What is Fertility Charting?
Just as heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature are indicators of your body’s general health, fertility signs are indicators of reproductive health. These external signs are regulated by hormones which influence not only your reproductive system but also your general health. Charting tracks the physical signs as they change throughout your menstrual cycle in order to identify times of fertility and create a personal health record.
How Do I Get Started?
Different models of NFP have been developed based upon observation of specific signs of fertility. To learn about the four methods preferred in the Diocese of Columbus, click on the links below to the provider’s site.
The Billings Ovulation Method teaches the observation of the most reliable signal of fertility – cervical mucus, and four simple rules which are applicable for women in all circumstances.
Couple to Couple League & SymptoPro: sympto-thermal method is taught by married couples and is based on three key signs of fertility: cervical mucus, basal body temperature and changes in the cervix. CCL’s main class series is offered live online or self-paced online; classes are available in English and Spanish.
Creighton Model FertilityCare: is a standardized method taught by trained allied health professionals. CrMS relies upon the standardized observation and charting of biological markers that are essential to a woman’s gynecological and reproductive health. This model is often chosen by women with known gynecological or infertility issues.
Marquette Model: uses an at-home urine hormone monitor and other biomarkers (cervical mucus or basal body temperature based on user preference) combined with a simple protocol to determine the fertile window. MM is taught by healthcare providers and/or clinicians.
Instruction is key to using NFP effectively and confidently!
Learn how to use NFP from a local certified teacher who is also Catholic. Many offer instruction via the internet, as well as on-site.
The Billings Ovulation Method
Cecilia Fomenky – Columbus and online
BOMA offers remote instruction and Program with Online Training
List of Online Instructors (English and Spanish Instructors)
Fertility 101 Full Course (Includes Part 1/Class 1 and Part 2/Class 2 along with 4 personal chart reviews.)
Introduction Videos: Catholic Women & Couples NFP (English and Spanish Available)
Couple to Couple League/SymptoPro Method
Couple to Couple League Online Live or Video Based (English and Spanish Available)
Sympto Pro Fertility Education: Online Classes (English and Spanish Available)
Maranda Patzkowsky, RN – SymptoPro – Lancaster
Creighton Model FertilityCare
Practitioners at Freedom FertilityCare Services:
Judy Harness, RN, MS, CFCP – Chillicothe area
Emily Mauro, RN, FCP – North Columbus Metro area
Eileen Sirois, CNM, CFCP/CFCMC – Athens, North Columbus
Caroline Strzesynski, WHNP-BC, CFCNP, CFCP – (Toledo area based, can instruct remotely)
Mount Carmel Health – Introduction Class (Online or In-Person): Click Here and Follow Up Sessions to complete: Click Here
Marquette Model
Stacy Raver, RN, BSN, MMCP – Schedule a Meeting / stacy.fertility614@gmail.com / 440-665-0933 – Dublin
April Ruffing, RN, BSN – Sunbury
Bethany Smith, MSN, RN, MMCP – bethany.smith@vitaefertility.com / 918-932-6005 – Remote/Online Training
Online Training through Marquette University – Online Classes (English and Spanish Available)
Still need assistance? Visit My Catholic Doctor Women’s Health
There are a growing number of medical professionals who understand a woman’s cycle, fertility awareness methods, and treatment options that cooperate with a woman’s body. Check these networks for doctors who have completed specialized training:
Creighton FertilityCare offers a network of affiliate medical consultants trained in identifying and treating the root cause of infertility and other womens’ health disorders using the Napro Technology (Natural Procreative Technology) approach.
MyCatholicDoctor: lists certified fertility awareness educators, nurses, and physicians who use scientifically validated methods to help with everything from child spacing to infertility.
Explore online resources for inspiration from Catholic teaching, charting apps, websites, and NFP online communities for living the NFP lifestyle.
Natural Womanhood: Know Your Body