Managing PCOS and how Green Day got its name

When I was 18, I was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and promptly put on birth control to control my symptoms. Later, I was inspired to do some research on the pill I was taking (I am a scientist, and so I rarely take what people say as fact without doing some research on it first), and I discovered that it does thin the lining of the uterus to prevent implantation. I immediately stopped taking my pill, and started researching natural family planning programs. Since I have a history of PCOS, I went to some forums and searched the best methods, and Creighton Model was consistently the most trusted. I attended the introductory session a few weeks later and was on board with my wonderful Certified FertilityCare Practitioner Elizabeth. I'm still learning how to manage my PCOS, but I really love charting and knowing exactly what's going on in my body. My husband was reluctant (but supportive) at first, but he is slowly starting to participate in the process ("Is today a green day?!"...he is now convinced that that's how the band "Green Day" got their name). I find it hard to contain my enthusiasm about it, and so almost everyone I work with probably knows a little too much information about my cycle! We have thus far been using Creighton Model to prevent pregnancy, but are getting excited to use it to achieve pregnancy. A couple we met at our church actually told us that they had been struggling for years to get pregnant, and that it wasn't until they started Creighton Model that they made their beautiful baby girl!

- Stephanie from Texas

Using Creighton, instead of the pill, to address health and plan a family

I had been on birth control since my teenage years because of issues with my menstrual cycle (irregular, heavy bleeding, unbearable cramping, mood swings, etc) and I had seen a lot of the side effects it had on my body. As we began looking into it, we learned that using the Creighton Model would help me figure out some of my female issues as well as provide a way to avoid pregnancy. I quickly realized that birth control was just a band-aid solution. Through learning to chart from a nurse (and having a good doctor), we would be able to figure out exactly where the issues stem from so we can fix it naturally rather than putting synthetic hormones into my body. My husband and I started learning the Creighton Model a few months before our wedding and it was not hard, it's just a commitment. We always felt extremely supported! We couldn't be happier knowing that we are preventing pregnancy naturally and when the time comes for us to have children, we are confident that this model will help us achieve pregnancy just as easily as we were able to prevent it. Being a part of the CEIBA study is very important to us, as well. We want to show others that Natural Family Planning is a healthy and effective way to avoid pregnancy. We just wish that more people knew about it!

- Sarah from Missouri

A Personal Story about Using the Creighton Model

My parents used Natural Family Planning when they had my brother and I, and it worked like a charm for them. As I got older and most of my friends began taking the pill, I always held off because I knew there were better options. When my husband and I got engaged, we began talking about the Creighton Model and went to our area facilitator to set up meetings. As a Catholic, I appreciate that it helps me and my husband understand and work with the natural cycles God gave me. As a hippie, I appreciate that I'm not putting any foreign chemicals or hormones in my body that don't belong there. And as a broke grad student, I appreciate that it's one of the cheapest (successful) options out there!

So far, using it has been difficult for my husband and me. For months, my cycles have been abnormal and haven't developed any kind of pattern. While this has been frustrating, it has alerted me that I may need to seek medical attention to determine whether or not there's something I should be worried about. We're contacting a local doctor who's familiar with the Creighton Model to go over my charts with me and run some tests. If I hadn't been charting my cycles, I might never have known something was off until it was too late.

--Emily from South Carolina

Check out a new Creighton Model video!