“It has been a true blessing in our lives; faithful, natural, and life-giving. I thank God every day for leading us to it.”
This was the feedback of one of the participants who attended the recent Diocesan Natural Fertility Seminar in August.
For couples navigating the lonely and often challenging road of infertility, our Mission Enhancement Team (MET) hosts a series of events – and the most recent seminar – introduced attendees to a compassionate, faith-aligned, and scientifically grounded approach to reproductive healthcare: the Creighton Model FertilityCare System.
With 1 in 6 Australian couples struggling with infertility, the team’s mission is to show that there are more avenues to explore than mainstream treatments like In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF). And with more women suffering from endometriosis and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), the need for alternative options is increasing.
Saturday’s session was led by FertilityCare practitioner Vinetta Lobo and Dr Van Nguyen, one of the few NaProTechnology-trained doctors in Sydney. Together, they brought nearly two decades of experience helping couples find alternatives to mainstream treatments like IVF.
(L-R) NaProTechnology-trained doctor Dr Van Nguyen, Mission Enhancement Team Natural Fertility Educator Catherine Bourne and FertilityCare practitioner Vinetta Lobo at a natural fertility seminar in August 2025. Image: Isabell Petrinic/Diocese of Parramatta
At the heart of their message is a belief that the body can tell its own story and that when understood, this story can lead to healing, hope, and in many cases, new life.
The crucial fertility indicators often overlooked.
Opening the seminar, Vinetta explained that cervical mucus serves as a crucial fertility indicator.
“It provides a window into your fertility, helping couples to know the best time to try for a baby,” she said.
“It’s not just a sign; it’s a gift that gives insight into a woman’s health.”
She said the Creighton Model teaches women to observe and chart biological markers to assess fertility and reproductive health. When needed, this can be paired with NaProTechnology (Natural Procreative Technology), a restorative reproductive medicine that treats common conditions like endometriosis, PCOS, and hormonal imbalances, without suppressing or overriding the body’s natural cycles.
While the Creighton Model alone is 20–40% effective, success rates can climb to 80% when combined with NaPro medical or surgical treatment.
Infertility: a shared struggle
According to HealthDirect Australia, 1 in 6 Australian couples face infertility, defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected sex. Contributing factors lie with the woman (40%), the man (40%), both (10%), or remain unexplained (10%), Vinetta said.
“We want people to know there is another way, that IVF is not their only option.”
Real stories, real hope
Couples helped by Creighton and NaPro shared powerful testimonials. One mum-in-waiting, speaking via video, shared her surprise at learning her app-tracked cycles, once thought to be “regular”, were in fact inconsistent.
“The thing that worked for us was follicle tracking,” she said.
“It allowed us to clearly see when I was ovulating.”
“The data Creighton provides is unmatched. I’d highly recommend it.”
Another couple had been exploring IVF until trying Creighton as a last attempt.
“Now I have two beautiful twin boys.”
One woman described how NaPro not only helped her conceive, but deepened her relationship with her husband.
“It has been a true blessing in our lives; faithful, natural, and life-giving. I thank God every day for leading us to it.”
A fourth woman, diagnosed with PCOS in her late 30s after three failed IVF attempts, is now a mum to a healthy baby boy.
Dr Van Nguyen, who has supported more than 100 patients using NaPro, said age and underlying conditions are common barriers.
“Around 40, natural conception drops to 10%. My oldest success story was at 42.”
One participant, clearly moved, asked, “Where do I even start? I’m second-guessing everything.”
“Possibly the first step is to learn to chart,” Vinetta gently responded.
Quiet stories of courage
Given the personal nature of fertility struggles, some participants shared their experiences anonymously.
A 27-year-old Maronite Catholic, who has been trying to conceive for a year, shared how she recently discovered she has both PCOS and endometriosis.
“Today was a big eye-opener,” she said.
A couple from Liverpool, married for three years and already two months into a NaPro treatment plan, said they came to the seminar for “revision.”
Their advice? “Even if you’re not trying to get pregnant, it’s worth learning how your body works.”
There’s always hope
Catherine Bourne, the MET team’s Natural Fertility Educator and Coordinator, shared her testimony of using Natural Family Planning for over 30 years, both to conceive and to space pregnancies.
“There’s always hope,” she said.
“Even when we don’t have answers, if we can accompany couples and support them, we’re doing what God wants.”
The Diocese offers private and confidential guidance online and in person, as well as free introductory sessions, covering three fertility awareness methods: Creighton, Billings, and Sympto-Thermal. To find out more about NaPro Technology, visit www.fccau.org
To book a confidential session, contact Catherine Bourne at catherine.bourne@parracatholic.org.
