There is no information available about the effect of iron in formula on the development of gastrointestinal humoral immune response in early human infancy. We compared standard Enfamil to iron-fortified formula during the first 8 weeks of human life on the development of local gastrointestinal humoral immune response by measuring fecal secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA). Thirty children were studied and classified according to feeding in two groups: plain Enfamil (n = 15) and Enfamil with iron (n = 15). Fecal specimens were analyzed at birth, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks of age. Fecal SIgA was assayed by RID (radial-immune diffusion) during these four infantile periods in the two groups. Marked SIgA changes were detected in the group with iron-fortified formula versus non-iron-fortified formula. These changes appeared to have statistical significance in all the three infantile periods (2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks). There were no observed clinical side effects with the use of iron-fortified formula as detected by appropriate questionnaire. The possible role of iron in earlier and enhanced development of immunologic competence and host defense is discussed. These data may suggest a beneficial effect of low-dose iron in formula during early infantile human life by the protective role of the earlier and enhanced production of SIgA in the gut.
Hilgers natural family planning professional program development, NFP education program development curriculum, natural family planning training programs Catholic healthcare, Hilgers TW NaProTECHNOLOGY professional education, natural family planning practitioner certification, fertility awareness education program design, NFP service delivery professional standards, natural family planning clinical program implementation, Catholic natural family planning training Linacre Quarterly, Hilgers Creighton Model professional development
DOI 10.1080/00243639.1986.11877839 10.1080/00243639.1986.11877839
Cite this article
Hilgers, T. W. (1986). Professional Program Development in Natural Family Planning. The Linacre Quarterly. https://doi.org/10.1080/00243639.1986.11877839
Hilgers TW. Professional Program Development in Natural Family Planning. The Linacre Quarterly. 1986. doi:10.1080/00243639.1986.11877839
Hilgers, T. W. "Professional Program Development in Natural Family Planning." The Linacre Quarterly, 1986.
A one-day meeting was held as a pre-conference to the Catholic Medical Association Annual Educational event in 2024. A panel of eighteen physicians, scientists, and researchers involved in NFP work was convened to review the available (i) evidence for effectiveness of NFP methods to postpone and achieve pregnancy, (ii) evidence for effectiveness in the postpartum and perimenopause transition periods, (iii) evaluate the current state of technology in NFP (specifically app and quantitative hormone monitoring), and (iv) evidence examining the impact of NFP on marital relations. In each topical area, the panel worked to reach a consensus opinion on the currently available evidence and identified priorities for further research. Results from these discussions and a set of priorities for further work are presented here.
An expert panel was convened to review the current evidence supporting use of NFP in various settings, utilization of new technology, and the impact of NFP on marital dynamics. Results from these discussions and a set of priorities for further work are presented here.
Fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs), also known as natural family planning (NFP), enable couples to identify the days of the menstrual cycle when intercourse may result in pregnancy ("fertile days"), and to avoid intercourse on fertile days if they wish to avoid pregnancy. Thus, these methods are fully dependent on user behavior for effectiveness to avoid pregnancy. For couples and clinicians considering the use of an FABM, one important metric to consider is the highest expected effectiveness (lowest possible pregnancy rate) during the correct use of the method to avoid pregnancy. To assess this, most studies of FABMs have reported a method-related pregnancy rate (a cumulative proportion), which is calculated based on all cycles (or months) in the study. In contrast, the correct use to avoid pregnancy rate (also a cumulative proportion) has the denominator of cycles with the correct use of the FABM to avoid pregnancy. The relationship between these measures has not been evaluated quantitatively. We conducted a series of simulations demonstrating that the method-related pregnancy rate is artificially decreased in direct proportion to the proportion of cycles with intermediate use (any use other than correct use to avoid or targeted use to conceive), which also increases the total pregnancy rate. Thus, as the total pregnancy rate rises (related to intermediate use), the method-related pregnancy rate falls artificially while the correct use pregnancy rate remains constant. For practical application, we propose the core elements needed to assess correct use cycles in FABM studies.
Fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) can be used by couples to avoid pregnancy, by avoiding intercourse on fertile days. Users want to know what the highest effectiveness (lowest pregnancy rate) would be if they use an FABM correctly and consistently to avoid pregnancy. In this simulation study, we (1) the method-related pregnancy rate; and (2) the correct use pregnancy rate. We show that the method-related pregnancy rate is biased too low if some users in the study are not using the method consistently to avoid pregnancy, while the correct use pregnancy rate obtains an accurate estimate. In FABM studies, the method-related pregnancy rate is biased too low, but the correct use pregnancy rate is unbiased.
The uses of cervical mucus and basal body temperature as indicators of return to fertility postpartum have resulted in high unintended pregnancy rates. In 2013, a study found that when women used urine hormone signs in a postpartum/breastfeeding protocol this resulted in fewer pregnancies. To improve the original protocol's effectiveness, (1) women were to increase the number of days tested with the Clearblue Fertility Monitor, (2) an optional second luteinizing hormone test could be done in the evening, and (3) instructions were given to manage the beginning of the fertile window for the first six cycles postpartum. The purpose of this study was to determine the correct and typical use effectiveness rates to avoid pregnancy in women who used a revised postpartum/breastfeeding protocol. A cohort review of an established data set from 207 postpartum breastfeeding women who used the protocol to avoid pregnancy was completed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Total pregnancy rates that included correct and incorrect use pregnancies were eighteen per one hundred women over twelve cycles of use. For the pregnancies that met a priori criteria, the correct use pregnancy rates were two per one hundred over twelve months and twelve cycles of use and typical use rates were four per one hundred women at twelve cycles of use. The protocol had fewer unplanned pregnancies than the original, however, the cost of the method increased.