Director’s Note: Dr. Danielle Dowell, an internal medicine resident and former FACTS elective student, interviewed Laura,* a woman who uses a fertility awareness-based method (FABM) to both avoid and successfully achieve pregnancy. In discussing how Laura learned...
“Prolactin release inhibits gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion by the pituitary gland and decreases luteinizing hormone (LH) pulse frequency… These effects can be beneficial, … but hyperprolactinemic states are also a cause of infertility.”
“Unfamiliar with NaPro, the gynecologist/oncologist who removed the tumor warned the couple they would have difficulty conceiving with a single ovary… (However,) they became pregnant with their daughter just two months later.”
“This study demonstrates that using transvaginal sonographic cervical length to identify … at-risk patients and administering vaginal progesterone gel from mid second trimester until term can decrease preterm birth rates before 33 weeks and reduce respiratory distress syndrome in preterm infants.”
“After several scares of irregular bleeding, she was diagnosed with placenta previa. They lost the baby in November 2022…this loss was devastating.”
“Naltrexone was given to treat dysmenorrhea, fatigue, anxiety, and low mood caused by hypoandrogenemia; DHEA is also used to treat the hypoandrogenemia.”
“The data from this study showed that in patients with less than 50% of the average estrogen level per gestational age, a significant increase in estradiol levels with DHEA supplementation was associated with a decreased rate of miscarriage compared to patients who did not receive supplementation.”
“She found it fascinating that she could examine the chart of a woman who lives halfway across the world and understand it perfectly.”
“Her story opened my eyes to just how difficult and exhausting fighting for your own healthcare can be. The FACTS elective has taught me more about women’s health than I ever imagined.”
“This study examined the utility of tracking cervical mucus, LH surge and urinary hormone measurements to identify the estimated day of ovulation and demonstrated ovulation occurs within 1.6-2.4 days of US-DO based on these biomarkers.”