Cara, age 32, experienced debilitating migraines every month. “Taking my chart to my family practice doctor during my annual well-woman check-up helped me identify some nutritional deficiencies and pinpoint the cause of my chronic migraines,” she said.
During the month of May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlight the importance of an annual check-up. The time we get with our provider is valuable, but often short, about 15 minutes, so making a routine check-up for a time in which your general well-being can be addressed is essential.
By learning to chart your fertility you can take advantage of those limited minutes at your annual appointment, with your primary care provider or OB/GYN by using your chart and possibly the assistance of a fertility awareness instructor to assess the chart’s indicators of health and bring specific questions and concerns to your provider. Knowing your cycle and bringing a personal chart along can help you make the most of this appointment.
Often, general symptoms can be related to hormonal and reproductive health.
“I took my chart to my local OB/GYN and he suspected low progesterone from it,” Bonnie, age 35 said. “He ordered a progesterone screen for specific days following the day of ovulation, and sure enough, he was correct.”
Besides noticing indicators in her chart, Bonnie also had been experiencing irritability each month prior to her period. This blood work allowed her to move forward with treatment swiftly.
Practically speaking, knowing approximately when your period will come may help you to schedule your appointment so that you can avoid the appointment falling during the menstrual flow. A pelvic exam may be less painful when not on your period and if you are due for a pap smear (recommended every three years if normal), the presence of blood can obscure the cell sample taken which could result in a need to retest.
If your provider is versed in a Fertility Awareness Method (FAM), the topic of your menstrual cycles will be a major point of consideration. Even if your doctor is not as aware of FAMs, bring your chart and share what you have gleaned from it.
Some things that a woman charting her fertility should bring up include:
- The length of cycles and post-ovulatory phases
- Any pelvic or abdominal pain and which part of the cycle it corresponds to
- Any moderate or severe symptoms associated with Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and how long it has been going on
- Intimacy issues or low libido
- The duration and intensity of periods
- Any intermenstrual bleeding (vaginal bleeding that is not part of the period that may be occurring before or after ovulation or at any other point)
- Interest in hormonal, thyroid, or genetic testing if recommended by your FABM instructor
- Any questions that you want medical advice for, including: a desire to conceive in the upcoming year, if pregnancy has not occurred after 6 months of fertility-focused intercourse, any new nutritional or exercise programs you want to start
- Unless you are charting your fertility, these topics might not be things you would know about your health. Often symptoms change subtly over time, not all at once.
And sometimes, all we have to report is that we seem to be in good health, and our providers want to know that too.
“I bring my chart every time to my women’s health Nurse Practitioner,” said Kate, age 27. “She’s respectful of FABM methods. The chart helps me articulate my cycle variability and demonstrate a healthy luteal phase for my yearly evaluation…one more data piece to show all is well.”
Take good care of yourself by setting the priorities of learning to chart your fertility and making an annual exam in the coming months. Have a great check-up, and while you are there, go ahead and get on the books for next year.
Additional Resources to Maximize Your Next Annual Visit:
The CDC’s Check-Up Checklist: Things to Do Before Your Next Check-Up
A post on How to Be Your Own Fertility Health Advocate by Holly Baril, CFCP
When this article refers to fertility awareness methods (FAM), or natural family planning (NFP), we are referring to Fertility Awareness-Based Methods, evidence-based methods of cycle charting which can be used as effective forms of natural birth control when learned by a certified instructor.
Last updated March 25, 2021.
