How many of you ladies have Christian gynecological care?

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I’ve been looking for a gynecologist and I’m a little worried about what to look for. I am not currently married, however I am dating. There are some things that have given me concern about my sexual and reproductive health. It’s often been difficult to get them addressed without being pushed birth control pills. At the same time, I acknowledge that having birth control pills made a big difference to me, and I’m worried because a lot of pro-life people I deal with seem to think that me crying in pain once a month is better than taking the birth control. If birth control is what gets me functional enough to manage, well, it is what it is, although of course I’ll seek other solutions as I am able.

Of course insurance is an issue. There’s only one practice in this area that advertises as pro-life and she really doesn’t seem to do what I’m looking for. So I may be stuck anyway, but I thought I’d at least get feedback.
 
What about midwifery? I go to a CNM practice for pregnancy and general gynecological care, and they can and do refer to specialists when needed. They’re not a Christian practice, but they are respectful of my beliefs, not condescending, and very knowledgeable.

(They also offer free and sliding scale care for those who qualify.)
 
pensmama87 said:
What about midwifery? I go to a CNM practice for pregnancy and general gynecological care, and they can and do refer to specialists when needed. They’re not a Christian practice, but they are respectful of my beliefs, not condescending, and very knowledgeable.

(They also offer free and sliding scale care for those who qualify.)
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I’m not sure that’s really what I’m looking for. It’s a good idea, but if I’m at all right in my suspicions I think it’s going to be beyond what a CNM can do. I suspect we’re going to need some pretty serious workups done.
 
DarkLight said:
I’m not sure that’s really what I’m looking for. It’s a good idea, but if I’m at all right in my suspicions I think it’s going to be beyond what a CNM can do. I suspect we’re going to need some pretty serious workups done.
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Right, but they may be able to point you to the right kind of specialist. If you do use insurance, you might need a referral anyway before even getting to schedule (which stinks if you already know what you need, but such is life sometimes.)
 
DarkLight said:
I’ve been looking for a gynecologist and I’m a little worried about what to look for. I am not currently married, however I am dating. There are some things that have given me concern about my sexual and reproductive health. It’s often been difficult to get them addressed without being pushed birth control pills. At the same time, I acknowledge that having birth control pills made a big difference to me, and I’m worried because a lot of pro-life people I deal with seem to think that me crying in pain once a month is better than taking the birth control. If birth control is what gets me functional enough to manage, well, it is what it is, although of course I’ll seek other solutions as I am able.

Of course insurance is an issue. There’s only one practice in this area that advertises as pro-life and she really doesn’t seem to do what I’m looking for. So I may be stuck anyway, but I thought I’d at least get feedback.
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If you need to pill for medical reasons there is nothing wrong with that and anyone who tells you otherwise should mind their own business. That being said there may well be an alternative, but if it’s unreasonably difficult to find it you need not feel guilty.
 
ShrodingersCat said:
If you need to pill for medical reasons there is nothing wrong with that and anyone who tells you otherwise should mind their own business. That being said there may well be an alternative, but if it’s unreasonably difficult to find it you need not feel guilty.
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I would certainly like to explore an alternative. If nothing else - the trouble with relying on the pill for medical reasons is that it does, in fact, have a contraceptive effect. While this isn’t sinful, it’s also hardly unreasonable for me to want to know about options that would allow me to have a child without suffering monthly. (I feel like if I’m going to seriously date that’s a conversation I’d want to have.) But we’d also have to figure out how to make testing other treatments practical. As a single adult I can’t exactly just be sick 3 days out of the month, I have bills to pay and dinners to fix and all that.
 
Hmm. I had a really good NFP only doctor but he doesn’t practice anymore. He was a really good dr.

I do understand why you’d like to avoid the pill. Not everyone can take it healthwise. I had a number is side effects when I took it for medical reasons. Weight gain moodiness. Also cardiac issues preclude taking it.

I had a friend who would go to doctors affiliated with Catholic hospitals. Maybe that would help?

But just be honest with the doctor. Tell them your symptoms. Blood work and sonograms would be some preliminary tests they could recommend.

Do you have a primary doctor? You could get a recommendation for a OB/Gyn who would fit your criteria.
 
Mary_Gail_36 said:
Hmm. I had a really good NFP only doctor but he doesn’t practice anymore. He was a really good dr.

I do understand why you’d like to avoid the pill. Not everyone can take it healthwise. I had a number is side effects when I took it for medical reasons. Weight gain moodiness. Also cardiac issues preclude taking it.

I had a friend who would go to doctors affiliated with Catholic hospitals. Maybe that would help?

But just be honest with the doctor. Tell them your symptoms. Blood work and sonograms would be some preliminary tests they could recommend.

Do you have a primary doctor? You could get a recommendation for a OB/Gyn who would fit your criteria.
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I do have a primary doctor, but I honestly don’t really feel like he listens to me much.

I don’t mind the pill as a treatment now. And I want to avoid going to someone who’s going to refuse to prescribe it at all. But if I’m going to date seriously I think the practicalities of my sexual health and fertility are rather something I’d like to be well informed about.
 
DarkLight said:
I do have a primary doctor, but I honestly don’t really feel like he listens to me much.

I don’t mind the pill as a treatment now. And I want to avoid going to someone who’s going to refuse to prescribe it at all. But if I’m going to date seriously I think the practicalities of my sexual health and fertility are rather something I’d like to be well informed about.
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I see.

Sorry about the primary doctors bed side manner. Listening to a patient I think is important.
 
I see an older OBGYN (as in she helped popularize Lamaze in our area when it was new). She’s not Catholic to my knowledge and has offered me bc before but I was up front about using NFP when I first started seeing her and she’s been supportive. She also actually looked at my charts when we were having trouble conceiving and carrying to term and identified an issue my reproductive specialist overlooked (because he never looked at the charts).

My first step in your situation would be to see if there is a Napro doctor or Creighton practitioner nearby and also look into doctors who may be a bit on the older side.
 
This link from fertilitycare.org has a listing (alphabetical by state) of NaPro medical providers: Fertility Care Centers of America Maybe you can find a NaPro doctor near you.

Of course there is nothing wrong, morally speaking, with using the Pill to control your pain and symptoms; but there is much evidence now showing that it is terrible for your body; so it is good that you are looking for alternatives. Hopefully you can find a doctor that will work with you on finding a cure!
 
When I had issues as a teenager, I went a doctor in my area who is trained in NaPro Technology by the Pope Paul VI institute. She was the one who looked at my charting and saw that there was a pattern concerning for endometriosis. She sent my charts in to be reviewed by the doctors at Pope Paul VI and they diagnosed me with endometriosis and scheduled me for surgery. I had a laser ablation done at age 18 and it removed all my endometriosis.

Now, several years later, I am not suffering from pain other than mild to moderate (not severe) cramping during my period. My husband and I just found out this week that we are expecting our first baby-something that is not always possible with women who have undiagnosed or untreated endometriosis.

Bottom line-there may be people in your area who can help by making referrals, even if they themselves are not experts in your situation.
 
EnglishTeacher said:
This link from fertilitycare.org has a listing (alphabetical by state) of NaPro medical providers: Fertility Care Centers of America Maybe you can find a NaPro doctor near you.

Of course there is nothing wrong, morally speaking, with using the Pill to control your pain and symptoms; but there is much evidence now showing that it is terrible for your body; so it is good that you are looking for alternatives. Hopefully you can find a doctor that will work with you on finding a cure!
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There isn’t anything near me.

I have to admit, I’m a bit nervous about going all the way to something like NaPro. I want someone who is open to using the pill if that is in fact the best way to manage. I recognize that with medicine, there’s often no option that’s “completely natural” or anything like that. And one has to consider how treatment fits into my life - at this point, it simply wouldn’t be an option to take time off for treatment, and symptoms can impact my ability to work.
 
DarkLight said:
I do have a primary doctor, but I honestly don’t really feel like he listens to me much.

I don’t mind the pill as a treatment now. And I want to avoid going to someone who’s going to refuse to prescribe it at all. But if I’m going to date seriously I think the practicalities of my sexual health and fertility are rather something I’d like to be well informed about.
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A good doctor respects a patient’s beliefs and tries to work with them even if they don’t personally agree. Sadly such doctors can be hard to find, but I have met them.

However, last I checked, certainly if one is not sexually active there is no moral reason not to use the Pill. There may be a prudential reason, certainly. But “thou shalt never use the Pill for any reason” is not Catholic teaching. The question of whether this holds for sexually active married women, seems to be more controversial, but that does not apply to you.

I agree that Napro is not a cure-all. I recall another CAF poster’s harrowing tales of the extensive surgeries her Napro provider subjected her to for treatment of endometriosis. She wound up finding another provider.
 
I’m sorry you are struggling with this.

I do not go to a Catholic OBGYN. I go to the best doctors within the network covered by our insurance. However, whenever I have had gynecological problems, I’ve made it very clear in no uncertain terms that I am a practicing Catholic and there has to be another way to solve my problems besides ways that are forbidden by my religion. Occasionally I have to explain to them what I can and can’t do. Every doctor I’ve ever said that to was respectful and didn’t push the point, thank goodness.

I hope you can find a doctor you like who is willing to work with you.
 
gator(name removed by moderator) said:
I’m sorry you are struggling with this.

I do not go to a Catholic OBGYN. I go to the best doctors within the network covered by our insurance. However, whenever I have had gynecological problems, I’ve made it very clear in no uncertain terms that I am a practicing Catholic and there has to be another way to solve my problems besides ways that are forbidden by my religion. Occasionally I have to explain to them what I can and can’t do. Every doctor I’ve ever said that to was respectful and didn’t push the point, thank goodness.

I hope you can find a doctor you like who is willing to work with you.
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I think that is the main issue here; not to find a medical provider who agrees 100% with Church teaching, but one who is respectful of them. Sadly not all doctors are, but they are not impossible to find, either. I would try to ask women you know for recommendations, now this is assuming they themselves are not opposed to Church teaching!
 
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