Catholic Medical Quarterly Volume 66(2) May 2016

UKNFP Conference, Leamington Spa, 14/11/2015

Carolyn Kerr

Carolyn KerrAfter a welcome by David Aldred, Chair of the Couple to Couple league, Dr Anne Carus, Chair of UKNFP Conference, gave a very interesting presentation on NaPro Technology. This is a new medical science, helpful to women and married couples with infertility and miscarriage problems. It requires blood tests, charting and ultra sound assessment, aiming to re-establish the fertility cycle to normal. Restorative reproductive surgery would sometimes be helpful, but at present is not available in Britain. Some fertility problems can be diagnosed from the Billings and Symptothermal methods, but referral to a specialist NaPro trained doctor is required. Dr Carus has recently retired as the NaPro doctor for the Life Fertility Centre at Leamington Spa. Dr Magee is the new NaPro doctor in post. Nursing support is given by Ira Winter who is the registered manager of the clinic and a Fertility Care practitioner.

The guest speaker was Dr Cristina Lopez del Burgo, from the university of Navarra in Spain. She gave insight into the optimum dietary needs to encourage normal fertility, and how hyperglycaemia can affect ovarian function. A very high, or very low BMI (Body Mass Index) can have a detrimental effect on fertility. For her Masters she had researched women’s knowledge and attitudes to Family Planning. Many women do not understand how contraception works, and would like to improve their knowledge. She mentioned a web site:- www.naturalwomanhood.org

Fertility UK has worked in conjunction with the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare to publish clinical guidelines for Fertility Awareness methods. It is encouraging to know these methods are now acknowledged within the health service, although some significant differences in recommendations exist compared to fertility teaching given by the Natural Family Planning organisations at present. There was a presentation on this by Dr O’Sullivan.

After lunch, three general practitioners and one physician explained some of the dilemmas and situations they had experienced during their careers. There was a group discussion over tea, which led to a ‘cross fertilisation’ of ideas and plans for future development.

A list of organisations represented at the conference is available on the website:-www.uknfpconference.org.uk