Dear Editor:

We’ve Only Understood Ovulation for 100 years

The understanding of fertility that we take for granted today was a mystery until the 1920s.

In that decade two scientists independently realized that a woman was fertile 14 days before her next menstrual period.

In 1923, Kyusaku Ogino, a Japanese gynaecologist made the observation. His publications were not available in the west. In 1928, an Austrian gynaecologist, Herman Knaus, reached the same conclusion.

Ogino was interested in infertility and wanted to help women have children. However, John Smulders, a Dutch physician and Catholic, realized that understanding the fertile period could also be used to avoid pregnancy.

Ogino was opposed to this because he thought his method was too unreliable to be used as a contraceptive. Ironically, in France, babies that resulted from this Rhythm Method, were described a “bébés Ogino”.

Kraus was a devout Catholic and rigorously advanced the method for family planning. Probably his most prized achievement was recognition by Pope Pius XII, who in 1951, gave his approval to the method. Today, it remains the only contraceptive method accepted by the Catholic hierarchy – but ignored by Catholic women.

Predictably, Kraus was critical of the contraceptive pill on medical and moral grounds.

Outside of the small circle who employ the Rhythm or Billings Method, it is known as “Catholic roulette” or “Roman roulette” because its reliability is conditional on women having regular periods, little or no travel, and limited stress.

What was a scientific mystery 100 years ago, is now readily available knowledge to any adolescent who cares to learn.

Sincerely,
ASPIRE