Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Creighton Model FertilityCare System?
A standardized system for monitoring fertility biomarkers.
Does it involve a lot of extra time?
Most women find they can check their biomarkers in about 30 seconds.
Can this help with infertility?
Yes. The Creighton Model works with NaProTechnology to diagnose and treat underlying causes.
When should I start?
Personal opinion? As soon as possible!
- Couples getting married should start 3-6 months before the wedding. This will help you feel confident in your planning and use of the method before your marriage.
- Pregnant women wanting to use CrMS postpartum should attend an Intro Session a month or two before birth.
- Women coming off birth control can begin as soon as they come off their birth control method.
Go ahead and schedule a call or see Introductory Session availability here.
Am I obligated to attend the full year of one-on-one follow-up sessions if I attend an Introductory Session?
Nope, but you would of course learn more and be able to apply the information better if you did. In fact, it's not just a year-long program, but more of a rest-of-your-life program! Regardless, there are no obligations after attending an Introductory Session, though we will ask you to attend another one if you decide to pursue follow-ups more than three months after you attended the Introductory Session.
Are follow-up sessions held in a group or one-on-one?
ALWAYS one-on-one (or one-on-two if both halves of a couple are able to attend)! Even if you attend a group Introductory Session, follow-ups can get into the nitty-gritty of how things work and a private experience is best.
Who should attend the Intro Session and/or follow-ups? Should my husband/fiance come?
If at all possible, the best way for a couple to learn the system is together. While the woman does the observations of her biomarkers, the man needs to be supportive, but it is the couple who uses the system together.
An adolescent should come with her mother or guardian.
A single woman can come by herself or bring a support person.
Why do I have to learn to chart and regularly meet with a FertilityCare Practitioner? Wouldn't it be simpler to just go to a NaPro provider?
It seems like it might be simpler to skip the charting step, but the Creighton Model FertilityCare™ System is the first step to evaluation from a NaPro provider (officially called a Medical Consultant). The standardized charting provides a tool to identify indicators of problems.
Unless the Medical Consultant is also a practitioner, he or she not trained in teaching CrMS charting and expect you to rely on your FertilityCare Practitioner to learn to properly observe and record your biomarker.
This is really interesting to me! Where can I learn more??
The best places online are going to be:
Who can use the Creighton Model?
- Any woman in cycles who wants to better appreciate and understand her body.
- Spouses and engaged couples who desire to learn a way to plan their families naturally while respecting their dignity and the lives of any future children.
- Spouses who are struggling with infertility or recurrent pregnancy loss who want the tools to find answers.
How does CrMS NaProTracking® work?
CrMS teaches women and couples to tracks patterns of bleeding and cervical mucus discharge in a woman's cycle. You work with a FCP/FCPI to learn to chart these biomarkers in detail. Meetings start every other week, and as knowledge and comfort with the method grow, the appointments are spaced out more. Generally, this ends up being 8 follow up appointments in the first year and long term follow up appointments after that.
What training does my instructor have?
A Creighton Model FertilityCare Practitioner or Practitioner Intern completes a 13 month certification program, which includes lectures, tests, practice exercises and two supervised practicum experiences while under the supervision of a certified FertilityCare Educator. During the Education Program, they teach a minimum of 18 clients from a variety of circumstances. A FertilityCare Practitioner demonstrates his or her in-depth knowledge of the woman’s cycle and ability to train women to NaProTRACK™ their cycles by passing a standardized national exam.
Can I still use CrMS with cycle irregularities/abnormalities?
Most definitely! It can be used at any stage for your entire procreative life, including:
- irregular cycles
- anovulatory states
- breastfeeding
- premenopause
- after coming off hormonal birth control
- with continuous mucus discharge