The Pope Paul VI Institute was started by a doctor of medicine in gynecology whose name is Thomas W. Hilgers. He began his research in 1968 as a senior medical student. Working at St. Louis University and Creighton University Schools of Medicine, he and his co-workers developed the Creighton Model Fertility Care System. Currently, Dr. Hilgers is a senior medical consultant in obstetrics, gynecology, reproductive medicine, and surgery at the Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction and he is an associate clinical professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Creighton University School of Medicine. He is also the director of the Institute’s National Center for Women’s Health.
Dr. Hilger’s began an independent evaluation of the Billing’s Ovulation Method in 1976. He and his co-workers we able to solidify the scientific foundations of the method. They then developed a teaching methodology which has now become known as the Creighton Model Fertility Care System (CrMS). This is a completely standardized teaching program which is used throughout the United States and in several foreign countries. Because it is standardized, there is a common language that all women use which makes the system very objective. This has been the key to expanding the scope of the CrMS from simply a system of family planning to a system which also includes women’s health. The CrMS is scientifically sound, accurate, precise, and effective. It can be used not only to achieve or avoid pregnancy but also to further the evaluation of infertility, repetitive miscarriage, abnormal bleeding, recurrent ovarian cysts, pelvic pain, premenstrual syndrome, etc. It does all of this in a way which cooperates with one’s fertility, respects the dignity of women and the integrity of marriage. As a bonus, it helps married couples discover the “inner soul” of their human sexuality.
Now that the history is out of the way I can tell you about myself and how the CrMS has affected me. I have had gynecological problems since puberty and for a long time believed they were just part of being a women. During the onset of one particular cycle I bled for more than six weeks without any relief. I decided at this point I should see a doctor and was put on the birth control pill at the age of 15. Thus began the long journey to where I am now.
I continued to have problems with long periods of bleeding, abdominal and lower back pain, mood swings, and depression although the only answer I got from several different gynecologists was to take the pill as this would “straighten me out”. I had moral issues with this because as a Catholic I didn’t believe in taking the birth control pill so I was continually telling myself, surely it must be okay since its for medical reasons not controlling fertility. It also bothered me that none of the doctors were concerned with finding out why I was having these problems and instead chose to “mask” the symptoms of an underlying condition.
Thirteen years later, after getting married, having two high-risk pregnancies and one miscarriage, my husband found the website for the Pope Paul VI Institute. He printed out information including a phone number and I called them. The woman I spoke to was very friendly and put me in contact with a Creighton Model practitioner in my area. The protocol for treatment is to first chart your cycles for two months and the practitioner then sends them along with a letter explaining her evaluation to Dr. Hilgers. He looks over the information and determines whether he could help with any problems you may be facing. If it is determined that treatment would be beneficial he will then set a appointment to meet with him.
