By: Meghan Harter
Editor’s Note: During her fourth year of medical school and participation in the FACTS elective, Meghan Harter, MD, interviewed Polly for a narrative reflection on her use of fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs). The article illustrates how the Creighton Model helped Polly better understand her cycles, navigate PCOS (now PMOS) and miscarriage, and find a physician who supported her goals and values. In recognition of PMOS Awareness Month, Polly’s story highlights the need for accessible education that empowers women to better understand their health and seek individualized care.
After interviewing Polly,* a 24-year-old female who uses the Creighton Method, I was blown away by her knowledge and confidence in her body. Prior to getting married, Polly and her husband decided to learn a natural or fertility awareness-based method (FABM) but were initially only familiar with the Billings and Creighton Methods. They found it difficult to find additional resources to learn about other options. Nevertheless, they chose the Creighton Method. Polly was excited to understand what her body was telling her and to have an open dialogue with her husband, who “demonstrated even more respect for my body than he might have if we had used any form of artificial birth control,” she said. During their engagement and marriage preparation, they met with a certified Creighton FertilityCare practitioner numerous times, learning an affordable method that allowed Polly to monitor her fertility and cycle patterns with clarity.
As time went on, Polly became increasingly skilled at monitoring her mucus patterns and bodily changes, reporting that “it was so fascinating how I was able to track what my body was doing in real time and gain a better understanding of my overall health.” Beyond being a powerful tool for her personal awareness, the method also enhanced communication with her husband as he learned alongside her and supported her throughout the process.
“Being trained alongside my husband allowed me to feel heard and better understood throughout our engagement period and into our marriage” Polly said.
“Beyond being a powerful tool for her personal awareness, the method also enhanced communication with her husband, who learned alongside her and supported her throughout the process.”
Soon, Creighton became more than a way to monitor fertility as Polly was diagnosed with PCOS. Polly noted how meaningful the Creighton Method became as she navigated this diagnosis. Tracking her cycles gave her a clearer understanding of what her body was experiencing, and she began noticing how lifestyle choices influenced her symptoms.
“I started noticing that my mucus and cycle patterns changed dramatically when I started working out more, de-stressing, and eating right,” Polly said.
As she implemented dietary changes, exercised regularly, and focused on stress reduction, her PCOS symptoms gradually improved. She felt increasingly empowered by the positive changes she saw in her charts and overall health.
One of the most striking parts of my interview with Polly was her difficulty finding medical professionals who supported her desire to use a natural method rather than other methods to avoid pregnancy.
“I had to tell my first doctor numerous times that I didn’t want to take birth control and was frustrated by the persistent asking from the doctor,” she said.
She added that she wanted to “find a physician that would be capable of helping me with my PCOS and my desire for pregnancy using an approach that respected my values.” Eventually, Polly and her husband found a physician who met these criteria, but they had to drive several hours to reach them. The physician she now sees is well-versed in Creighton charting and has answered her questions, provided personalized guidance, and helped her address the abnormalities seen in her cycles. Polly expressed deep gratitude for the clinician’s assistance, knowledge, and willingness to read her charts with her and help her understand how her fertility and overall health could be improved.
“One of the most striking parts of my interview with Polly was her difficulty finding medical professionals who supported her desire to use a natural method, … stating, “I had to tell my first doctor numerous times that I didn’t want to take birth control and was frustrated by the persistent asking from the doctor.”
In addition to navigating her PCOS diagnosis, Polly also shared with me the emotional toll of experiencing two miscarriages. She described how devastating and isolating those losses were. Charting with the Creighton Method gave her a clearer understanding of what might have been contributing to the miscarriages. She explained that working with her current physician helped her feel seen and supported in a way she had not experienced before.
“For the first time, I finally felt like my body made sense, and I wish I had known this all earlier,” Polly said.
Learning to read her cycles, recognize patterns, and receive individualized treatment offered her a renewed sense of hope for the future, both for her health and in her desire for a family.
“Polly also shared with me the emotional toll of experiencing two miscarriages, … yet charting with the Creighton method gave her a clearer understanding of what might have been contributing to the miscarriages.”
There is a clear lack of physicians who are educated on FABMs or who feel comfortable teaching patients how to use them. Other mainstream methods to avoid pregnancy are often introduced as the default option, rather than educating women about their bodies or offering non-pharmacologic alternatives when appropriate.
The course and an interview with Polly further fueled my passion for improving FABM education, leading to the development of a free educational module designed to improve FABM education among medical students and residents. Initially intended for Catholic dioceses, the module soon expanded to serve medical learners, patients, and anyone interested in fertility literacy. It offers accessible foundational information about FABMs, along with resources and links for further learning and coursework. Greater FABM education for clinicians and patients represents an important direction in women’s health—empowering women to understand their bodies, advocate for their health, and make informed decisions.
*Note: Names have been changed to respect the privacy of the interviewee. All information is shared with permission.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Meghan Harter, MD, is a family medicine resident at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center–South Bend. She earned her medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine and completed her undergraduate education at Kent State University. She enrolled in the FACTS elective to gain a better understanding of the various natural family planning methods as well as to gain additional insight for a research project that included making a module for patients and physician learners to increase awareness of the FABMs and to emphasize the natural approach to women’s health and reproductive decisions.
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