Rachel’s story
I have a unique fertility journey because I got my cycle at 11 years old and have been advised to be on hormonal birth control since that age. My mother and grandmother both had breast cancer and I have tested positive for the BRAC1 genetic mutation. Most OB/GYN doctors I have spoken with do not want me to ovulate. They are concerned that it is unhealthy for me and I will follow the same path to cancer as the other women in my family. Instead, I took a different route and have monitored my health through regular bloodwork, ultrasounds, mammograms, MRI’s etc. I am a regular patient at Johns Hopkins imaging! My fertility health journey has included endometriosis and a large ovarian cyst. When I got engaged, my fiance and I took a Creighton class and I started charting with colorful stickers, eager to understand my fertility window. I didn’t use the stickers for long because we conceived a few weeks after our wedding despite doctors fearing me infertile due to endometriosis. That was six years ago, and now we have three healthy children spaced out two-three years apart due to my very satisfying experience with the Marquette Method of fertility tracking. I own the ClearBlue fertility monitor and the test sticks are regularly delivered with Amazon Subscribe and Save. Testing is a part of my daily routine and I sometimes cross reference with ovulation tests at night when I am post-partum and my cycle is taking a few months to stabilize.
I am proud that 23 years later since getting my first cycle, I know my body so well and can read its language.
Rachel Harkins Ullmann
My husband and I are firm believers in fertility based awareness methods of avoiding and achieving pregnancy. Not only are we blessed with three children, but I have had an uneventful health journey despite my susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancer. I was told that the birth control pill was the quick fix to my problems; however, through a lot of research, support and care from wonderful doctors, I am a healthy and happy woman! If you live in Maryland, I highly recommend Natural Fertility Care with Dr. Mary Ann Sorra.
What’s one recommendation/advice/challenge you would give to women reading your post?
Never consider a night with your husband a FAIL. If you are TTA (trying to abstain) and you have a wonderful night, what a beautiful love story. Practicing a fertility based awareness method allows for something or someone greater than yourselves to be in control and in all aspects of life that is a good and healthy thing! In fact, every method of birth control has a failure rate (besides abstinence). The beautiful aspect of fertility based awareness methods is that the word “failure” can be taken out of the equation. Without a physical barrier or hormonal manipulation, the choice to engage in sexual intercourse during your fertility window is an invitation for life. A resulting pregnancy is not “unplanned” because the couple is fully informed through fertility tracking and given the FREEING choice to use those days or not. Tracking my fertility and using a fertility based awareness method to avoid and achieve pregnancy has been the most freeing and empowering decision I have made as a woman. There’s no secrecy between my husband and I or the possibility of an “oops” baby that feels unwanted, all is designed according to God’s plan and our mutual choices.
