Creighton Method? TW: loss and LC mentioned

PibbleMom

Hi 👋 
i was a member here back in 2015/2016 while we tried for our first. I ended up having a loss on our 13th cycle, presumably due to low progesterone, then on our 15th cycle got pregnant with our daughter and was immediately put on progesterone. No problems after that. 

Were now TFAS, and I figured I’d have to be back on it again. I was shocked that I got a squinty squinter on our 1st month after it took 13 mos previously, I asked about being put back on progesterone, but by the time I went in for BW, I was already sure it was a loss and it was confirmed. My progesterone was only .82, so my midwives referred me to a specialist and also gave me a prescription to use immediately after a month on the bench. 

The specialist they said was because my pregesterone was VERY low, and I spoke to them, they use the Creighton model of charting and NaPro along with regular bloodwork.  I did some research and it seems that it relies on charting CM mostly, which I already do, along with BBT and opks. 

Can anyone tell me if there’s any difference that I’m missing for it to be called the “Creighton method”? Anyone here had success with a more “crunchy” (natural) fertility place like this? I’m a fan of less medicine more natural methods, but if I need something medical to keep a baby, so be it. 

Admins, please move if you think this should be in T-ttc, I wasn’t sure where it should go. 

marebear15

Hey welcome back! A few things have changed since you've been gone, and two of them are we don't have Admins anymore and we don't post one-off threads. This question would go perfect in the Chart Stalk/Questions thread. Also, be sure to drop by the Newbie thread and introduce yourself so that we can all get to know each other!

wabash15

Lurker**** if you search @BusinessWife did an amazing explanation of the creighton method 2-3 years ago...

adirat

Hi, you should know that Creighton Method/NaPro actually is not "crunchy" based. It's religiously based. It does not use up to date science. In addition, it is premised on the woman always being the problem. This is not true. Male factor infertility (or dual factor) is equally common. 

NaPro has not been proven to be effective in randomized controlled trials. It may help some people who have issues with timing intercourse -- for instance, people who make little CM and need help charting. But unless that specifically is your problem, or you are religiously/morally opposed to real assisted reproductive technologies like IUI and IVF, it is not worth your time. 

[Deleted User]

We had a great experience learning Creighton method!

There is a lot more to tracking cm they way they will teach you than any other more general ways I've read prior.  I learned more about cm than I ever thought I'd care to know! Lol but once you learn and practice it, it actually becomes very easy, straightforward, and it empowered me to feel much more confident using cm tracking (with or without bbt) for intercourse timing.

I was also amazed at the level of bloodwork they did for me.  The premise being that there may be other systemic things going on that could be preventing pregnancy or precluding maintaining a pregnancy.  I remember having my cortisol checked, and - far above and beyond cd3 bw -  labs every other day to generate the most glorious hormonal curve you could ever wish for! 🤓

So my experience was mostly positive, and you may find it so for you, too.  They will prescribe progesterone or other drugs to help maintain a pregnancy if needed.  I had very closely monitored follicle checks during at least one of my cycles, to make sure the folli had ruptured, so I would guess that if it had gotten to trying clomid or letrozole, it would have all been VERY closely monitored. 

And yes, we had religious reasons we wanted to do everything we could that the church endorsed.



But we also ran into a wall when it finally came down to MFI.  My advice if you want to try it would be to insist on an SA early in the game.  Learning Creighton I found to be totally worthwhile, not to mention having the 1 on 1 support while TTC from our instructor.  She did say even if his count were to come back low, there were supplements, vitamins etc.; things they would put him on.  And then when it came back <i>zero</i>, that was the end of the road for our Napro journey.

Of course, YMMV.  Doesn't sound like azoo is your issue.  You may have a wonderful experience, like I did at first, and end up with your take-home baby.  I can't speak to its statistical efficacy, nor to its efficacy in our specific case, which is an admittedly extreme example.  It is completely holistic and there is nothing that practicing Creighton method is going to hurt.  If you have reasons to feel like it's worth it to pursue that kind of approach first before more mainstream ART methods, I would definitely encourage you to go for it!  You may have excellent luck with it and gain some incredible insight into your own marvelous body in the process.

However, in our case, once they finally did our SA, it was clear that they could do no more for us towards our goal of conceiving and bearing our biological child.  [ETA So it felt like we wanted a lot of time.]  We were not yet in a place to go the adoption route at that time, or live CNBC, and instead found a way to do IVF, 

****TW****
<div class="Spoiler">and were lucky enough to surgically retrieve sperm and have success.  But that's not the case for everyone.</div>
***religious / ART talk***
<div class="Spoiler">We still have our own reasons we struggle with our decision to this day, but that's another story.  I have a feeling you would not be asking about Napro / Creighton if you did not have some hesitancy about ART.  That's 100% fair, and there's a lot they can do to help and support you without compromising your beliefs.

Ultimately, when our backs were against the wall, we went against church teaching anyway.  It is what it is, and we have to live with that decision.  By all means, if you want to talk about any of that stuff, please feel free to PM me! :)</div>
I know it's not a topic that comes up often, and I'm glad I saw your question, OP.

I appreciate the tags, too... 
@wabash15 @adirat ❤❤❤