Why FACTS Exists: A Research Study and Giving Opportunity
Multiple studies have shown that fertility-related knowledge among the general public and medical trainees is quite low. Knowledge gaps have been found to be especially large regarding the effect of age on fertility and the extent to which lifestyle affects one’s fertility. In this post, medical student Joi Spaulding reviews a study published in 2017 in “Fertility and Sterility” focused on low fertility awareness among reproductive-age women and medical trainees.
Our Month of Giving campaign focused on giving medical students The Gift of Knowledge ends this week. Your support will help FACTS as we seek to bring accurate, up-to-date evidence-based information about FABMs to more medical professionals, women, and couples, and we thank you in advance for your support!
Introducing FACTS Advisory Council Member: Summer Holmes Mason, MD, FACOG
The FACTS Advisory Council consists of a talented and diverse group of individuals whose guidance and support are crucial to the success of our organization. This year, we have featured one of our Council members each month to highlight their unique contributions to our mission. Our series continues as we welcome Summer Holmes Mason, MD as the newest member of the FACTS Advisory Council. We value her contributions to FACTS Research and her passion to educate women, couples, and medical professionals about the practical applications of fertility awareness based methods (FABMs).
Support A Student!
We have kicked off our end-of-year campaign to give students the priceless Gift of Knowledge!
Educating students is the first step in training a new generation of medical professionals who recognize fertility as healthy and normal. Give students the gift of knowledge by donating today!
Surprised by FABMs: A Couple’s Experience with Infertility
This interview with a user of fertility awareness based methods (FABMs) is part of our series that highlights the reality of using FABMs, including benefits as well as challenges of the various methods. Dr. Macy Rupprecht conducted this interview – a hopeful example of a couple that benefited from an FABM as a powerful adjunct to not only diagnose the root cause behind infertility but also to restore fertility.
Introducing FACTS Advisory Council Member: Matthew Larkin
The FACTS Advisory Council consists of a talented and diverse group of individuals whose guidance and support are crucial to the success of our organization. This year, we have featured one of our Council members each month to highlight their unique and generous contributions to our mission. Our series continues this week with Matthew Larkin, whose strategic thinking and business experience remain a tremendous asset to FACTS.
Learn the FACTS: The Sympto-Thermal Method Aids Infertility
This week’s post is part of our series highlighting the reality of using fertility awareness based methods (FABMs), their benefits and challenges. This interview, conducted by a nursing student, looks at one couple’s knowledge of the Sympto-Thermal Method (STM) and how they used it as they struggled with infertility.
Normal Menstrual Cycles? Think Again!
For years, fertility was measured by how “regular” the woman was (i.e., the length and frequency of her menstrual cycles). With the onset of hormonal testing, scientists developed ways to more easily and objectively track a woman’s invisible hormonal physiology. This post, written by Dr. Rachel Engle, is a review of research published in 2013 which examines the characteristics and variability of individual normal menstrual cycle profiles using at-home monitors to test urine and serum and measure hormone metabolites. Click to read more.
Introducing FACTS Advisory Council Member: Victoria Jennings, PhD
Our Advisory Council series continues this week as we introduce Dr. Victoria Jennings, a researcher whose career in reproductive health and family planning represents diverse expertise spanning more than three decades. Dr. Jennings is the director of the Institute for Reproductive Health (IRH) at Georgetown University. The IRH conducts research, provides technical assistance, and engages in global leadership related to fertility awareness based methods. In her earlier global health work, Dr. Jennings recognized FABMs as an under-utilized approach to family planning, fueling a growing interest in FABMs and leading to the research and development of new technologies in the field of fertility awareness. Read more about Dr. Jennings here!
Fertility Awareness in PCOS: A Choice Aligned with Future Goals
We continue focus on PCOS Awareness Month this week with our patient interview series. Dr. Kaitlyn Hite conducted this interview with Ms. K, an 18 year-old woman with a history of PCOS and hypothyroidism. Her story, told as a medical history with additional details, raises awareness about the medical applications of FABMs beyond their more familiar use in family planning. FABMs like the Billings Ovulation Method and the Creighton Model offer versatile options to assist in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of conditions like PCOS.
The Role of Cervical Mucus in PCOS-Related Infertility: A Review of Research Findings
September is Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Awareness Month, and we join the many organizations raising awareness and providing education about this common condition. PCOS affects 10-15% of women and is the leading cause of female infertility. It is also associated with medical conditions like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity, among others. Learn here how PCOS can affect infertility.