Resources, articles and educational contributions
Publications, lectures, and educational work focused on fertility and restorative reproductive medicine.
Publications
Nora Pope has published articles on fertility in NDNR, the OAND Journal and Midwifery Today, while also contributing to Harvard-edited texts and media publications including the National Post.
Since 1999, Nora Pope has delivered lectures to hospitals, universities, and healthcare conferences globally, helping healthcare providers deepen their understanding of cycle charting, progesterone therapy, and restorative reproductive health.
Education
References — Cycle Charting Seminar · Nora Jane Pope N.D. & Jessica Liu N.D.
Why use charting
Avoiding pregnancy
Cervical mucus observation is the most precise way to determine fertility according to American researchers.
- Hilgers TW. The Statistical Evaluation of Natural Methods of Family Planning. Intl Rev of Natural Family Planning, vol. 8, no. 3 (Fall 1984), pp. 226–64.
- Doud J. Use-effectiveness of the Creighton Model of NFP, vol. 9, no. 54 (1985).
Achieving pregnancy
Based on specific types of cervical mucus, couples can increase odds of conceiving.
- Hilgers TW et al. Cumulative Pregnancy Rates in Patients with Apparently Normal Fertility-focused Intercourse. J Reprod Med, vol. 37, no. 10 (Oct 1992), pp. 964–66.
- Stanford JB, White GL Jr, Hatashaka H. Timing intercourse to achieve pregnancy: Current evidence. Obstetrics & Gynecology, Dec 2002, vol. 100, issue 6, p. 1333.
How charting works
Easy to use
Even blind women can detect fertile mucus.
- Introductory lecture, Billings Ovulation Method, Natural Family Planning Association, Toronto, November 14, 2003.
Why integrate charting into your practice
Wide appeal for natural family planning
Holistic reasons as a motivating force.
- Northrup, Christiane. Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom. Bantam, New York. Chapter 11, pp. 402–3.
- Freundl G et al. Demographic Study on the Study of Natural Family Planning Behavior of the German Population: The Importance of Natural Methods. Intl J Fertility, vol. 33 (1988), suppl. pp. 54–58.
Pharmacology for infertility
Rationale for low dose naltrexone use (LDN)
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and LDN
Opioids’ effects on ovulation
- Opioid-growth factor & OGF receptor in human ovarian cells Met(5)-enkephalin is involved in delaying cell growth by upregulating the cyclin-dependent inhibitory kinase pathway. LDN stimulates production of OGF and OGFr, which blocks the receptor. PubMed 23856908
- Naltrexone and ovary 59 articles dating back to 1987. PubMed search
hCG for men
Antibiotics to halt premature contractions
- Pre-term birth & STDPubMed — pre-term birth + STI
- Pre-term birth & vaginosisPubMed — pre-term birth + vaginosis
- Tocolytic & vaginosisPubMed — vaginosis + tocolytic
- Tocolytic & staphPubMed — staph + tocolytic
- Tocolytic & strepPubMed — strep + tocolytic
Metformin for ovarian function
- Over 1,000 articles dating back to the 1990s. PubMed search
Progesterone for M.S.
- Higher levels of estriol and progesterone during pregnancy point to neuroprotective roles PubMed 23674997 · PMC3614637 (full article)
- Th1 / Th2 balance Alternative Medicine Review — PDF
- Progesterone and remyelination PubMed 26538779
- Female hormones and MS Low concentrations of sex hormones are associated with higher serum levels of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma, suggesting a suppressive effect of estradiol and progesterone on pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion. PubMed 23317804
Bio-identical progesterone HRT
- Comparing bio-identical with synthetic hormones. IHP Magazine — Demystifying bioidentical hormones
Naturopathic protocols
- Lipoic acid re-tunes circadian rhythm ScienceDaily, July 2014
- Iodine protects against estrogen PMC2452979
- Protein & PCOS Replacement of carbohydrates with protein in diets improves glucose metabolism and weight loss in PCOS women. Am J Clin Nutr, January 2012, vol. 95, no. 1, 39–48.
- Vitamin D & brain injury Vitamin D was found to boost progesterone’s neuroprotective qualities in those with traumatic brain injury. Advanced Biomedical Research, 2012. PMC3544099
- Folic acid & fertility Low-dose folic acid supplementation was found to ease follicular and endocrine responses to conventional stimulation independent of anti-Müllerian hormone and follicle count. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2011 Feb;96(2):E322–9.
- Hormones & endometriosis Loss of progesterone signaling in the endometrium may be part of the development of endometriosis, and progesterone resistance is commonly observed in endometriosis patients. Semin Reprod Med. 2010 Jan;28(1):36–43. Epub 2010 Jan 26.
- Immune system & endometriosis Development of endometriosis is facilitated by quantity and quality of endometrial cells in peritoneal fluid (PF), increased inflammatory activity in PF, increased endometrial-peritoneal adhesion and angiogenesis, and increased production of autoantibodies against endometrial cells. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2003; 1: 123.
- Pollutants & endometriosis (PBBs / PCBs) Level of exposure to polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) was found to not increase risk of endometriosis. However, higher levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) exposure did increase risk. Ann Epidemiol. 2007 July; 17(7): 503–510.
- Estrogen receptor & endometriosis Timely treatment with anti-estrogens to artificially block the estrogen receptor-alpha could restore normal patterns of gene expression in endometriosis patients. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2006; 4(Suppl 1): S9.
- Pollutants & endometriosis (estrogenic PCBs) Summed and estrogenic polychlorinated biphenyls were found to not be associated with endometriosis risk. Environ Health Perspect. 2010 September; 118(9): 1280–1285.
- Inflammation & endometriosis Exposure to environmental toxicants induces an inflammatory-like endometrial response that may advance the development of endometriosis. Fertil Steril. 2008 May; 89(5 Suppl): 1287–1298.
- Dioxin & endometriosis In a study of infertile women with endometriosis, 8 individuals with endometriosis were found to be dioxin positive compared to 1 woman in the control, suggesting a link between dioxin exposure and endometriosis. Hum Reprod. 1997 Feb;12(2):373–5.
- Iron & endometriosis Iron overload has been observed in the peritoneal fluid, endometriotic lesions, peritoneum and macrophages of endometriosis patients, suggesting it may be a contributing factor in the development of endometriosis. Mol Hum Reprod. 2008 Jul;14(7):377–85. Epub 2008 May 28.
- Immune response & PCOS Insulin-resistant PCOS patients exhibited increased IL-6 serum inflammatory cytokines, suggesting they have an altered immune response to inflammatory stimuli, likely contributing to the onset of low-grade inflammation. Mediators Inflamm. 2011; 2011: 389317.
- Magnesium & PCOS Supplementation with magnesium plus vitamin B6 led to the greatest decrease of PMS symptoms compared to magnesium alone and placebo. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2010 December; 15(Suppl 1): 401–405.
- Vitex agnus-castus & latent hyperprolactinemia One trial reported Vitex to be superior to placebo for reducing TRH-stimulated prolactin secretion, normalising a shortened luteal phase, and increasing mid-luteal progesterone and 17β-oestradiol levels. Another found Vitex comparable to bromocriptine for reducing serum prolactin levels and ameliorating cyclic mastalgia. Planta Med. 2012 Nov 7.
- Omega-3s & pregnancy Supplementation with DHA in pregnant women was found to increase birth weight and help babies complete their gestational life cycle. Am J Clin Nutr, April 2013.