What you must know about fertility awareness teachers

People don’t really get what we do as fertility awareness teachers. And they don’t dare ask. A few months ago, I was on a plane to Nebraska, on my way to Creighton training, with books in my lap, excited and blissfully unaware of what I was getting myself into. After the usually niceties, the woman beside me asks:

“So, what do you do?”

Without flinching, I say, “I’m a Fertility Care Practitioner intern…(blank stare)… which means I teach women natural methods of achieving or avoiding pregnancy.”

Oh. K. Silence. Talk about a conversation killer. And this woman was on her way to see her new grandchild!

A similar thing happened at my son’s preschool gathering. Run-of-the-mill small talk with some other parents had progressed to talk of our “morning hustle”: the daily race to get the kids to school and get to our own commitments on time.

“So, what do you do for your work?”

“I teach women and couples about their fertility.”

And awkward silence, again. Switch topics.

But this is what I do. I’ve gone from teaching people about the chemicals they take into the body as food, to teaching about one very special chemical biomarker that comes out. The former produced no end of enthusiastic questions about gluten-free, organic, various supplements, etc. The latter – well, you know.

I guess people prefer talking about what goes in, as opposed to what comes out.

So now I just say I work in women’s health. Still not a big conversation fueler but at least they picture some sort of health care worker. I hope.

What it takes to be a fertility awareness teacher

Actually, the Fertility Care Practitioner is a bona fide Allied Health Profession. As such, it adheres to some of the same standards as physical therapists, personal support workers, diagnostic technicians, medical assistants, and yes, even nutritionists.

Fertility Care Practitioners (FCP) are required to have at least a baccalaureate level of education prior to entering the training program or be working towards their undergraduate degree. Indeed, most FCPs have that and then some—among them are fully-fledged nurses, medical residents, physician’s assistants, and physicians, although I remember one exceptional bright undergrad at my training. Functional medicine proponents like osteopaths, naturopaths, and chiropractors can and have also come on board the natural fertility train.

Smart bunch, these FCPs. Teaching women (and couples) about the metrics of their fertility requires a solid science background mixed with the outstanding “soft skills” of a social worker or counselor, and the meticulousness of a pathologist.

But that’s just the basics.

What kind of person can be a FAM or NFP instructor

What it really takes to do this curious line of work is courage. Courage to care about something most people don’t know enough about to even consider caring. It takes guts to announce that you offer a service that most people have never heard of, or worse, equate with some kind of hocus pocus.

FCPs are a brave bunch. And, as you can see, not the “stupid brave” of a rebellious teen, but an educated, logical brave.

All the Natural Methods teachers I’ve met are in the trenches, spending time with the overwhelmed new mom, the bewildered teen, the infertile couple. It’s a lot of time (follow-ups are generally about an hour and occur bi-weekly for the first two months), which demonstrates another quality of the Fertility Care professional–love.

Time is love, is it not? It’s not money, it’s love. FCPs spend the time because you, their client, is more valuable than their time. The time is well spent, giving you knowledge that could mean the difference between a new life, or same old same old.

Fertility Care professionals are a new breed of allied health workers. They are just as busy as the next person, but they are not afraid to give you their time in addition to their extensive body of knowledge and interpersonal skills.

And isn’t that what the health care world needs? More time for the patient/client?

And, coincidentally, guess what every FCP wants in return from you? Don’t worry, not much—just your time. Just take the time to learn, chart, and appreciate what your body is telling you.

If you think you have what it takes, the brains and the bravery, to become a Fertility Care Practitioner check this out, but be prepared—the FCP program is a master’s level program.

My journey into this brave new world of fertility and authentic women’s health is now a permanent fixture in my professional vernacular. Where it will take me, I don’t know, but I know it ain’t gonna be into the Best Conversationalist Hall of Fame!

Which brings me to one last point:

Another quality FCPs have, or quickly develop, is a humble, non-judgmental, anti-egoist voice. We talk about the things that really matter in a woman’s health, for her good, even if it isn’t always glamorous. However, with time, the conversations you have with your FCP can become beautiful, if you have a good practitioner who has a humble heart.

Again, if you think you have this kind of heart, I strongly encourage you to look into the Education Programs provided by the Fertility Care Centers of America.