Charts with Abnormalities

“All is well that ends well” is probably a saying that you’ve heard before. And while there is some truth to it, it doesn’t cover in entirety, and especially not when it comes to fertility.

Women and couples come to the Creighton Model System for a variety of reason, but I’d say as of late, some kind of abnormality, difficulty, or problem with their cycles or fertility is a big reason people land themselves in this particular model.  And I don’t just mean that women and couples are experiencing one day that shows longer for fertility than it should (though this can be addressed). I’ve seen: endometriosis causing severe cramping and infertility, abnormal bleeding, bleeding for weeks on end, every day showing to be a day of fertility, and many many more complications and issues related to fertility. So what does this mean and how does one navigate this?

First, as I have written before, set out with what you’d like in mind. Meaning, have some kind of idea for what you are hoping to get out of charting, or at least what your goals are for your fertility and your health. If you’re not sure where to start, you can have a list of concerns for our health or things you feel are off that you’d like to address.

Second, find a Creighton Practitioner who seems to fit. This can be based on interests, really awesome bios, or simply someone’s schedule and availability that matches yours!

Third, begin charting. You never know what you will find along the way, and maybe the problematic PMS or abnormal bleeding issues reveal a biomarker for low progesterone, and once you get that you start to feel better! Or, alternatively, you mind find that what you’ve been suspecting all along really is problematic, and you can set about to try and let yourself heal. This process itself can be very healing to trust your body and what it’s telling you, your instincts, and to seek out healing and treatment for whatever comes your way. There will be hardships and crosses to bear along the way, but you don’t have to bear them alone.

Fourth, read up on some of what the Creighton Model System addresses and the biomarkers it identifies. A few of those include: limited mucus cycles (can be indicative of infertility), low progesterone (can be identified by brown bleeding at certain times of the cycle, or a length of days of premenstrual spotting), abnormal bleeding, continuous mucus, and many others.

I said I didn’t really like the “all is well that ends well” phrase especially when it comes to fertility because of the many women and couples who have had their hardships related to fertility. There can be real pain and suffering. There is also hope and healing that can be found. A better phrase that comes from Julian of Norwich:

“All shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.”