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CME Course
Want to learn more about FABMs and earn CME Credit?
Which of the following patients may benefit from using a fertility awareness based method or FABM?
14 year old girl concerned about irregular cycles and monthly discharge. She has never been sexually active.
22 year old woman committed to living a healthier lifestyle. She does not want to use synthetic hormones. She has had two sexual partners, was treated for a sexually transmitted infection two years ago, and has not been sexually active for the past six months.
28 year old woman with weight gain and longer cycles over the last 15 months. She wishes to postpone pregnancy.
34 year old married woman, previously on oral contraceptive pills (OCPs) for 10 years to control painful periods. She has premenstrual symptoms and discontinued OCPs 18 months ago in hopes of achieving pregnancy.
In truth, all of these patients are candidates for using an FABM. These methods not only help women achieve and prevent pregnancy, but they also allow them to monitor their health and work with Restorative Reproductive Medicine (RRM) trained physicians to manage common women’s health concerns. The benefits of these methods are many and include increased knowledge and self-awareness, improved partner communication and more. They are also safe and effective for family planning, as well as relatively inexpensive to use. Perceived disadvantages and misinformation about these methods preclude widespread use.
So, how do you start a conversation with your patients about FABMs? What are the specific methods, how do they work, and how may they benefit your patients?
The FACTS 8-part CME Course – Fertility Awareness Based Methods (FABMs) for Family Planning and Restorative Reproductive Women’s Healthcare addresses these questions and more, preparing you as a medical professional to present these as OPTIONS for family planning and women’s health monitoring and management of a range of reproductive health concerns. Through online lectures, live case study discussions, and readings, this course will explore the broad applications of modern Fertility Awareness-Based Methods (FABMs) and their role in pregnancy prevention, infertility, and women’s health.
The course is divided into eight parts; you may elect to do any or all of them and they may be completed in any order. Each part is worth up to 16 AAFP-approved CME credits.
In Part A, An Introduction to Modern FABMs for Family Planning, participants will survey modern evidence-based FABMs, including the research underlying the development of the different methods, their effectiveness rates to prevent pregnancy, and the benefits and challenges of using each method. Participants may engage in live case-based discussions to learn how to read the charts of various FABMs.
In Part B, Special Topics in FABMs for Helping Couples Achieve or Avoid Pregnancy, participants can further their knowledge on the subject of fertility awareness and its applications in family planning. Part B will focus on the role of FABMs to address infertility and early pregnancy loss, and on the availability of apps marketed to help people avoid pregnancy. Learners may participate in case-based discussions that explore the medical applications of FABMs, including their role in addressing infertility and other conditions.
In Part C, FABMs for Restorative Reproductive Medicine and at Various Stages of Life, participants will learn how internal hormone shifts result in observable external signs, or biomarkers, that women can learn to use to chart their cycles and monitor their health. Participants will learn how medical professionals trained in restorative reproductive medicine can use this information to care for women in a more comprehensive way. We will also discuss how FABMs can be used throughout a woman’s reproductive life, from adolescence and the postpartum period to perimenopause.
In Part D, Medical Applications of FABMs, participants will connect the science of endocrinology to core concepts of FABMs, which may be used to diagnose and manage common women’s health conditions, including abnormal uterine bleeding, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). They will learn how FABMs are used to monitor women’s health and facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of various women’s medical conditions, and how these methods empower a woman to understand her body and physiology better.
In Part E, Medical Applications of FABMs Part II, participants will gain a greater understanding of the common female health conditions that can impact fertility and the female cycle. Content will emphasize the ways in which a functional medicine approach can be used to find the root cause of symptoms and work toward their alleviation.
In Part F, Fertility Awareness and FemTech, participants will obtain an overview of the technology available to track the female cycle and gain critical thinking skills that will allow them to evaluate app quality. Participants will also learn how such apps can be integrated into the clinical setting, and how to discuss their usage with female patients of all ages.
High energy, evidence-based, and extremely informative presentations. This course offers an amazing perspective and a greater standard of care based on a scientific understanding which is more equitable to women–what we should all be working towards! – M. G., MD
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These topics are extremely relevant to my medical practice. The content is well-organized, engaging, and an effective mix of current research married with personal insights and real-life patient experiences – P. H., OB/GYN
Be better prepared as a medical professional to present ALL options and to support each patient’s ultimate decision based on their needs, lifestyle, and values and your clinical experience and medical knowledge.
To enroll in our CME Course, please click below or email us at CME@FACTSaboutfertility.org for more information.