Saviour of Child-less Couples – Dr. John Billings

Dr. Billings, who is an Australian, was born in 1918. At the age of 29, he was awarded a Nuffield Fellowship for post-graduate studies in London specializing in neurology. Upon returning to Australia, he was subsequently appointed Head of the Department of Neurology at St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, and Dean of the Undergraduate Medical School within the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Melbourne.

In 1953, he researched with two other doctors together to develop the method of cervical mucus to determine the date of ovulation of women. This method is also called the Billings Method. Because of the agreement from other doctors around the world, the World Organization of the Ovulation Method Billings (WOOMB) is founded.

Dr. Billings and his wife, who was also a doctor, travelled to many countries throughout the world to lecture others of this method.

Since 1989, Dr. Billings had spent a lot of times in China to lecture this method, and thus reducing countless number of abortions. A lot of couples who had previously been considered to be infertile were able to achieve pregnancy. There are currently 1800 professionals practicing the Billings Method in China, while each professional is working together with 50 assistants. An estimated 3 million couples are benefiting from this method, and it is now the only government-approved method of natural family planning.

Dr. Billings passed away on April 1 at the age of 89 and is survived by his 9 children. His funeral mass has been held at the Melbourne Cathedral on April 5. Let us all pray for this doctor who has benefited the human population.