Dowbór-Dzwonka, A., Cegła, B., Filanowicz, M., & Szymkiewicz, E. (2012). Assisted reproductive techniques and NaProTechnology. Zdrowie publiczne, 122(3), 322-328. https://doi.org/10.12923/j.0044-2011/122/3/a.19
Dowbór-Dzwonka A, Cegła B, Filanowicz M, Szymkiewicz E. Assisted reproductive techniques and NaProTechnology. Zdr Publ. 2012;122(3):322-328. doi:10.12923/j.0044-2011/122/3/a.19
Dowbór-Dzwonka, Aneta, et al. "Assisted reproductive techniques and NaProTechnology." Zdrowie publiczne, vol. 122, no. 3, 2012, pp. 322-328.
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Infertility is a significant and constantly increasing individual and social problem. It is estimated that at present it affects approx. 15 to 20 percent of couples. Inability to conceive a child elicits a range of unfavourable implications in the scope of emotional experiences, in the partner’s relationship and in a broader social perspective. Making a decision on undergoing diagnostics and infertility treatment is a difficult and often postponed moment for many couples. This is an expression of the escape model of dealing with a situation that threatens with a fall of self-esteem. However, if a couple reacts in a task-oriented way and participates in the diagnostic and therapeutic procedure, new doubts appear connected with the medical, psychological, social and ethical sphere. Infertility treatment sometimes prompts fear connected with the stripping of intimacy, loss of control over one’s body, possible complications and unsuccessful therapy. This article is an analysis of the medical and the other aspects of struggling with infertility with reference to two extremely different methods of solving this problem: NaProTechnology as a process of assisting natural procreation and assisted reproductive techniques with a special consideration of in vitro fertilization.
La progresiva medicalización de la infertilidad en las últimas tres décadas se corresponde con una creciente difusión de las Tecnologías de Reproducción Asistida (TRA), que han dejado en la sombra, casi por completo, otros enfoques más fisiológicos del tratamiento de la infertilidad, que tienen menos riesgos, son más económicos y, a la vez, igualmente efectivos. Este trabajo presenta un enfoque sistemático e integrado: la NaProTecnología (NPT), que tiene como objetivo optimizar las condiciones fisiológicas en cada ciclo menstrual, para permitir, de esta forma, una concepción por métodos naturales. Este método se postula como una mejor solución para el tratamiento de la infertilidad, desde un punto de vista que no sólo es más ético, sino que, además, es compatible con otros puntos de vistas religiosos, médicos, sociales, legales y ambientales. Los gobiernos deberían promover y financiar la NPT y, al mismo tiempo, las sociedades médicas y científicas deberían diseñar estudios para comparar de una manera justa la tasa de éxito, los costos y las complicaciones de la NPT en contraposición al método TRA tradicional.
Boyle PC et al., 2011·Biomedicina (Sveikatos Mokslai/Health Sciences)
Infertility is usually a consequence of multiple chronic conditions rather than a single acute condition. We propose that it is erroneous to apply acute medical interventions to a condition that is chronic in nature.
Retrospective analysis of 3 case studies which demonstrate the multifactorial and chronic nature of infertility that were previously managed unsuccessfully with acute intervention using IVF (in Vitro Fertilisation) or ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology).
Demonstration of the multifactorial approach and 3 successful singleton live births using NPT (Natural Procreative Technology or NaProTechnology). Infertility can be treated successfully with a multifactorial approach which takes into account the chronic nature of infertility and targets treatment to manage multiple factors responsible for the condition. Infertility is not a diagnosis but is often the expression of several underlying ill health conditions which if diagnosed and treated correctly will result in restoration of normal reproductive function. Physicians ought to consider broader diagnostic possibilities in their evaluation of infertile couples. A multifactorial treatment strategy for the chronic condition of infertility may be more effective than the widespread acute strategy employed by ART. Further study is required to investigate this possibility in more detail. Future studies looking at NPT and ART outcomes must be cohort studies comparing populations with similar patient characteristics.
Sánchez-Méndez JI et al., 2025·Front Reprod Health·Free full text on PubMed Central
Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) are widely used to address infertility; however, they are costly, associated with medical risks, and often yield suboptimal clinical outcomes. Natural Procreative Technology, also known as NaProTechnology (NPT), provides a systematic and integrative approach to infertility by thoroughly identifying and treating underlying medical conditions to restore the couple's natural fertility potential. Despite its promise, real-world data on NPT effectiveness remain limited. The objective of this study is to evaluate the take-home baby rate in a large population of infertile couples treated with NPT and to synthesize findings from previously published studies. A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving 1,310 infertile couples treated at a specialized fertility clinic in Spain over a 5-year period. Participants presented with primary or secondary infertility or recurrent pregnancy loss. Clinical data, diagnoses, and outcomes were analyzed, including surgical interventions and treatment duration. The mean age of women and men was 35.0 (SD 4.4) and 36.9 (SD 5.3) years, respectively. Primary infertility was the most common subtype (73.5%), the median infertility duration was 24 months, and prior ART attempts were recorded in 27.5% of couples. Mean number of diagnoses per couple was 2.5 (SD 1.3). The crude take-home baby rate was 35.3% (N = 463). Independent predictors of successful take-home baby included female age, recurrent pregnancy loss as the reason for consultation, duration of infertility, and the presence of endometriosis, hormonal dysfunction, male factor, and endometrial disorders as diagnoses. Considering a median duration of NPT of 10.9 months (range 8.1-17.0), the adjusted cumulative take-home baby rate was 62.1%. Rates varied significantly by female age, with higher success observed in younger women: 83.7% at 18-30 years, 53.3% at 36-40 years, and 24.4% over 40 years. A sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the impact of dropout assumptions on cumulative pregnancy rates. Nearly one-third of patients underwent surgery, most commonly hysteroscopy and/or laparoscopy. In this cohort, NPT was associated with a notably high take-home baby rate in an infertile population with unfavorable prognostic factors, including advanced maternal age, prolonged duration of infertility, or previous failed attempts at conventional ART procedures.
Introduction. The problem of infertility covers to 20-30% of couples in Poland, so doctors, midwives and other health care professionals during her practice more and more often meet women and couples suffering from this problem now or in the past. The NaProTECHNOLOGY (Natural Procreative Technology, NPT) is a diagnostic and therapeutic method in the reproductive health disorders. It is a comprehensive program of therapy with the exception of the assisted reproduction treatments. Systemic, hormonal and surgical treatment, in addition to health care professionals, support psychologists and clergy, because the coordinated cooperation of specialists in various fields provides a holistic care of the patient and her family. Among these specialists, a midwife may be an important member of the therapeutic team in a taking care of infertile couples. Her education gives her the right competence to take care of a woman and her family in the area of physiology and a promotion of procreative health. Key words: infertility, NaProTechnology, holistic care, the role of midwife.
Restorative Reproductive Medicine › Restorative Care and Assisted Reproduction › Outcome Comparisons · Ethics and Policy › Reproductive Ethics › Embryo Status · Assisted Reproduction › Procedures and Protocols › IVF Protocols
M Filanowicz, B Cegła, A Dowbór-Dzwonka, E Szymkiewicz
DOI 10.12923/j.0044-2011/122/3/a.19 10.12923/j.0044-2011/122/3/a.19 Dowbór-Dzwonka et al. 2012, Dowbór-Dzwonka 2012
Cite this article
Dowbór-Dzwonka, A., Cegła, B., Filanowicz, M., & Szymkiewicz, E. (2012). Assisted reproductive techniques and NaProTechnology. Zdrowie publiczne, 122(3), 322-328. https://doi.org/10.12923/j.0044-2011/122/3/a.19
Dowbór-Dzwonka A, Cegła B, Filanowicz M, Szymkiewicz E. Assisted reproductive techniques and NaProTechnology. Zdr Publ. 2012;122(3):322-328. doi:10.12923/j.0044-2011/122/3/a.19
Dowbór-Dzwonka, Aneta, et al. "Assisted reproductive techniques and NaProTechnology." Zdrowie publiczne, vol. 122, no. 3, 2012, pp. 322-328.
