When Kristen Mihaly and her husband began trying to start a family, they faced a discouraging and heartbreaking prognosis. Because of severe endometriosis, she was told that her chances of conceiving a child were slim to none. Mihaly feared that her dream of becoming a mother might never come true. And like many couples facing infertility, she and her husband were presented with one of the most common solutions: in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, as many personhood advocates know, IVF is not an ethical solution. It does not address underlying infertility issues; it is not a pro-personhood, sustainable long-term solution; and, most importantly, it destroys preborn life. Happily, Mihaly chose a different path — one focused on addressing the root causes of her reproductive health issues and aiming to restore natural fertility. Through Natural Procreative Technology (NaPro-Tech), physicians identified and treated the underlying causes of her infertility, removing the endometriosis, scar tissue, and ovarian cysts. Just five weeks after her surgery, she became pregnant! Nine months later, she held her newborn son, Henry, in her arms. For families like the Mihalys, NaPro-Tech offers something that many couples long for: not only the hope of a child, but answers, healing, and a new beginning — one that respects both mother and baby.[1]
What exactly is NaPro-Tech?
Natural Procreative Technology is a medical approach that seeks to identify and treat the underlying causes of infertility rather than bypass them. Developed as part of restorative reproductive medicine, NaPro Technology works cooperatively with a woman’s natural reproductive system to restore healthy function whenever possible. Rather than asking, “How can we achieve a pregnancy?” NaPro asks, “Why isn’t pregnancy occurring in the first place?” In doing so, the outcome is often not just a single pregnancy but improved long-term reproductive health, which gives Christian families the ability to continue growing. To achieve this, NaPro-Tech uses detailed cycle charting, hormone evaluation, advanced diagnostic testing, and targeted medical or surgical treatments to uncover the underlying causes of infertility. [2] Unlike IVF, there is no risk of killing a preborn child.
Looking Beyond IVF
Infertility can be one of the most painful experiences a couple faces. The desire to have children is good, natural, and deeply human. Yet the methods used to achieve pregnancy matter greatly. NaPro Technology recognizes that both mothers and their children possess inherent dignity. By addressing the root causes of infertility, it seeks to restore reproductive health while respecting every human life from its earliest beginnings. Couples facing infertility deserve to know that IVF is not their only option. For those seeking an approach that aligns with both sound medicine and a commitment to personhood, NaPro Technology offers a path that values healing, protects embryonic human life, and works in harmony with the body’s natural design.
NaPro-Tech vs. IVF on tube blockages
One area in particular where the differences between approaches become especially clear is in the treatment of tubal factor infertility. When women are told that they have blocked fallopian tubes, IVF is often immediately presented as the only option. Approximately 25% to 35% of infertility cases involve tubal factors. However, in some cases, diagnostic testing may produce false positives, leading women to believe their tubes are blocked when they are actually open! NaPro-Tech combats this narrative with one of its most common procedures: selective salpingography. [3] This highly specialized technique allows physicians to evaluate the fallopian tubes in greater detail, and in many cases, reopen blocked tubes using a tiny guide wire. Studies and clinical experience have demonstrated success rates of approximately 90% to 95% in restoring tubal patency when an obstruction is present in appropriate candidates. For many women, this means the possibility of natural conception without the need for IVF.[4]
What Kinds of Medical Procedures does Napro-Tech do?
NaPro Technology uses a plethora of minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat underlying causes of infertility. These may include surgical treatment of conditions like endometriosis, procedures to correct or open blocked fallopian tubes, and laparoscopic techniques that allow physicians to closely examine and treat reproductive organs with precision.
How Effective is NaPro-Tech?
According to a study published by Frontiers in Reproductive Health, NaPro technology is incredibly effective. The results listed below are from a five-year cohort study, with 1310 participating couples. This study is currently the largest one to date. Of the couples who used NaProtech and actively followed the program for about 11 months, the birth-success rate was 62% (about 6 in 10). However this is just one study; collective studies show an overall success rate of up to 80%! Nearly every couple involved (98%) had at least one identifiable cause of infertility, and most had multiple causes. This is a great success rate compared to the often reported “unexplained infertility” in IVF clinics, showing that NaPro-Tech digs deeper into the root causes.[5]
Where to find NaPro-Tech
If you or a loved one are seeking this alternative therapy, you can reach out to the following resource centers:
- Santa Casa Center, Canton, GA: https://www.santacasacenter.com/
- The Center for Restorative Reproductive Surgery, Peachtree Corners, GA: https://www.thecrrs.com/our-philosophy/
- Fertility Care Centers of America (Our Lady of Grace FertilityCare Center, Atlanta, GA 30305): fertilitycare.org
- Physicians that Specialize in Fertility Care and Gynecology Clinicians in Georgia: https://mycatholicdoctor.com/providers/sl-femalefertilitymed/georgia/
Personhood
As Christians, it is important to remember that God made not just our souls but also our bodies, and He created them purposefully. NaPro-Tech leans into this design and works with our God-given natures to read the built-in signs and symptoms rather than suppress them as we try to play God ourselves. Thus, NaPro-Tech is a not just an alternative to IVF but is even better since it works with our natures rather than forcing biology in unethical ways that are harmful to both the parents and the conceived children.
Sources:
[1] Mihaly’s Success Story
[2] What is NaPro-Tech?
[3] Blocked Fallopian Tubes
[4] Selective Salpingography
[5] A New Turning Point for Non-IVF Fertility: Fresh Evidence from NaProTechnology – The Center for Bioethics & Culture Network
Anna Ireland
Georgia Right to Life
Intern
Georgia Right to Life Committee (GRTL) is a faith-based, non-profit, non-partisan, non-sectarian organization whose fundamental purpose is to engage in actions that will restore respect and effective legal protection for all human beings from the moment of fertilization until natural death.