Local Ministries

‘Standard’ reproductive care not the only answer, says doctor

Seminar on Women’s Reproductive Health set for April 26-27


by Joe Bollig
joe@theleaven.org

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A growing number of women are feeling dissatisfied, frustrated and abandoned by doctors practicing standard reproductive health care.

So says Dr. Thomas W. Hilgers, senior medical consultant and director of the Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction in Omaha, Neb.

The problem is that the standard practice of reproductive health care is “neither reproductive (usually) or healthy (often),” he wrote in his book “The NaProTECHNOLOGY Revolution: Unleashing the Power in a Woman’s Cycle.”

The standard practice is to treat symptoms, but not the underlying disease. For Ron Kelsey, archdiocesan consultant for pro-life ministry, this truth hit close to home.

A relative of Kelsey was experiencing symptoms of severe abdominal pain and cramping. She saw a doctor, whose examination included an ultrasound. Not being able to pinpoint the problem, the doctor simply prescribed birth control pills and sent her home.

That didn’t solve the problem.

When Kelsey heard about this, he recommended a pro-life doctor. This doctor, who took a different approach, found that a tampon had become lodged in the woman’s uterus.

If it had not been discovered and removed, she could have suffered toxic shock syndrome.

“I visited with about 25 women as to whether they agreed with the assertions Hilgers lays out in his book and, almost to a woman, they did,” said Kelsey. “[Hilgers] really offers a dissenting voice to the dominant medical profession in terms of how to treat women’s reproductive health.”

Too often when presented with a reproductive health issue, doctors practicing standard medicine will prescribe birth control pills without really investigating further, or recommend in vitro fertilization without investigating the many possible causes of infertility for a couple, said Kelsey.

The experience of his own relative and the information in Hilgers’ book have inspired Kelsey to organize a seminar on women’s reproductive health, offered by a doctor from the Pope Paul VI Institute, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 26 and 27 at Savior Pastoral Center in Kansas City, Kan.

The presenter will be Dr. Catherine Keefe. The April 26 seminar will be for priests, deacons and their wives, and medical professionals. The April 27 seminar will be open to the general public.

The agenda for both days is the same. Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann will give the welcome, and Kelsey will introduce Keefe.

Keefe will cover a number of topics, including NaProTECHNOLOGY, infertility, infant health, what women need to know about their body and health, and the abandonment of women by the medical profession, among others.

After a break, an “infertile” couple that achieved a pregnancy using the Pope Paul VI Institute will give their testimony. There will be an overview of FertilityCare Center of Kansas City, and a Q-and-A with a panel.

The cost to attend is $15 per person with advance registration, or $20 per person at the door. For information, contact Ron Kelsey by email at: pro life@archkck.org, or at (913) 647-0350.

About the author

Joe Bollig

Joe has been with The Leaven since 1993. He has a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in journalism. Before entering print journalism he worked in commercial radio. He has worked for the St. Joseph (Mo.) News-Press and Sun Publications in Overland Park. During his journalistic career he has covered beats including police, fire, business, features, general assignment and religion. While at The Leaven he has been a writer, photographer and videographer. He has won or shared several Catholic Press Association awards, as well as Archbishop Edward T. O’Meara awards for mission coverage. He graduated with a certification in catechesis from a two-year distance learning program offered by the Maryvale Institute for Catechesis, Theology, Philosophy and Religious Education at Old Oscott, Great Barr, in Birmingham, England.

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