This weekend, I had the privilege of attending the FACTS About Fertility conference in Peoria, and I left feeling both energized and deeply encouraged.
After more than three decades in obstetrics and gynecology, I have attended many medical meetings. But this one felt different. There was a palpable sense of mission in the room—a shared commitment to understanding the root causes of reproductive health problems and to supporting women and couples with thoughtful, individualized care.
Most striking to me was the number of dedicated practitioners who embrace an approach known as Restorative Reproductive Medicine, often abbreviated as RRM. These clinicians are not simply managing symptoms. They are asking deeper questions. They are looking upstream. And they are working tirelessly to restore normal reproductive function whenever possible.
That is a philosophy I can wholeheartedly support.
FACTS stands for Fertility Appreciation Collaborative to Teach the Science.
It is a physician-led, evidence-based educational organization whose mission is to improve medical education about fertility awareness and reproductive health. Their work focuses on teaching clinicians how to understand the menstrual cycle as a vital sign—a window into a woman’s overall health.
The organization was founded by physicians who recognized a gap in medical training. Many healthcare professionals graduate with limited knowledge of fertility awareness-based methods, cycle physiology, and the diagnostic value of menstrual patterns. FACTS was created to change that.
What impressed me most is that this group is deeply committed to science. Their conferences are grounded in research, clinical data, and patient outcomes. They are not anti-technology, and they are not anti-IVF. Instead, they are pro-knowledge and pro-patient.
They are asking an important question:
What if we understood the menstrual cycle better before we intervened?
That is a powerful idea.
Restorative Reproductive Medicine, or RRM, is an approach to fertility and women’s health that focuses on identifying and treating the underlying causes of reproductive problems rather than bypassing them.
In practical terms, this means:
- Investigating hormonal imbalances
- Diagnosing and treating conditions such as endometriosis, PCOS, thyroid disease, or luteal phase defects
- Optimizing ovulation and cycle function
- Supporting natural conception whenever possible
- Improving overall reproductive health—even when assisted reproductive technologies are ultimately needed
RRM is not a single treatment. It is a philosophy of care.
And importantly, it is not in competition with IVF.
I have always believed—and continue to believe—that we need both approaches. IVF has helped millions of families achieve pregnancy, and it remains an essential part of modern reproductive medicine. But in many cases, restoring normal physiology first can improve outcomes, reduce complications, and sometimes allow couples to conceive naturally.
That is not ideology. That is good medicine.
We are living in the midst of a global fertility crisis. Couples are struggling to conceive at higher rates than ever before. Women are delaying childbearing. Chronic disease is increasing. Environmental exposures are changing our biology.
In this context, we cannot afford to think in silos.
We need collaboration between:
- Conventional obstetricians and gynecologists
- Fertility specialists
- Family physicians
- Nurse practitioners
- Nutrition and lifestyle medicine professionals
- Restorative reproductive medicine clinicians
The FACTS conference felt like a step in that direction.
It reminded me that fertility is not just about getting pregnant. It is about health—metabolic health, hormonal health, immune health, and environmental health. The menstrual cycle is not a nuisance. It is a vital sign, and when it is disrupted, it often signals deeper problems that deserve attention.
What inspired me most was the people.
I met physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals from across North America who are deeply committed to helping patients understand their bodies. Many of them have pursued additional training, often on their own time, because they believe women deserve better answers.
They are curious. They are collaborative. And they are passionate about prevention.
That combination gives me hope for the future of women’s health.
If there is one takeaway from this conference, it is this:
We should never accept reproductive dysfunction as inevitable.
Painful periods are not normal.
Irregular cycles are not trivial.
Infertility is not always unexplained.
Often, there is a cause. And when we look for that cause, we can frequently do something about it.
That is the promise of restorative reproductive medicine.
And it is a message worth sharing.
Attending the FACTS About Fertility conference in Peoria reinforced something I have believed throughout my career:
The goal is not simply pregnancy. The goal is healthy physiology.
When we support the body’s natural systems—through good nutrition, adequate sleep, stress management, environmental awareness, and thoughtful medical care—we give fertility the best possible chance to thrive.
And in doing so, we support lifelong health.
Dr Marina OBGYN