By: Sr. Juliet Macharia , Albert Kihunrwa, Edgar Ndaboine, Dismas Matovelo, Fridolin Mujuni, Richard Kiritta, Elieza Chibwe, Sr. Clotilda Chuma, Godfrey Kaizilege, Edmund Ngaiza, Sr. Happy Mbena, Prosper Shayo, Alphard Kajura, Rumanyika, Danielle Koestner (24 July 2024)
Abstract
Introduction: Infertility is a disease of the male or female reproductive system defined by the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. Approximately one in six people have experienced infertility at some stage in their lives. In Tanzania, the prevalence of infertility is 16%. Most couples suffer from this condition silently without knowing what to do. FEMM (Fertility Education and Medical Management) has come to bring back hope and happiness in these patients.
Case series: Here we present four cases of women with subfertility who have suffered for more than five years without being able to conceive. Very interesting they all conceived within two to four months after using the FEMM approach. Currently, they are all pregnant at different gestation ages.
Conclusion: Women who are not ovulating cannot conceive. Many times the answers to infertility are hiding in plain sight within the patterns of a woman’s menstrual cycle. Failure to ovulate is the first sign of an underlying health condition in a woman followed by irregular cycles. Observing characteristics of cervical mucus is a simple and nonexpensive biomarker any woman can tell you about. Fertility awareness together with medical management helped these women to conceive.
Keywords: Hormonal subfertility, hyperprolactinemia, hypothyroidism, menstrual cycle pattern, ovulation
