If you’re a Catholic woman trying to conceive naturally, understanding whether you’re actually ovulating and charting your cycle is the most important part. In this episode of The Catholic Fertility Podcast, I’m joined by Haley Yeager, certified Creighton Model instructor and founder of the Truth & Fertility Project, for a conversation about cycle charting, ovulation, natural family planning (NFP), fertility awareness, PCOS, and NaPro Technology. We talk about how to recognize patterns in your cycle, the differences between fertility charting methods, and signs on your chart that may be worth sharing with a Napro provider healthcare provider. Haley also shares her personal fertility story—from being prescribed the birth control pill to learning to chart her cycle and receiving a PCOS diagnosis. We discuss why simply having a period isn’t the whole picture, why ovulation matters beyond conception, and how learning your cycle can help you optimize your fertility sooner. IN THIS EPISODE [5:08] - Haley’s experience with irregular periods, birth control, and searching for answers [8:11] - Why ovulation matters—even when you aren’t trying to conceive [10:00] - PCOS, cycle charting, and Haley’s journey toward identifying what was happening with her cycles [18:10] - What your menstrual cycle and ovulation can tell you about your health [20:23] - How fertility awareness and cycle charting work [26:21] - Cervical mucus, basal body temperature, LH strips, and choosing a fertility tracking method [56:09] - Cycle charting patterns that may be worth discussing with a fertility-aware healthcare provider WHAT WE TALK ABOUT We cover questions I hear frequently from Catholic women who are trying to conceive naturally: How do I know if I’m ovulating? What should a healthy menstrual cycle look like? What is a healthy luteal phase? Can you have a period without healthy ovulation? Which fertility awareness or NFP method should you use? What can cervical mucus, basal body temperature, and LH tell you about fertility? And when could irregular cycles, spotting, unusual bleeding patterns, or a short luteal phase warrant additional support? We also discuss the Creighton Model, NaPro Technology, FEMM, symptothermal methods, Marquette, fertility tracking apps, wearable temperature trackers, and how to choose a method you can realistically use in your current season of life. HALEY YEAGER Truth & Fertility: https://truthandfertility.comInstagram: @truthandfertilityproject Haley’s podcast episode with her surgeon on ovarian wedge resection:https://open.spotify.com/episode/31nDJ3nRvvjpUZ29GCJZZC?si=b1c00628f73d419a RESOURCES MENTIONED The Fifth Vital Sign by Lisa Hendrickson-Jack ChartingMethods: Creighton Model,SymptoPro, and Marquette. Charting Apps: FEMM, Read Your Body, Kindara, Neo Fertility, ABOUT YOUR HOST I’m Lucia Harmeling, MS, RDN, LD, The Catholic Fertility Dietitian and founder of Savorli, a functional fertility nutrition practice. I help Catholic women who are trying to conceive support their fertility through root-cause nutrition, functional lab testing, cycle-informed care, and faith-integrated fertility support. Work with me & download our guide: https://savorli.coInstagram: @catholic.fertility.dietitian FERTILITY TOOLS + DISCOUNT CODES Ultrahuman Ring — Save 10%:https://www.ultrahuman.com/ring-pro/buy/?referral=29h21b Tempdrop — Save 10%:http://www.tempdrop.com/discount/AFCATHOLICFERTILITYUse code: AFCATHOLICFERTILITY Mira Fertility Monitor — Save $80 on the Mira Ultra4 Fertility Monitor Kit with code 2HARMELING If this episode was helpful, please follow the podcast, share it with another woman who is trying to conceive, and leave a rating and review. Your support helps more Catholic women find these conversations when they need them. This podcast is for educational purposes only and does not provide individualized medical or nutrition advice. Please talk with a qualified healthcare provider about your individual health.
