Kyusaku Ogino

The calculation of a woman's fertile period through the observation of past menstrual cycles originated from the clinical research of a Japanese physician based in Niigata. By quantifying the timing of ovulation, this methodology provided data for reproductive health that gained global recognition, though the specific clinical application of these findings became a subject of significant debate during the mid-twentieth century.

Professional Formation and Career

Born in 1882 in Toyohashi, Kyusaku Ogino pursued a career in medicine, undergoing his formal training at the University of Tokyo. His professional trajectory concentrated on the fields of obstetrics and gynaecology, areas in which he eventually held appointments at both his alma mater and Niigata University. Throughout his career, his work focused on infertility and the physiological mechanics of the menstrual cycle, seeking to understand the temporal nature of human fertility.

The Menstrual Cycle Discovery

Ogino researched the length of past cycles to determine the window during which conception was most likely to occur. His discovery was intended to assist couples struggling with infertility by allowing them to time intercourse effectively. This scientific work provided a mathematical basis for identifying fertile days, a major shift in reproductive physiology studies during his active years in the Japanese medical community.

Controversial Application and Public Reception

In 1930, the Dutch physician John Smulders utilized these findings to establish a method for avoiding pregnancy, which became widely promoted by the Dutch Roman Catholic medical association. Ogino himself publicly opposed the use of his data for contraception. He maintained that the failure rate inherent in the method was too high, arguing that promoting it for pregnancy avoidance would likely lead to an increase in unwanted pregnancies and subsequent abortions. Despite his clear opposition, the technique remains frequently associated with his name, particularly in Japan where it is known as the Ogino Method, and in France, where children conceived via this timing are referred to as 'bébés Ogino'.

Awards and Legacy

Ogino received recognition from the Japanese government for his medical contributions, including being awarded the Medal with Purple Ribbon in 1958 and the Order of the Rising Sun, 2nd class. Having been adopted by the Ogino family in 1901 after originally being born to the Nakamura family, he maintained his research efforts until later in life. He died in 1975 in Niigata at the age of 93, leaving behind a legacy shaped by the persistent implementation of his findings in international medical practice.

Fast facts

• Born: 1882, Toyohashi, Japan
• Died: 1975, Niigata, Japan
• Education: University of Tokyo
• Primary medical fields: Obstetrics, Gynaecology
• Adopted family name: Ogino
• Medal with Purple Ribbon: 1958
• Known as: Ogino-shiki in Japan
• Language: Japanese

Questions readers ask

Did Kyusaku Ogino support the use of his method for contraception?

No, he opposed using his research for contraception, arguing that the failure rate was too high and could lead to unwanted pregnancies.

What is the Ogino Method?

It is a method for estimating fertile periods based on menstrual cycle history, which became widely used for birth control, though Ogino originally developed it to assist with infertility.

Achievements

• Order of the Rising Sun, 2nd class
• Medal with Purple Ribbon — 1958
• Held posts at University of Tokyo and Niigata University
• Fields: gynaecology, medicine and obstetrics