In-Person NFP Support in Brighton!

Dr. Andrew Chambers of YourChoice Direct Care

Groesbeck FertilityCare Center is so excited to share that Dr. Andrew Chambers of YourChoice Direct Care in Brighton is able to offer in-person NFP support women using natural methods of family planning! GFCC was fortunate enough to meet Dr. Chambers at our annual retreat day in November where he gave an impressive presentation on his approach to woman's health. In an effort to help spread the news of in-person NFP care, Dr. Chambers graciously agreed to answer some questions for today's blog to give our clients a better idea of his approach to woman's health.

1. How are you able to assist woman charting with Creighton if you are not an OB/GYN? 

   Family Medicine training includes care for patients of all ages and life stages, including comprehensive women’s health. In addition to my women’s health training in Family Medicine, I have pursued additional education in fertility awareness–informed approaches to women’s health, including FACTS About Fertility, FEMM (Fertility Education and Medical Management), and NeoFertility.

   Unfortunately, most traditional OB/GYN training includes little to no formal education on fertility awareness, cycle charting, or how this information can be used diagnostically in women’s health. Many OB/GYNs who do practice in this space sought additional training through the same or similar organizations mentioned above. This is an area of medicine that typically requires intentional, supplemental education regardless of specialty.

   
   

2. Is charting necessary to receive help with a woman's cycle concerns?

   Strictly speaking-no. But practically speaking, it is extremely helpful.

   Part of the medical evaluation used in FEMM protocols includes a comprehensive endocrine evaluation that is timed to specific points in the menstrual cycle. This can provide valuable insight into hormonal balance, but it still represents only a “snapshot” in time. Cycle charting, on the other hand, gives us longitudinal, big-picture information about ovulation, cycle regularity, and overall menstrual health.

   Well-charted cycles allow us to identify patterns that suggest healthy ovulation—or highlight dysfunction—and help guide appropriately timed lab work or ultrasound imaging to assess ovulatory quality from a fertility and health standpoint. For an approach to women’s health that seeks to restore healthy menstrual function rather than suppress it with artificial hormones, access to accurate cycle data is incredibly valuable.

   
   

3. Should you see a physician who can interpret your charting even if you don't have any obvious concerns with your health or chart?

   Yes—this can be very beneficial. As mentioned above, most OB/GYN and primary care providers receive minimal education in Natural Family Planning or fertility awareness during training. I vividly remember a commonly used medical school resource stating that “NFP is for getting pregnant, not avoiding pregnancy,” which reflects a widespread misunderstanding of the depth and utility of cycle charting.

   FEMM emphasizes that ovulation is a sign of health and endocrine balance, and argues that confirming ovulation should be part of routine well-woman care. Subtle disruptions in other endocrine systems—such as thyroid function, insulin regulation, or cortisol—can all affect the menstrual cycle. Being able to confidently recognize normal versus abnormal cycle patterns provides valuable insight into a woman’s overall hormonal health and should not be overlooked, even in the absence of obvious symptoms.

4. What do you enjoy best about being a NFP friendly physician?

   I deeply appreciate that fertility awareness–based methods and restorative reproductive medicine aim to understand and heal a natural bodily function, rather than control or suppress it. This approach respects the body’s design and seeks to work with physiology, not against it, which aligns well with both good medicine and a holistic view of women’s health.

5. What other services do you offer besides NFP care?

   We are a Direct Primary Care (DPC) practice, meaning we work outside the insurance system through an affordable monthly subscription model. We care for patients of all ages—from pediatrics through geriatrics—and manage the vast majority of primary care needs directly in our office.

   By removing insurance from the primary care relationship, we are able to offer direct access to your doctor, same- or next-business-day appointments, and significantly discounted pricing on labs, generic medications, and even imaging. This model also frees us from much of the red tape and administrative burden of insurance-based care.

     Many patients choose to pair DPC with lower-premium insurance options—such as high-deductible plans with HSAs, health shares, catastrophic plans, or indemnity plans—knowing their primary care costs are predictable and covered. While we strongly recommend that patients maintain some form of coverage for catastrophic events, our model also allows us to care for individuals who are uninsured.

6. Where are you located and how can clients get in touch to schedule a new client appointment with you? 

   Our office is located in Brighton, conveniently near the Brighton Meijer parking lot. For more information about our practice, our website is a great place to start: www.yourchoicedirectcare.com.

   I’m also happy to answer questions via email at achambers@yourchoicedirectcare.com, and we offer in-person informational visits for those who would like to learn more and see if our practice is a good fit. Depending on when this is being read, we may also be running a limited-time “first month free” promotion, which allows patients to experience the DPC model before committing.