The gift of fertility explored as Billings LIFE visits Tasmania

By Josh Low

Exploring the gift of fertility and sharing a message of hope and education was behind a recent visit by a team of Billings LIFE educators to Tasmania.

Mandie Bowen, Bernadette Davies and Lucia Snelling from Billings LIFE, an organisation which specialises in natural fertility management and education, spoke to people across the state about fertility management and awareness.

Their simple but powerful message was that fertility is a gift, shifting the conversation around fertility from something clinical or even burdensome to something sacred and beautiful.

Invited by Catholic Education Tasmania (CET) to speak to leaders and teachers in Catholic education, the trio also met with priests and young people of the Archdiocese to share their expertise.

CET Director of Catholic Identity and Evangelisation, Martin Tobin, said the Billings LIFE team held a one-day program of two sessions which looked at man and woman as a visible sign of God’s gift to the world, and the scientific background of the Billings Ovulation Method.

“With Circle of Life as our lead program, Family & Relationships Education in Catholic schools aims to promote the intrinsic and equal dignity of every human person created in the image and likeness of God, by proposing the Christian vision for the human person that offers a way of living aligned with the moral law inscribed into our very nature,” he said.

“The professional learning explored how teachers may foster within their students, through both faith and science, reverence for God’s wonderful gift of fertility and life.

“Participants shared their appreciation for the professional learning, and were delighted to learn that members of the Archdiocesan clergy also participated in information sessions during the same week – a clear indication that CET’s approach to Respectful Relationships Education is founded on the family-school-parish partnership.”

Senior Billings LIFE Educator and Committee Chair, Mandie Bowen, said fertility is not just about reproduction – but the foundation of marriage, family and relationships.

She added that whether within family relationships, romantic connections or pastoral ministry, the concept of fertility as a gift is essential in understanding our bodies and the way God has created us.

“It’s much more than just about sexual relationships and reproduction,” she said.

“A woman’s cycle should be normal and if her chart indicates it is not, then medical investigation is required to restore her health.

“When a Billings LIFE educator recognises an anomaly, a woman is referred to her GP,” she said.

“If they’re not looking for the underlying problem, then these women, their health issues continue. And it’s not just reproductive, it’s affected by so many other things, like their whole endocrine system for example.

“So many young women nowadays are coming to us because their cycles aren’t looking normal, and they want to work it out before having children.”

She added that there is a lack of education around the positive outcomes surrounding natural fertility awareness and planning.

“Many doctors are unaware of the positive outcomes for couples through the collaboration between Natural Fertility Awareness and Restorative Reproductive Medicine and refer straight to artificial reproductive technologies, in particular IVF,” she said.

“By doing so, pregnancy may occur, but underlying health issues can go undiagnosed. However, the cycle is a window into a woman’s overall health.”

With infertility rates on the rise, Mandie said many priests are now finding themselves at the front lines, guiding young couples struggling to conceive.

During their visit, the Billings LIFE team offered some insights into women’s health and fertility to Archbishop Julian and several priests of the Archdiocese.

“It was to give them an awareness of the benefits and more information they can share with couples who come to them for marriage preparation or are dealing with infertility in their marriage,” Mandie said.

“Working with priests has become a team effort – it has become a part of their pastoral ministry now and priests are an important arm of the work we do, whether by walking with couples in their journey, or referring couples to the right people,” Mandie said.

In her presentation to the youth, Mandie explained the Billings Ovulation Method and the hope it offers for young people’s lives.

“We’ve got young ones down in Tasmania, trying to work out stuff now before they get to the marriage stage, so that when they want to have children, their reproductive health is working as it should be.

“So, it was giving them hope and just making them aware of what is available, and that we exist really.

“It was great that there were so many young men there. They were really involved or engaged and a few of them came up afterwards and thanked us for the information.”

Medical student, Lou Gonzales, attended the young adult’s night to hear more about natural fertility awareness and planning.

“In med school, they only really teach about condoms and contraceptives being the option to prevent pregnancy,” she said.

“There’s no full and deeper exploration of the different methods of Natural Family Planning (NFP).

“Obviously as a Catholic med student NFP is what I lean towards, but I feel like just in general for med students, I think it’s important to have a good idea of these methods.

“For young women, this method is so helpful for understanding your reproductive health, especially for those with things like menstruation problems, endometriosis and cystic ovarian syndrome.”

Fr John Joseph Martin LEB was present at both the presentations to the clergy and youth and shared some personal experience he has had with the topic.

“I’ve come across some young married couples who want to learn and know more about their fertility and live in accord with the Church’s teachings and the richness of the approach found in Theology of the Body,” he said.

“It’s been more encouraging and empowering as a priest to learn of the depth of resources out there to help couples, even if it is just to direct them to the right people who can help them,” he said.