Overcoming Infertility: How One Couple Overcame Infertility With Franciscan FertilityCare Center

Emily and Cole Goodman had always dreamt of starting a family. However, they were having a difficult time conceiving. After trying for three years and experiencing two pregnancy losses, the couple decided to seek help from the Franciscan FertilityCare Center in Indianapolis. They found a ray of hope when they met Michael Padilla, DO, medical consultant for Franciscan FertilityCare and nurse educator, Marilyn Haywood, nurse and FertilityCare™ practitioner.

"When it comes to family planning, many women look for alternative options to hormonal contraceptives. FertilityCare™ centers can help. These centers serve as educational locations for women, where trained nurses teach a specific method of natural family planning called the Creighton Model™," said Dr. Padilla.

"The Creighton Model relies on learning, observing and tracking the different stages a woman's body goes through during her menstrual cycle," Dr. Padilla said. "Menstrual health should be a source of empowerment, not a source of pain and discomfort. The model can help identify potential issues a woman might experience during her menstrual cycle. It is also helpful for couples trying to conceive or those trying to avoid pregnancy."

And that's just what Emily did. Working closely with Dr. Padilla and Haywood, Emily began charting her fertility and following a personalized plan to increase the couple's chances of conceiving.

"I was immediately impressed by their personalized approach to fertility care," Emily said.

The Franciscan FertilityCare Center connects patients to physicians trained in the Creighton Model in an in-person or virtual setting. During the education process, the specially trained nurse helps a woman to track her cycles and identify any unusual changes. The nurse can then refer her to physician, who can look at the information and determine if an underlying issue requires medical attention.

Despite being in grad school at the time and being so busy with her studies, Emily was committed to the process and received consistent support from the Franciscan FertilityCare Center.

George Kane, MD, an Indianapolis family physician with Franciscan Physician Network, said many women use these centers to learn about tracking signs of their fertility.

"Using the model, they can monitor changes in their cervical mucus to identify the fertile and infertile phases of their menstrual cycle."

He also cautioned that women who experience symptoms such as bloating, breast tenderness or abnormal vaginal discharge throughout their cycles, not just on the days they're bleeding, should seek medical care. These symptoms could signal other underlying conditions, such as endometriosis.

After six months of working with the FertilityCare Center team, Emily and Cole learned they were expecting. The news came at the best time - the week of Emily's graduation from grad school.

"It was a pleasant surprise," said Emily because they had been trying for three years and the couple had almost lost hope of having a child.

Emily and Cole were particularly grateful for the care and attention they received.

"Unlike other providers who suggested expensive and extravagant options, Dr. Padilla provided affordable, individualized care that catered to our needs and preferences," said Emily.

With the support of the Franciscan FertilityCare Center by their side, Emily and Cole achieved their dream of becoming parents.