By Suraya Poian
Editor’s Note: In this piece, FACTS elective medical student Suraya Poian shares the story of Mina*, whose experience using the Creighton Model to better understand her cycle, manage symptoms of endometriosis, and ultimately achieve pregnancy highlights the practical impact fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) can have in women’s lives. Medical professionals interested in learning more about these approaches are invited to enroll in the FACTS CME course and attend the upcoming 2026 FACTS Annual Conference, where Dr. Patrick Yeung will give a presentation on the role of surgery in endometriosis.
Meet Mina
I was unfamiliar with fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs) until a friend of mine, Mina, informed me about them, which led me to enroll in the FACTS elective. Mina had used an FABM to avoid pregnancy, control her endometriosis symptoms, and later achieve pregnancy. I interviewed her to learn more about her story with FABMS.
Mina was interested when she first heard about natural methods of family planning and women’s health management during her college years, but she didn’t know how to start. She knew she wanted to learn about the Creighton Model, which uses the changes in cervical mucus to track the fertile window.
“With having an extensive family history of breast cancer, I didn’t want to put hormones into my body,” she said.
Mina found a Creighton Model educator and began learning the method. I asked her, “Do you think you learned about your health while using the Creighton Model?” She instantly said, “Oh my God, YES!”
Charting her cycles allowed Mina to be in control of her body by understanding what was happening on a daily basis. Now she doesn’t question why certain changes are happening with her cervical mucus, and she doesn’t constantly think that something is wrong with her. She explained that charting with this natural method helped her feel more in control of her reproductive choices. When she felt ready to have a baby, she was able to try to conceive with greater confidence, especially given her history of endometriosis.
“By charting with this natural method, it helped her feel more in control of her reproductive choices.”
She also learned about “alarming” types of cervical discharge. She used to think that increased mucus production meant infection because the body is “cleaning” itself. But she learned to distinguish between healthy, normal cervical mucus that reflects the rise and fall of estrogen throughout the cycle, and the abnormal cervical mucus that may indicate underlying health issues, such as hormonal imbalances, infections, or other gynecological conditions. Abnormal cervical mucus has specific characteristics; for example, a cheesy discharge may be a fungal infection.
Lastly, she talked about her partner being very involved when they used the Creighton method which increased their communication, trust, and intimacy. They worked collaboratively to achieve their goals, and he continues to be supportive in her pregnancy journey.
The Role of FABMs
When we discussed Mina’s journey to have a baby while dealing with her ongoing endometriosis symptoms, I gained a deeper appreciation for the importance of FABMs and their impact on women’s health. I learned about the intricacies of the Creighton Model and its role in promoting holistic approaches to reproductive health care.
But Mina acknowledged there were also challenges she encountered early on, especially getting past the cultural perceptions surrounding natural methods. She shared that her family had very limited knowledge about these approaches and were not initially supportive. She had to show them the improvement she had with charting and prove how oral contraceptives were not the only way to treat endometriosis symptoms.
Talking to Mina showed me there is so much potential for FABMs like the Creighton Model to revolutionize women’s health care by shifting the focus from symptom suppression to symptom interpretation and holistic treatment. By embracing fertility awareness, healthcare professionals can empower women to become active participants in their reproductive health journey, promoting informed decision-making and personalized care.
“There is so much potential for FABMs like the Creighton Model to revolutionize women’s health care by shifting the focus from symptom suppression to symptom interpretation and holistic treatment.”
Mina is hoping to continue using FABMs in the future, after the birth of her baby. We talked about the Lactation Amenorrhea Method (LAM), which she already researched. She is currently in the process of learning more about LAM while she awaits the arrival of her baby.
For Mina, the Creighton Model ultimately provided both clarity and confidence in her reproductive journey. After years of struggling with endometriosis symptoms and avoiding oral contraceptives due to concerns about breast cancer risk, she and her partner chose a natural approach to family planning. With the support of her Creighton instructor and ob-gyn, she gained a deeper understanding of her cycle, improved control of her symptoms, and was ultimately able to achieve pregnancy.
“For Mina, the Creighton Model ultimately provided both clarity and confidence in her reproductive journey.”
*Names have been changed to respect the privacy of the interviewee. All information is shared with permission.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Suraya Poian is a fourth-year medical student at Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, DC. She completed her undergraduate education at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. She plans to do her residency in General Surgery and she is extremely interested in vulnerable population access to health care. She enrolled in the FACTS elective to gain a better understanding of natural family planning methods and manners in which to share these methods with future patients so they can feel more empowered over their health and reproductive decisions.
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