Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Efficacy And Efficiency In Natural Family Planning Services, Richard Fehring

Richard J Fehring

Relatively few Catholic couples in the United States use modern methods of natural family planning (NFP). So too, few Catholic physicians and health professionals prescribe the use of NFP methods for their patients. Reasons for low use of NFP methods include their perceived low efficacy; the complexity of learning, using, and teaching these methods; and the prolonged (and often unnecessary) required abstinence. Newer and simplified methods of NFP have been developed by physicians and scientists that are less complex and use modern technologies of detecting fertility and communicating instructions. Catholic physicians and scientists need to continue to answer the call …

New Technology In Natural Family Planning, Richard Fehring

Richard J Fehring

In recent years, several new devices have been developed to help women achieve or avoid pregnancy. These devices include computerized basal body temperature thermometers, electronic fertility monitors, and chemical and hormonal ovulation detection kits. This article describes these new fertility devices and discusses their effectiveness and impact on helping women understand and control their fertility.

Methods Used To Self-Predict Ovulation A Comparative Study, Richard Fehring

Richard J Fehring

Time of ovulation as detected by a self-test of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the urine was compared with time of ovulation as detected by self-observation of cervical mucus. Twenty regularly cycling women monitored their cervical mucus and urine LH for two complete menstrual cycles. Of the cycles that had an LH surge, 100% were on the peak day of cervical mucus or within three days before the peak day. Self-observation of cervical mucus, therefore, can be an accurate method of determining optimal fertility.

Current Medical Research: Winter-Spring 2012, Richard Fehring

Richard J Fehring

The “Current Medical Research” feature focuses on issues relevant to natural family planning and the beginning of life.

Effects Of Biofeedback-Aided Relaxation On The Psychological Stress Symptoms Of College Students, Richard Fehring

Richard J Fehring

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of Benson's relaxation technique (BRT) with Benson's technique augmented with GSR biofeedback (i.e., biofeedback-aided relaxation, BAR) on the psychological stress symptoms of well college students. Seventy-eight normotensive college students were randomly assigned to one of three groups: the BRT group, the BAR group, and a control group. The BRT and BAR students were asked to practice their respective relaxation technique daily for an eight-week period. Pre-and postintervention, all subjects were administered a state-anxiety inventory and a profile-of-mood state (POMS) test. Posttest analysis indicated that the BAR group had significantly lower …

Grant Application: Randomized Comparison Of Two Internet-Supported Natural Family Planning Methods, Richard J. Fehring

Richard J Fehring

No abstract provided.

Marquette Method Of Natural Family Planning [Project Website], Richard Fehring

Richard J Fehring

No abstract provided.

Final Report: Randomized Comparison Of Two Internet-Supported Methods Of Natural Family Planning, Richard J. Fehring, Mary Schneider

Richard J Fehring

Studies consistently show that women want safe, effective, easy to use, and convenient methods of family planning (Arévalo,1997; Severy 2001). Although Natural Family Planning (NFP) methods are free of side effects, they are often ineffective and complex to learn and use (Grimes et al. 2005). Efforts have occurred over the past 10 years to simplify the teaching and use of NFP methods and increase their efficacy. These efforts include the development of low tech calendar-based methods (Arévalo et al. 2004), simplifying instructions (Frank-Herrmann et al. 2005), and developing accurate biological markers of fertility (Guida et al. 1999). A new high-tech …

Menstrual Cycle Data, Richard J. Fehring

Richard J Fehring

SUBCODE, CYCLENUMBER, STDYGROUP, PEAKYES, REPROCATE, LOC, MEANCYCLE, EDO, LLUTEAL, FSTHIGH, TOTHIGHprepeak+3, TOTHIGHpostpeak, TOTPEAK, TOTFERTILE, TOTFERTILEFORM, LMEN, MEANLMEN, M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M7, M8, M9, M10, M11, M12, M13, M14, M15, TOTMEN, MEANINTESITY, COITALTOT, COITFERTILE, UNBLED, UNUSBLED, UNUSBLEDINT, Age, Age Male, Marital Status, Male's Marital Status, Number of years married, If engaged when planning to wed, Religion, Religion Male, Ethnicity, Ethnicity Male, Ethnicity, Number of years gone to school male, Male's career, Male's Income, Height in inches, Weight, Reporductive Categogory, Number of pregnancies, Number of living children, Number of miscarriages, Number of abortions, Taking any medication or vitamins?, Explain …

Self-Esteem, Spiritual Well-Being And Intimacy: A Comparison Among Couples Using Nfp And Oral Contraceptives, Richard Fehring, Donna M. Lawrence, Catherine M. Sauvage

Richard J Fehring

The purpose of this study was to compare the intimacy, spiritual well-being (SWB), and self-esteem of couples using natural family planning (NFP) with couples using oral contraceptives (OCs). Twenty-two couples who were using the Creighton Model Ovulation Method of NFP for one year to avoid pregnancy were matched with 22 couples who were using OCs for at least a one year period and administered a SWB, self-esteem, and intimacy inventory. Student t-tests were calculated to determine differences in the mean scores of the three inventories between the two groups. The results showed that the NFP couples had statistically higher self-esteem …

Physician And Nurses' Knowledge And Use Of Natural Family Planning, Richard Fehring

Richard J Fehring

Perinatal health professionals are in key positions to either promote or dissuade the use of Natural Family Planning (NFP). The purpose of this article is to describe a survey conducted with perinatal physicians and nurses on their knowledge and professional use of NFP. Four hundred and fifty physicians and nurses (150 MDs and 300 RNs) were sent a questionnaire on the use of and knowledge of NFP. One hundred sixty-six (or 37%) returned the completed questionnaires. Fifty-two percent of the nurses who returned the questionnaires and 48% of the physicians indicated they were taught about NFP in basic (generic) medical …

Comparison Of Abstinence And Coital Frequency Between Two Natural Methods Of Family Planning, Richard Fehring, Thomas Bouchard, Mary Schneider

Richard J Fehring

Problem Statement: The length of periodic abstinence, due to overestimation of the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle is often a reason for dissatisfaction, discontinuation, and user error with natural family planning (NFP) methods. The objective of this research was to compare the length of required abstinence (i.e., estimated fertility) and coital frequency between two NFP methods. Study Design: Analysis of existing data from a 12 month prospective comparison study in which participants were randomized into either an electronic hormonal fertility monitor (EHFM) group or a cervical mucus monitoring (CMM) group, both of which included a fertility algorithm as a …

Psychological And Spiritual Well-Being In College Students, Richard Fehring, Patricia Brennan, Mary Keller

Richard J Fehring

Two separate correlational studies were conducted to investigate the relationship between spirituality and psychological mood states in response to life change. In the first study a spiritual well-being index, a spiritual-maturity scale, a life-change index, and a depression scale were administered to 95 freshman nursing students. The spiritual well-being index was composed of two sub-scales; a religious well-being and an existential well-being scale. In the second study a spiritual-outlook scale and the Profile of Mood State index was added to the above tests and administered to 75 randomly selected college students. The results demonstrated a weak positive relationship between life …

Randomized Comparison Of Two Internet –Supported Natural Family Planning Methods Study Data, Richard J. Fehring

Richard J Fehring

ID, Group, Age, Age Male, Marital Status, Male's Marital Status, Number of years married, If engaged when planning to wed, Religion, Religion Male, Ethnicity, Ethnicity Male, Number of years gone to school, Number of years gone to school male, Male's career, Male's Income, Height in inches, Weight, Reporductive Categogory, Number of pregnancies, Number of living children, Number of miscarriages, Number of abortions, Taking any medication or vitamins?, Explain any medication or vitamins you are taking, Gynocological surgeries, Male's Number of living kids, Number of living boys, Number of living girls, Male taking any medication or vitamins, Male explain any medication …

The Influence Of Bmi Levels On Phases Of The Menstrual Cycle And Presumed Ovulation, Richard Fehring

Richard J Fehring

Obesity and high body mass index (BMI) are known to be risks for anovulation and infertility. Little is known about how BMI levels affect parameters of the menstrual cycle. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of BMI on parameters of the menstrual cycle and the likelihood for ovulation. The participants in this study were 244 women between the ages of twenty and fifty-four (mean thirty years) who charted from one to thirty-six menstrual cycles (mean seven cycles) for a total of 2,035 cycles. Urinary luteinizing hormone (LH) threshold tests were used to estimate the day of …

Promoting Natural Family Planning, Richard Jerome Fehring

Richard J Fehring

No abstract provided.

Family Planning, Natural Family Planning, And Abortion Use Among U. S. Hispanic Women, Dana Rodriguez, Richard Fehring

Richard J Fehring

Hispanics are the largest minority group in the U. S. and they contribute to over 50 percent of Catholics under the age of 25. The purpose of this study was to determine the patterns of contraceptive use (current and ever), natural family planning (NFP), and abortion among U. S. Hispanic women between the ages of 15 and 44 years and to compare their patterns of use to non-Hispanic women of the same age range. A particular interest was to determine the influence of faith on the choice of family-planning methods among the sexually active U. S. Catholic Hispanic women. Data …

Current Medical Research In Natural Family Planning, Richard Fehring

Richard J Fehring

No abstract provided.

Efficacy Of Achieving Pregnancy With Fertility-Focused Intercourse, Qiyan Mu, Richard Fehring

Richard J Fehring

Purpose:

To compare pregnancy rates when women have intercourse on self-estimated high and peak fertile days and when they only have intercourse on low fertile days during the fertile window (FW).

Study Design and Methods:

We used a prospective observational cohort study design. Our convenience sample included 124 women who utilized our online charting Web sites to achieve pregnancy from January 2010 to November 2012. Participants used an electronic hormonal fertility monitor (EHFM) or self-observed cervical mucus or both to determine fertility during the estimated FW. Pregnancy rates were determined with Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Chi square analysis was used to …

Pilot Evaluation Of An Internet-Based Natural Family Planning Education And Service Program, Richard Jerome Fehring, Mary Schneider, Kathleen Raviele

Richard J Fehring

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy, knowledge of fertility, and acceptability of a web-based natural family planning (NFP) education and service program. Design: A 6-month repeated measure longitudinal evaluation pilot study. Setting: A university based online website. Participants: The website was piloted with 468 volunteer women seeking NFP services. Of these participants, 222 used the automatic online fertility charting system to avoid pregnancy. The 222 charting participants had a mean age of 29.9 years (SD=5.6), 2.2 children (SD=1.9), 37% were postpartum, and 47% had regular menstrual cycle lengths. Intervention: Nurse-managed web-based NFP education and service program. Outcomes: Pregnancies were confirmed by …

Randomized Comparison Of Two Internet-Supported Natural Family Planning Methods (Preliminary Findings), Richard J. Fehring, Mary Schneider

Richard J Fehring

The aims of this study were to determine and compare efficacy, satisfaction, ease of use, and motivation in using an internet-based method of Natural Family Planning (NFP) that utilizes either electronic hormonal fertility monitoring (EHFM) or cervical-mucus monitoring (CMM). Four hundred fifty women (mean age 30.1) and their male partners (mean age 31.9) who sought to avoid pregnancy were randomized into either an EHFM (N=228) or CMM NFP group (N=222). Both groups utilized a Web site that provided NFP instructions, an electronic charting system, and support from professional nurses. Participants were assessed for satisfaction, ease of use, and motivation in …

Religiosity And Sexual Activity Among Older Adolescents, Richard Fehring, Kerry Cheever, Karyn German, Connie Philpot

Richard J Fehring

This study investigates religiosity, sexual activity, and sexual permissiveness among older adolescents. Eighty-two college students completed a survey that measured religiosity, sexual permissiveness, self-esteem, frequency of recent sexual encounters, and motivators for sexual activity or abstinence. Guilt, prayer, organized religious activity, and religious well-being predicted fewer sexual encounters. Orthodox beliefs, participation in organized religious activities, and highly-rated importance of faith predicted less permissive sexual attitudes. We conclude that guilt and religious activity can be good motivators for decreasing sexual encounters. We recommend that health practitioners encourage participation in religious activity among adolescents.

Comparison Of Abstinence And Coital Frequency Between 2 Natural Methods Of Family Planning, Richard Fehring, Mary Schneider

Richard J Fehring

Introduction The length of periodic abstinence, due to overestimation of the fertile phase of the menstrual cycle, is often a cause for dissatisfaction, discontinuation, and user error with natural family planning (NFP) methods. The objective of this research was to compare the length of required abstinence (ie, estimated fertility) and coital frequency between 2 NFP methods. Methods This was an analysis of data from a 12-month prospective comparison study in which participants were randomized into either an electronic hormonal fertility monitor (EHFM) group or a cervical mucus monitoring (CMM) group—both of which included a fertility algorithm as a double check …

Cohort Efficacy Study Of Natural Family Planning Among Perimenopause Age Women, Richard Fehring, Qiyan Mu

Richard J Fehring

Objective: To determine the efficacy of using natural family planning (NFP) methods to avoid unintended pregnancy among women of perimenopause age (i.e., age 40-55 years). Design: A secondary analysis of subset data from two prospective observational cohort studies. Setting: A university based in-person and online NFP service program. Participants: One hundred and sixty couples who used either a website or an in-person NFP service to learn how to avoid pregnancy from January 2001 to November 2012. Methods: A prospective 12-month effectiveness study among 160 women (between ages 40-55) who used NFP to avoid pregnancy. The women used either a hormonal …

Statistical Evaluation Of The Standard Days Method Of Family Planning, Mary Schneider, Richard Fehring

Richard J Fehring

The Standard Days Method (SDM) is a method of family planning that assumes ovulation to be close to the midpoint of the menstrual cycle; fertility falls between days 8 and 19; and is most effective for cycle lengths between twenty-six and thirty-two days. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the assumptions of the SDM with a new data set of 714 menstrual cycles produced by 131 women (mean age twenty-nine) who tracked their fertility with an electronic fertility monitor that measured urinary estrogen and luteinizing hormone (LH). The LH peak was used to estimate the day of ovulation …

Anthropological Differences Between Contraception And Natural Family Planning, Richard Fehring, William Kurz

Richard J Fehring

Almost twenty years ago, Pope John Paul II in his apostolic exhortation Familiaris Consortio called on scholars to study the anthropological and moral differences between the recourse to the natural rhythms of a woman’s menstrual cycle (i.e., natural family planning) and contraception (1). Although natural family planning (NFP) and contraception can both be used to prevent pregnancy, there are conspicuous differences between use of natural methods and contraception. Most people, however, have difficulty in distinguishing what the differences are and in understanding why some religious groups, health professionals, and other members of society consider contraception (but not natural family planning) …

Toward A Definition Of Nurse-Managed Centers, Richard Fehring, Judeen Schulte, Susan K. Riesch

Richard J Fehring

The purpose of this study was to gain consensus on a definition of Nurse-Managed Centers. To accomplish this task, Delphi survey methods were used with the participants of the Second Biennial Conference on Nurse-Managed Centers. Delphi methods entail obtaining autonomous consensus from experts through rounds of questionnaires and feedback of results. A questionnaire was developed that included 22 items obtained from the literature, past conferences, and the expertise of the authors. An additional 6 items were suggested by the conferees. Of the 168 conferees, 148 participated in the first round, 147 in the second, and 133 in the third. Fifty-three …

New Low- And High-Tech Calendar Methods Of Family Planning, Richard Fehring

Richard J Fehring

Calendar-based methods are not usually considered effective or useful methods of family planning among health professionals. However, new “high-” and “low”-tech calendar methods have been developed, which are easy to teach, to use, and may be useful in helping couples avoid pregnancy. The low-tech models are based on a fixed-day calendar system. The high-tech models are based on monitoring urinary metabolites of female reproductive hormones. Both systems have high levels of satisfaction. This article describes these new models of family planning and the research on their effectiveness. The author proposes a new algorithm for determining the fertile phase of the …

Randomized Comparison Of Two Internet-Supported Fertility Awareness Based Methods Of Family Planning, Richard Fehring, Mary Schneider, Kathleen Raviele, Dana Rodriguez, Jessica Pruszynski

Richard J Fehring

Background: The aim was to compare the efficacy and acceptability of two Internet-supported fertility-awareness-based methods of family planning.

Study design: Six hundred and sixty-seven women and their male partners were randomized into either an electronic hormonal fertility monitor (EHFM) group or a cervical mucus monitoring (CMM) group. Both groups utilized a Web site with instructions, charts and support. Acceptability was assessed online at 1, 3 and 6 months. Pregnancy rates were determined by survival analysis.

Results: The EHFM participants (N=197) had a total pregnancy rate of 7 per 100 users over 12 months of use compared with 18.5 for the …

Monitoring Method Satisfaction And Efficacy Data, Richard J. Fehring

Richard J Fehring

Data field variable labels: ID, Group, Age, Age Male, Marital Status, Male's Marital Status, Number of years married, If engaged when planning to wed, Religion, Religion Male, Ethnicity, Ethnicity Male, Number of years gone to school, Number of years gone to school male, Male's career, Male's Income, Height in inches, Weight, Reporductive Categogory, Number of pregnancies, Number of living children, Number of miscarriages, Number of abortions, Taking any medication or vitamins?, Explain any medication or vitamins you are taking, Gynocological surgeries, Gynocological surgeries, Male's Number of living kids, Number of living boys, Number of living girls, Male taking any medication …