Catholic Medical Quarterly Volume 71(2) May 2021
Reports
The Unexplained Infertility Summit
From the Natural Family Planning Teachers Association
A three-day summit held online in May 2020. After the Fertility Summit in April, Anna Saucier, main organiser, and Melissa Buchan received some very positive feedback. They had decided to follow on with a second summit next year, but thanks to the encouraging response, a decision was made to put on a shorter second summit now, this time on Unexplained Infertility. The format was the same, free registration, and information about the presentations sent out in advance.
Access to the summit was given each day, and an opportunity to order
the talks via podcast was available.
I watched 3-4 presentations each
day, (from a choice of 8 -9 talks) topics on the first day include,
- Explaining unexplained infertility.
- Charting, a powerful diagnostic map.
- Silent effects of different factors on menstrual cycle and fertility.
- A personal journey through unexplained infertility.
- Assisted Reproductive technology vs Restorative Reproductive Technology, explaining the diagnostic tests, treatments and outcomes of both.....
- What is Restorative Reproductive Medicine. ...
- How to Improve egg quality.
A doctor with experience working in IVF, talked about his background training (Animal sciences degree, worked with IVF in animals before he moved on to human reproduction). He explained why he now believes RRM is the best approach to the infertility problem. Later that day he gave an informative and clear presentation on the Effectiveness of IVF v RRM. Legal and Ethical issues were also explained.
On day 2 there were excellent talks on
- ‘The NaPro Technology Approach to unexplained Infertility’....
- The link between Digestion and Fertility, ..
- Navigating Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome and unexplained infertility......
- Environmental toxins affecting Fertility Health
- The way we think matters .....
- Importance of Progesterone ....
- Recurrent pregnancy loss ....
- Overcoming infertility with Lifestyle changes.
Dr Phil Boyle presented on The truth about Ovarian Reserve and AMH.
Day 3 covered Insulin Resistance affecting infertility, .... Undetected viruses that affect infertility. Viruses are difficult to detect in the body but may play a part in increasing the immune response and thus risk rejection of the fertilised ova .... Epigenetic approach to fertility, particularly in pre-conceptual care.
This is not a full list of the topics covered but gives an impression of the breadth and quality of the presentations. The speakers were clear, knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their subject. I believe the summit would be of interest to women /couples who are trying to achieve a pregnancy, and also of particular interest for doctors, nurses, midwives and healthcare personnel. The speakers gave website details for future contact. Many of the speakers work at the Saint Pope Paul VI institute at Omaha, Nebraska, USA or have worked there in the past.
More information is available on their website. https://www.fertilitycare.org/pope-paul-vi-institute
At the time of writing this newsletter, Dr Phil Boyle, in Dublin, is the President of the International Institute for Restorative Reproductive Medicine. www.iirrm.org
You can also visit the Natural Family Planning Teachers Association website at https://www.nfpta.org.uk