Reflections on 30 Years as an ObGyn and 50 Years of Marriage

My life as a married ObGyn has spanned the development of NFP. Our marriage of 50 years began with knowledge of the Rhythm Method. We were excited to hear of the Billings’ discovery of the cervical mucus observation method of Natural Family Planning. About 1977 Drs. John & Evelyn Billings visited San Jose and lectured at O’Connor Hospital. The moment we heard they had published their knowledge in a large booklet, we bought it and consumed every word!

The Couple to Couple League was founded in 1971 by John & Sheila Kippley, lay Catholics, with the help of Dr. Konald Prem. The League was the first organization to teach a symptoms-based method that relied on all three primary fertility signs: temperature, mucus, and cervical position. They also lectured at O’Connor Hospital, circa 1978.

The Creighton Model FertilityCare System was developed about 1976 and was first fully described in 1980. Developed by Dr Thomas Hilgers, the founder and director of the St. Paul VI Institute in Omaha, Nebraska, this model, like the Billings Ovulation Method, is based on observations of cervical mucus to track fertility.

In 1976, San Jose’s O’Connor Hospital created a wonderful medical office called the Center for Life, providing good reproductive medical care for women, as well as pediatric care. I was fortunate to be invited to be one of the doctors who staffed it, until my retirement in 1998. The center had several well trained NFP teachers, who taught the Creighton Method in English and Spanish. I was blessed to complete the Creighton program through the St. Paul VI Institute to become an accredited teacher and Medical Consultant. The Diocese of San Jose benefited from the Center for Life by being able to refer couples preparing for marriage to one of the NFP Introductory classes held there monthly.

One of our teachers, Thérèse Maes, got the brilliant idea of creating a new organization that would unite those who use, teach, and advocate for all methods of NFP. It would be called the California Association of Natural Family Planning and I was present at its debut conference on March 25, 1993, which featured Drs. John & Lyn Billings from Australia as keynote speakers.

In the 27 years since, I have witnessed CANFP increase appreciation of scientific and effective natural methods through statewide and regional events, seminars for healthcare professionals/clergy/seminarians, the quarterly CANFP NEWS, social media, and exhibit outreach. But its real strength lies in the network of members collaborating to bring NFP to all of California: physicians, NFP teachers, clergy, churches, and dioceses.

I would like to emphasize the joy, wonder and appreciation of life that NFP brought to me. Professionally, in using my training as an NFP Medical Consultant throughout 30 years of Obstetric and Gynecologic practice, caring for NFP couples.Personally, for my husband and me, it was such a benefit to our marriage. Can you imagine the joy of being allowed to be part of creating a new human being? Blessed by God with His creativity, we have our four wonderful children.

I know you would understand how important it is to your life to have your eyesight, right? You can appreciate what a tragedy it would be to have to be blind throughout your life. But that’s what it would be like to your married life if you had to go through it being unaware and ignorant of Natural Family Planning.

“All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine!”  Thank you, dear God, for our marvelous lives!