NaPro Technology debate

Unless you happen to live in Ireland where it is quite common, you may never have heard of Natural Procreative Technology, more often known as NaPro Technology. It's a form of treatment which may be offered to couples who don't want to use any form of assisted conception, and it is often said to have high success rates. Now a debate is raging in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine about how effective it may be.

NaPro Technology involves close monitoring of a woman's cycle, and advocates claim it often reveals relatively simple problems that have been overlooked by conventional testing, particularly where a couple are experiencing unexplained infertility. These problems can often be treated without having to resort to assisted conception, and women who get pregnant have their hormones regularly monitored in an attempt at reducing the chances of miscarriage.

A recent study had claimed a success rate of more than 50% using NaPro Technology, with many of the patients involved having a long history of fertility problems, including unsuccessful IVF attempts. However, the response to this in the most recent edition of the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine expresses grave concerns about using the method, particularly with older women. It is suggested that they may miss their only chance to conceive by spending time on NaPro Technology as the treatment involves monitoring for months, and may take up to two years. At a time when so many fertility problems are age-related, this does raise questions about how effective NaPro Technology may be for women who are over the age of 35. You can find more of the discussion at www.jabfm.org