Creighton Model FertilityCare System
3569917
226014021
2008-07-16T13:14:27Z
LotR
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{{Infobox Birth control
|name = Creighton Model / FertilityCare
|image =
|width =
|caption =
|bc_type = [[Natural family planning]]
|date_first_use = 1980
|rate_type = Failure
|perfect_failure% =
|typical_failure% =
|duration_effect =
|reversibility = Immediate
|user_reminders = Accurate instruction & daily charting are key.
|clinic_interval = None
|STD_protection_YesNo = No
|periods_advantage = Prediction
|benefits = Low cost, no prerequisites for use, no side effects, assists with fertility issues, helps achieve pregnancy
|periods_disadvantage =
|weight_gain_YesNo = No
|risks =
|medical_notes =
}}
The '''Creighton Model FertilityCare System''' ('''Creighton Model'', ''FertilityCare''', '''CrMS''') is a form of [[natural family planning]] which involves identifying the [[fertile]] period during a woman's [[menstrual cycle]]. The Creighton Model was developed by Thomas Hilgers, the founder and director of the ''Pope Paul VI Institute''. Hilgers describes the Creighton Model as being based on "a standardized modification of the [[Billings ovulation method]]", which was developed by [[John Billings|John and Evelyn Billings]] in the 1960s.<ref>[http://www.creightonmodel.com/ Creighton Model]</ref> The Billingses issued a paper refuting the claim that the CrMS represents a standardization of the BOM.<ref>[http://www.woomb.org/omrrca/BOMvCrMS.pdf Some Clarifications Concerning NaProTECHNOLOGY and the Billings Ovulation Method]</ref>
==History==
Hilgers began research in 1976 which led to the development of the Creighton Model FertilityCare System, which was first fully described (as the Creighton Model) in 1980.<ref>[http://www.creightonmodel.com/ Creighton Model]</ref> In 1981, the American Academy of Natural Family Planning was founded to promote use of the Creighton Model as a form of [[natural family planning]] (the term for methods of birth control approved by the [[Roman Catholic church]]).<ref>[http://www.aafcp.org/ American Academy of FertilityCare Professionals]</ref> In 1985, Hilgers created the Pope Paul VI Institute to medically support the directives given by [[Pope Paul VI]] in ''[[Humanae Vitae]]: On the Regulation of Birth''.
In 1991, Hilgers self-published a manual titled ''The Medical Applications Of Natural Family Planning: A Physician’s Guide to NaProTECHNOLOGY'' through his Pope Paul VI Institute Press. NaProTechnology is described as Natural Procreative Technology. In 2001, the AANFP was renamed the American Academy of FertilityCare Professionals, to reflect the relabeling of the Creighton Model as FertilityCare. In 2004, Hilgers self-published a reference manual titled ''The Medical and Surgical Practice of NaProTECHNOLOGY''. Hilgers refers to the Creighton Model FertilityCare System as "the foundational [[family planning]] system to NaProTechnology".
==Overview==
The CrMS teaches women to observe certain biological signs to monitor their own gynaecological health, and to identify times of [[fertility]] and [[infertility]]. These biological signs include [[cervical mucus]] and bleeding patterns, and can be observed and analysed in all types of [[menstrual cycle]]s. These signs are charted daily to give a picture of the woman's individual cycle.
Doctors can use the fertility charts which couples are taught to keep as the basis for further investigations if needed.
Blood tests for [[Estrogen|Oestrogen]] levels prior to [[ovulation]] and for both [[Progesterone]] and Oestrogen levels after ovulation, [[Medical ultrasonography|ultrasound]] [[Ovarian follicle|follicular]] tracking, and other diagnostic procedures, can be accurately timed according to the woman's cycle, using the data recorded on a couple's fertility chart. This allows doctors to make a more precise diagnosois of abnormalities, e.g. subtle hormonal deficiencies, various ovulation defects etc.
==Uses==
As a form of [[fertility awareness]] or [[natural family planning]], the CrMS may be used to avoid pregnancy, or to increase chances of conception depending on the couple's intentions. The Pope Paul VI Institute reports a perfect-use effectiveness rate of at 99.5% in the first year, when used to avoid pregnancy.<ref>{{cite web | title=CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare™ System: Effectiveness of the System | publisher=creightonmodel.com | url=http://www.creightonmodel.com/effectiveness.htm| accessdate=2008-07-16}}</ref> In studies of similar methods, the failure rate is defined as the number of pregnancies among couples who told researchers they intended to use the method to avoid pregnancy. In clinical studies of the CrMS conducted at the Pope Paul IV Institute, researchers excluded most pregnancies from the failure rate calculation, on the grounds that they believed the affected couples had used the method to deliberately attempt pregnancy.<ref>[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=8057183&query_hl=3&itool=pubmed_DocSum Use effectiveness of the Creighton model ovulation...[J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 1994] - PubMed Result<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Therefore, typical failure rates of the CrMS cannot be compared to typical failure rates for similar methods.{{Fact|date=July 2008}}
The CrMS is used in conjunction with NaProTechnology (Natural Procreative Technology), which aims to restore [[fertility]] naturally, by identifying and then correcting the underlying causes of the couples' infertility. Hilgers regards methods such as [[IVF]] as approaching infertility as though it were a disease.{{Fact|date=June 2007}}
==Treatment==
*Use of natural hormones and other medications to correct any hormonal disturbances or ovulation abnormality.
*Use of medications if necessary to correct any other abnormalities e.g. [[cervical mucus]] deficiency, biochemical or haematological deficiencies, [[endocrine]] (glandular) deficiencies etc. to restore normal physiologic function, and thereby enhance fertility.
*Referral to a [[gynaecologist]] if there are physical abnormailities needing surgery, for example
** blocked [[fallopian tubes]]
** [[endometriosis]]
** adhesions
==References==
<references />
==External links==
*[http://www.creightonmodel.com/ Creighton Model] official site
*[http://www.popepaulvi.com Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction]
*[http://www.ewtn.com/library/PROLIFE/ZINFERTL.HTM Interview With Dr. [[Thomas Hilgers]], Director of the [[Pope Paul VI Institute]] ]
*[http://majella.us/fcc/modules/AMS/article.php?storyid=52 NaProTechnology: A Rational Approach to Reproductive Medicine]
{{Menstrual cycle}}
{{Birth control methods}}
[[Category:Fertility tracking]]
[[pl:Naprotechnologia]]