After Years of Pain and Dismissals from Doctors, One Woman Found Answers with Creighton
By: Andrew McManus
Director’s Note: This patient interview conducted by Andrew McManus, a former FACTS elective participant, underscores the value of charting the female cycle as a diagnostic tool. As we celebrate Father’s Day this weekend, McManus also notes the importance of considering male-factor infertility in family planning. Through years of severe pelvic pain, Elizabeth* tried everything from OCPs to IUDs and exploratory surgeries that yielded no answers. Eventually, she encountered cycle charting and the Creighton Model. With the help of NaPro-trained experts, Elizabeth began to find answers to her questions, but she and her husband still struggled to conceive. Further workups identified male-factor infertility. Male factors contribute to infertility up to 70% of time, and comprehensive workups should also consider and address men’s health. To learn more about male-factor infertility, hormone levels, and sperm assessments, check out our previous blog here and enroll in Part B of our CME course!
Elizabeth* experienced her first period in 7th or 8th grade, and from the very beginning, she was plagued by sharp pains that were beyond the realm of what she felt was normal. Searching for answers, she consulted with her primary care doctor who started her on oral contraceptives. Unfortunately, this provided little relief from the pain, and she also had a hard time remembering to take a pill the same time every day — a task challenging for most teenagers.
Eventually, Elizabeth switched to the hormonal IUD and, soon after, the non-hormonal IUD. At this point, she began developing painful cysts on her ovaries that brought her to the emergency room numerous times. Rather than being offered a solution or given an explanation, Elizabeth was told the pain and cysts were normal and that they would go away on their own. She was advised to just try taking ibuprofen.
“Rather than being offered a solution or given an explanation, Elizabeth was told the pain and cysts were normal and that they would go away on their own. She was advised to just try taking ibuprofen.”
Over time, her cycles worsened and she began to experience sharp pains both during and outside of her periods, significant pain with bowel movements, and a general feeling of malaise. She saw numerous specialists — including a gastroenterologist, a neurologist, and an endocrinologist — but none were able to ease her pain or even diagnose the cause. In the midst of these challenges, Elizabeth met and married her husband, “her rock.” She credits him with supporting her through these stressful times.
Eventually, Elizabeth got an appointment with a fertility doctor, hopeful that someone could finally shed light on her experience and ease the burden she had been carrying for so many years. The appointment with the fertility doctor was a disappointment: it felt like a commercialized experience, with the chief concern being getting her pregnant rather than also investigating the root of her issues. As part of the process, her husband underwent testing and the couple was informed that he was essentially infertile. This was a huge blow for them, and only compounded their stress. Around the same time, Elizabeth underwent a hysteroscopy and a brief exploratory surgery to look for endometriosis. Fortunately, her fallopian tubes were open and there were no signs of endometriosis. Unfortunately, the couple was still left without any answers.
“The appointment with the fertility doctor was a disappointment: it felt like a commercialized experience, with the chief concern being getting her pregnant rather than also investigating the root of her issues.”
Not ready to give up, Elizabeth began reading and trying to learn as much as she could about her body. She began tracking her cycles and experienced cervical mucus for the first time. Hoping to become pregnant, she and her husband also decided to begin intrauterine insemination. After four rounds, she conceived — her symptoms abated somewhat during her pregnancy — and delivered a healthy baby boy at 36.5 weeks.
After this long journey to the birth of their first child, Elizabeth and her husband decided to start trying for another baby right away and were shocked when they became pregnant four months later. Following the birth of another healthy baby boy, the couple felt much more optimistic. Excited to grow their family, they began trying a year later to get pregnant again. At this point, Elizabeth had learned a great deal about charting and cycles, but she and her husband struggled to conceive. Her pelvic pain also began to worsen again. She decided to see an OBGYN who performed some exams that were inconclusive. She was given antibiotics for a UTI and told she was fine but still received no real explanation for the severe pain she was experiencing — and had experienced since her teen years.
Soon after, Elizabeth attended the “Unexplained Infertility Virtual Conference,” where she was introduced to ChartNeo, an app used to track cervical fluid secretions and other signs of fertility. Following the conference, Elizabeth decided to start formally charting using the Creighton Model. Everything began making sense through her charting, she said. Having identified abnormalities in her chart, Elizabeth eventually connected with a second doctor trained in NaPro for another endometriosis surgery. This time, they were able to find the lesions that had likely been present since adolescence. She was also put on low-dose naltrexone, which she believes has helped alleviate some of her symptoms. Still, she suffers from pelvic pain and has yet to conceive again. However, she has finally begun to receive answers to years of questions, and she is optimistic about the future. She is confident that she has found both a system that works for her, as well as healthcare professionals who genuinely value her health and are seeking the root of the issue.
“Everything began making sense through her charting, she said. Having identified abnormalities in her chart, Elizabeth eventually connected with a second doctor trained in NaPro … (and) has finally begun to receive answers to years of questions.”
Elizabeth’s advice to people suffering similar challenges is to seek out physicians in the Creighton and NaPro community who will help identify the root of issues and provide support. Lastly, she encourages finding supportive people and community, which for Elizabeth, included her husband and her faith in God.
*Names have been changed to respect the privacy of the interviewee. All information is shared with permission.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Andrew McManus
Andrew McManus is a fourth-year medical student at Lincoln Memorial University, Debusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, in Knoxville, TN. He completed his undergraduate education at the University of Miami in Miami, FL. He plans to do his residency in Pediatrics and is particularly interested in Sexual Health and Advocacy. He enrolled in the FACTS elective to better equip himself to be able to offer his patients all available options to allow them to take control of their own health.
