NaProTECHNOLOGY™

Follow-ups can be billed through insurance, since family planning is a preventive health service.   There is an additional fee of $25 for course materials. NaPro consultations are medical visits and are billed to insurance as such.   

We offer a discount to patients who are paying cash, and we also offer a sliding scale fee based on income.

It is important to understand that methods of calculating effectiveness of contraceptives do not work very well for describing natural family planning systems.  Contraceptive methods only work to prevent pregnancy, and they do so by trying to change the reproductive nature of intercourse. As such, any pregnancy is considered a “failure” of the method.   By contrast, couples using a natural family planning method are free to use the method to achieve or avoid a pregnancy – so both pregnancy and avoidance of pregnancy can be successful outcomes of the method.

CrMS is a system of fertility appreciation – a method of recognizing the signs that help to understand and care for a woman’s reproductive system. By identifying days of fertility, a couple can select to choose days for physical intimacy based on their plan to achieve or avoid pregnancy. Since it can be used to either achieve or avoid pregnancy, it is a “family planning” tool in the full sense of that term.

NaProTECHNOLOGY™ is a women’s health science that uses the data from a woman’s CrMS charting to diagnose and treat women’s health conditions such as infertility, abnormal bleeding, painful periods, premenstrual syndrome, and recurrent pregnancy loss.  NaPro treatments respect and support the natural functioning of the reproductive system, and do not include contraceptives or artificial reproductive techniques. 

Yes!  NaPro offers effective natural treatment for postpartum depression. Please call to request consultation as soon as possible.

We also encourage women suffering from this common and painful condition to access counseling and mental health support.  If you or someone you know is experiencing thoughts of harming themselves or others, please access care in the emergency room or call your local crisis line: 

Clackamas County: 503-655-8585

Washington County: 503-291-9111

Multnomah County: 503-988-4888

The terms “rhythm” and “calendar” methods refer to methods developed in the 1930s and 1940s based on observations of the menstrual cycle. While these were important advances in the understanding of women’s health at their time, current natural methods of family planning are based on a much more sophisticated understanding of the cycle.  CrMS is based on over 40 years of scientific research and is effective for women who are breastfeeding, premenopausal, or have irregular cycles.

CrMS charting provides the data necessary for a NaPro medical consultant to diagnose and treat women’s health issues. Except for postpartum depression, all NaPro treatments rely on Creighton Model charting.

In addition to family planning, the CrMS provides valuable insight into a woman’s health and well being. The female reproductive system relies on the healthy function of many parts of the body. The normal menstrual cycle (“period”) is a sign of good health. Abnormalities in the cycle can be indicators of health problems such as hormonal abnormalities, infections, and even cancer.

There are many methods of natural family planning, each with its own strengths.  Some important qualities of CrMS are:

• It presents a standardized method of describing observations of a woman’s cycle.
• It provides ongoing support by a trained practitioner, an allied health professional.  
• Creighton Model FertilityCare centers are available across the country and even internationally, so if you move, you will be able to find a practitioner to continue to support you. 
• CrMS charts provide the data needed for medical evaluation and treatment with a NaPro medical consultant.

A large study of 1,876 couples with normal fertility published in 1998 showed that at 12 months, method effectiveness to avoid pregnancy was 99.5%, and use effectiveness to avoid pregnancy was 96.8%.  (http://www.reproductivemedicine.com/toc/auto_abstract.php?id=9549)  

All Creighton users begin by attending an introductory session.  We currently provide these sessions free of charge at Holy Family Catholic Clinic.  We are also happy to arrange a presentation at your parish or organization.  The introductory session is designed to give you the information you need to decide whether the Creighton Model System is right for you.  

Teaching of the method occurs over a series of follow-up sessions. Ideally a couple will attend these sessions together.  There are 5 sessions over the course of the first 3 months, and 3 more sessions over the next 9 months. After that point, follow-ups are usually once a year, or whenever there are important changes to reproductive status.

We are not able to provide remote instruction at this time.

Creighton Model FertilityCare system has developed a charting app, but at this time we are not able to offer it.  In the future, this may become an option for clients who have already become confident users of paper charting.