What is NaPro Technology?

NaPro Technology has helped countless women and families find healing and freedom in their fertility, myself included! I love to explain what NaPro is in the context of my own experience. Keep reading to hear my story, and learn how NaPro can help you too!

What is NaPro Technology?

Natural Procreative Technology is a new women’s health science that was developed from the Creighton Model System chart. NaPro seeks to cooperate with the natural procreative functions of the woman’s body, and therefore protects the dignity of life, the woman, and marriage.

In a nutshell: its a pro-life, naturally cooperative, life changing, fertility healing, hope giving, really awesome medical system. NaPro Technology helped free me from debilitating menstrual cycles and helped me become a mom…so I may be a bit biased, but I’d love to share how it can help you too! I believe we often learn best through story, so let’s jump right in.

Real Life Example: My Story

I first learned about the Creighton Model System and NaPro Technology when I was in college. I’d suffered from extremely painful periods and intense PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome) symptoms for years. I thought this was simply the cross of women, until a Fertility Care Practitioner told me that monthly dependence on heating pads, ibuprofen, and remaining horizontal didn’t have to be the norm for me.

I started charting my cycles for the first time, and I learned so much about my health and my body just from one paper chart. As I continued charting, it became clear that I had irregularities in my cycles. I got a referral to a wonderful NaPro provider who looked at my charts and listened to my symptoms. She then ordered a series of lab work that coincided with specific days on my chart. From those results, she could see that my progesterone (one of the main female hormones) levels were severely low. She explained that this was the cause of my PMS symptoms, and she ordered a bio-identical form of progesterone therapy for me to take on certain days of my cycle.

For the first time in my life, I no longer suffered two weeks of fatigue, depression, nausea, and insomnia leading up to my period. I could hardly believe how much of a difference it made! Because the therapy timed with my chart, I saw incredible results. I knew exactly which days to take the progesterone to support the natural hormone curve throughout my cycle. This kind of personal protocol was amazing to me. No more bandaid fixes or recommendations to just try birth control.

Finding Answers

From there, I received a referral to a NaPro surgeon for an endometriosis evaluation to address the severe pain my cycles caused. After looking over my charts, hormone levels, and discussing my symptoms, surgery was recommended for removal of endometriosis. Endometriosis is officially diagnosed through exploratory surgery. During my surgery, they found endo in several places and were able to remove it all through a laparoscopic procedure. In a pre surgery ultrasound, I was also diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). This diagnosis opened the door for more targeted and holistic healing through nutritional support.

Finding Healing

For several years prior to my discovery of Creighton and NaPro, I had no answers. Now I knew exactly what was causing so many painful symptoms in my life. Now I finally had a direction to move in. Through cooperative hormone therapy, surgery, learning how to nutritionally support my body, and God’s grace, I found healing from the triple whammy of low progesterone, endometriosis, and PCOS. What seemed a sure path of infertility turned into a path of hope through this journey, and all praise be to God, we are now the grateful parents of two sweet, rambunctious little boys.

I share this story so you can see an actual life changed by this work. But I know that every woman and every story is different. I have walked with clients who found answers after charting for one cycle, and with clients who have battled infertility, illness, or pain for much longer. I’ve also walked with women who have perfectly regular cycles, but they are deeply impacted by how charting their cycles teaches them about their fertility, their bodies, and God’s beautiful design. I share this story in hope that wherever you find yourself, this can be a healing path for you too.

Common NaPro Technology Questions

Now that you’ve seen a real life example, let’s tackle a few more common questions.

What is a NaPro Technology Provider?

The St Pope Paul VI Institute in Omaha trains medical providers (physicians, nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, pharmacists) as NaPro Medical Consultants. When a client needs fertility related medical care based on their charts/symptoms, the client’s Fertility Care Practitioner can refer them to a NaPro provider. The Fertility Care Practitioner and NaPro provider both work with the client to help them continue charting and to find answers to their fertility concerns.

How Does NaPro Technology Work with Charting?

As you begin charting your cycles, your Fertility Care Practitioner will work with you to identify any biomarkers that might indicate a fertility or health issue. Examples of these bio markers include things like the presence or absence of cervical mucus, length of the menstrual cycle, abnormal bleeding, occurrence of a peak day, symptoms you report, and several others. Your FCP can then refer you to a NaPro provider for further evaluation and deeper healing.

What does NaPro Technology treat?

NaProTechnology can help with things like

• Infertility
• Ovarian cysts
• Premenstrual syndrome (PMS or PMDD)
• Recurrent miscarriage
• Unusual bleeding
• Hormone imbalance
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
• Endometriosis
• Effects of stress
• And more!

How Can I Receive NaPro Technology Care?

The best way to get started? Learn to chart your cycles with the Creighton Model System! NaPro Providers will look at your chart to help them care for you in the best way. Check out an intro session to get started charting!

You can also find a list of NaPro Providers here

And here!