the first system to network family planning using the Creighton Model FertilityCare™ System with reproductive and gynecologic health monitoring and maintenance. Its use has applications in family planning, the evaluation and treatment of infertility and other reproductive disorders, abnormal bleeding, abnormal hormone conditions of the menstrual cycle including premenstrual syndrome and recurrent ovarian cysts, the dating of the beginning of a pregnancy, and postpartum depression. While education of patients is one of its foundations, NaProTECHNOLOGY also relies on developments in medical technology such as targeted hormone surveys, expert ultrasound evaluation, and various surgical approaches that utilize laser technology, microsurgical applications, and anti-adhesion strategies.

* “NaProTECHNOLOGY” is a registered trademark of the Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction. (The Pope Paul VI Institute is a National and International Center for the Study of Morally and Professionally Acceptable Reproductive Health Services, and is the Home of FertilityCare and NaProTECHNOLOGY.)

Dr. Hilgers’ website has more information on NaProTECHNOLOGY.

Local Professional Providers Supportive of Natural Family Planning

Mayo Pharmacy is a pro-life business that strives to support and respect the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death. Their pharmaceutical practice offers alternatives to abortifacient/contraceptive use by referring patients to NFP providers, pro-life pregnancy counseling/support, and pro-life physicians. They also offer literature and education on abortion/medical facts, contraceptive side effects, documents on Catholic Church teaching for NFP, Theology of the Body. They sell Christian books, dvd’s, and supplies. Mail-order service is available for persons outside of the Bismarck area.

Life Issues Series

“Reproductive Technologies and the Gift of Life” (PDF) discusses ART and the desire for children, and lists morally acceptable and unacceptable means of assisting couples in conceiving a child. (It is part of the Respect Life Office’s “Life Issues Series”.)

Additional recommended reading:

• Life-Giving Love in an Age of Technology, USCCB, 2009. 
• Seven Considerations While Navigating Infertility, USCCB.   
• Infertility Journey, Elizabeth Ministry International
• The Infertility Companion for Catholics, Ave Maria Press, 2012.