Trust our specialty family planning and fertility guidance

Family Planning Support And Fertility Guidance

At Jenkins Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Medicine in Katy, Texas, we support women at every stage and phase of life, including when you and your spouse or partner are ready to grow your family.

Family planning guidance

Of course, the support that our specialists provide starts with a consultation, and what we discuss during this appointment informs the next steps. Depending on your needs, tests may be required to determine if any anatomical or hormonal abnormalities are present, which contribute to fertility challenges. Planning recommendations are then based off of these diagnostic findings, so treatment is highly tailored. Generally, though, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has isolated specific “fertility awareness-based” family planning methods.

The concept of fertility awareness refers to identifying when a woman is most likely to get pregnant (or be most fertile). This information is important for couples who are trying to have children. Generally, a woman can become pregnant between five days before ovulation and one day afterward.

There are largely four methods characterized as fertility awareness-based:

Standard days: Accounts for the “standard” days whereby a woman is most fertile, between the 8th and 19th day of each month for women with regular periods. Couples trying to get pregnant should have sex daily or every other day during this window.
Cervical mucous: The mucous made by a woman’s cervix says a lot about those times when she is most fertile. Prior to ovulation, mucous is generally thinner and slippery; however, the volume of this substance decreases post-ovulation. It also thickens. Couples who wish to become pregnant may want to account for these changes and have sex when the mucous is thinner before ovulation. Be aware that some lubricants can also affect the appearance and feel of this substance.
BBT: The Basal Body Temperature method refers to family planning that revolves around changes to body temperature throughout the menstrual cycle. During ovulation, a woman’s body temperature is typically somewhat higher than before or after this timeframe. Using this method, couples are most likely to become pregnant two to three days before an uptick in BBT. Of course, there are a number of other factors that can influence the reliability of BBT as a family planning measure, such as chronic medical conditions or bouts of sickness.
Symptothermal: This method is actually a mix of the standard days, cervical mucous, and BBT options. Most commonly, the BBT and cervical mucous methods may be combined. “Twists” on these methods include monitoring body temperature and mucous while also using an electronic device that detects hormones in the urine. The findings from this monitoring device are then used to confirm the days when you are most likely to become pregnant.

Call our office

New patients please call:
855-346-8610

Existing patients please call:
281-347-2600

Virtual Consultation

All of our patients bring with them different life experiences, goals, medical histories, and so many other characteristics that make them fantastically unique. When talking about family planning, it can be difficult to speak in generalizations. So, we encourage you to call 855-346-8610 to schedule a consultation with one of our OB-GYNs, Drs. Jenkins, Roy, or Ikwuagwu, today.

Share this Article

Back to Family Planning Page

Jenkins Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Medicine
Connect with Dr. Jenkins on Linkedin

We offer general care, gynecology, and obstetrics services that span all stages of a woman's life. Dr. Taryll L. Jenkins, MD, received his undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University and his Doctorate of Medicine from Meharry Medical College School of Medicine, TN. He completed his residency training at the University of Texas and Hermann Hospital, TX and is Board-certified from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, with years of research experience.

Having graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Chemistry in 2011, Dr. Stephanie Roy received her Doctor of Medicine Degree in 2015 from the University of Texas Medical Branch. Today, she is a leading Board-certified physician who works hard to provide you and your family with high-quality services. In addition to spending time at the practice, Dr. Roy possesses extensive volunteer experience in the community. She was also a tutor at the Medical Careers Diversity Program in 2012 and, since then, has spent her free time volunteering for the St. Vincent’s Clinic.

Dr. Tiffany Ikwuagwu is passionate about caring for the diverse communities in Katy, TX. Having completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Houston, her medical degree at the Baylor College of Medicine, and her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the McGovern Medical School, she worked as principal investigator on a research project with Dr. Nana Ankumah at UT Houston. A member of the American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association, and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Dr. Ikwuagwu has served in several leadership roles and has made many contributions to the community.

Yara Ramirez, MD, earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Baylor University and her doctorate in medicine from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, where she also completed her residency. She won the Resident Teaching Award from UTMB’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for two consecutive years.
Dr. Ramirez has researched extensively on many obstetrics-related topics. She has been a Junior Fellow Representative for the UTMB Residency Program and a Medical Student Education Committee Member at the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She has volunteered for various local and foreign community programs. Her fluency in Spanish and French is an asset to her organization.

Nadia Alexander is a Board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Texas Health Science Center. With seven years of experience in women’s health and a focus on obstetrics and ambulatory gynecology (vaginitis, UTI, and vaginal bleeding), she provides quality, compassionate care to patients in various stages of reproductive life. She is fluent in English and Spanish and is the lead contact for our Telehealth service.