By Kelli Lovell
Natural Family Planning
On Jan. 15, 29 women braved the arctic chill to view the premiere presentation of “Wonder of Eve” in the Diocese of Evansville at St. John the Baptist Parish in Newburgh. While some of these teenagers may have been cajoled into attending by their mothers, the overall response to the event was very positive. The presentation offers young women information about reproductive health and alternatives to oral contraceptives for cycle problems.
As a ministry dedicated to empowering women with the knowledge of their natural cycles and how to use their body’s signs to monitor reproductive health, the Holy Family Center for Life has long identified an underserved population: young, single women going through puberty. If there is one comment that dominates as we talk with clients, it is women’s lamentations that no one gave them this information sooner.
The fact that a woman’s body and her cycle trends give vital information about her reproductive health daily was not presented in health class because it wasn’t a priority. It wasn’t presented to them as an option by their doctor because many doctors themselves are not learning these things in medical school. Many well-meaning mothers cannot offer this information because they themselves were not exposed to it. And marketing a system of monitoring bodily signs of health isn’t financially beneficial enough for a Fortune 500 company to reap returns on their investment. You can’t market a product that has been readily available since the beginning of time. But women deserve and have a right to receive this instruction in a safe environment where questions are not scoffed at and their own experiences are not belittled.
The Holy Family Center for Life was recently able to meet our long-time goal of developing a young women’s program through a generous donation from St. John the Baptist Parish in Newburgh’s Mother to Mother group. The new program, “Wonder of Eve,” was designed by the Archdiocese of St. Louis to be presented to teen girls along with their mothers to open the dialogue about the awesome design God has for women’s bodies and the way that empowers them to become the person God made them to be.
Mother to Mother meeting planner Rachel Beier helped bring the program to St. John the Baptist and said, “Wonder of Eve”is a revolutionary program, providing foundational knowledge on the menstrual cycle that is relevant to every young woman in today’s world. The presenters expertly weave biology, cycle tracking and common concerns to create a presentation that will empower teens to take control of their cycle and use it as a tool to monitor their health. Instead of viewing the menstrual cycle as a hindrance, “Wonder of Eve”casts fertility in a positive light and showcases it as a beautiful gift to treasure.”
While reference is made to the infinite worth of the soul of the girl herself with Bible verses interspersed to remind them that God has a plan for them from the very moment of conception, the program itself is focused on biology. The majority of the time is spent reviewing biological systems and processes at work in every woman’s body that are evidenced by observable signs women can learn to track and use to evaluate their own reproductive health in real-time.
This ability to track is not just important for women trying to achieve pregnancy. The ability to determine hormone trends from simple tracking of biomarkers and dates of menstrual periods can be the first tool in developing a treatment plan when things aren’t going quite right. In a world where so many menstrual cycle issues and symptoms are “fixed” with oral contraceptives, this program opens the discussion for a safer alternative. Rather than overriding a woman’s natural hormone activity, cycle tracking can allow for targeted diagnosis and treatment with the help of a knowledgeable physician trained in cooperative hormone therapies. In this way, girls no longer have to suffer the side effects of artificial hormones just to address acne, PMS, painful periods and PCOS. By listening to their body and finding providers who are willing to listen to them, a new approach to preserving their natural reproductive health is possible.
With our first presentation now tallied, “Wonder of Eve” is available for presentation throughout the Diocese upon request. The one-hour presentation by one of our trained instructors is designed for high school girls, and mothers are encouraged to attend with them. The presentation can be tailored to junior high girls upon request. You can contact the Holy Family Center for Life by emailing [email protected] or submit an inquiry through the website at hfcl.org.
Kelli Lovell, PharmD, CACP, CFCP, is a Clinical Pharmacist at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville. She also is a Certified Anticoagulation Care Provider, a Certified FertilityCare Practitioner and a Responsible Practitioner for the Holy Family Center for Life.