What began as a request to an Australian neurologist in 1953 developed into decades of clinical observation, scientific research and international teaching. This is the story of John and Evelyn Billings and the work that came to bear their name.
A story that began with an unexpected request
In 1953, Australian physician John Billings was working as a neurologist in Melbourne. His medical career had not been focused on fertility.
That year, Father Maurice Catarinich, who worked in marriage guidance, asked him for help. Couples were looking for a natural way to understand and manage their fertility, and John was invited to study the subject.
He initially intended to devote about three months to the work. Those three months eventually became a lifelong commitment.
As he reviewed the medical literature, John found references connecting cervical secretions with the time of ovulation. Clinical observations followed, with women recording what they noticed throughout their cycles.
This marked the beginning of a process that would eventually bring together clinical observation, hormonal studies and other areas of scientific research.
Evelyn Billings: physician, researcher and partner in the work
John did not follow this path alone.
His wife, Evelyn Livingston Billings, was also a physician. She studied medicine at the University of Melbourne at a time when very few women were enrolled in the course, and later trained in paediatrics in London. After returning to Australia, she also worked at the University of Melbourne in embryology and histology.
John and Evelyn had married in 1943 and raised a large family. Alongside her medical work and family life, Evelyn became increasingly involved in the research into female fertility.
Her contribution was particularly important in observing different stages and circumstances of a woman's reproductive life, including breastfeeding and the premenopausal years. Over time, John and Evelyn became partners not only in marriage but also in this scientific and educational work.
WOOMB International, the organisation that now works to preserve and share the Method internationally, recognises John and Evelyn as its founders and highlights their commitment to making this knowledge available around the world.
When clinical observation met scientific research
As clinical observations accumulated, researchers sought to investigate scientifically what women were observing.
One of the key figures in this stage was Professor James B. Brown, a researcher specialising in reproductive hormones. His work contributed to a long collaboration linking clinical observations with hormonal research.
Another important scientist was Swedish professor Erik Odeblad, whose research contributed to the understanding of different types of cervical mucus and their relationship with the physiology of the female reproductive system.
The relationship between a woman's own observations and physiological phenomena investigated in the laboratory became an important part of the scientific foundation accompanying the Method's development.
The Billings Ovulation Method® was therefore not the result of a single isolated discovery. It developed over decades through clinical observation, the participation of women, medical investigation and collaboration among different researchers.
From Australia to the rest of the world
As the work developed, John and Evelyn devoted a substantial part of their lives to education and international outreach.
The Method began to be taught in different countries. National organisations emerged, together with a need for structures that could preserve the content and support instructor education.
WOOMB International Inc. was established in 1978, with John and Evelyn Billings among its leaders. Today, WOOMB International Ltd. continues the international mission of preserving and sharing the authentic Billings Ovulation Method®.
In Brazil, CENPLAFAM WOOMB Brasil is an affiliated organisation and a national reference for education, support and dissemination of the Method.
A life's work
One of the most striking aspects of this story is that what began as a temporary medical assignment ultimately occupied more than half a century of the couple's lives.
John remained involved in the work until his death in April 2007. Evelyn also continued contributing to the transmission of this knowledge and to education related to the Method.
Their story also illustrates something significant: observations made by women in everyday life became the subject of decades of clinical and scientific investigation.
At the centre of that work remained a practical idea — helping women pay attention to their bodies, record their observations and understand their patterns with appropriate knowledge and guidance.
Further reading
Readers who would like to explore the subject further can consult books and educational resources related to the history and development of the Billings Ovulation Method®.
Books associated with this article are displayed according to the visitor's country. Some of these links may be affiliate links.
Where to find official information
Anyone wishing to learn the Billings Ovulation Method® should seek official sources and appropriately trained instructors.
WOOMB International provides information about the Method's history, science, instructor education and international network. CENPLAFAM WOOMB Brasil provides official information and resources for readers in Brazil.
Editorial note
Billings Ovulation Method® is a mark used by WOOMB International Ltd.
Natus is an independent tool for recording and organising information. This article is provided for historical and informational purposes and does not constitute instruction in the Method. Natus does not replace education or follow-up with a qualified instructor and, unless an institution expressly states otherwise, should not be represented as approved, recommended or endorsed by WOOMB International or CENPLAFAM.
