Women’s Health
We strive to provide high quality women’s healthcare for the Des Moines, Iowa area that embodies good evidence-based medicine and promotes the openness to life.
Personalized and Compassionate Care
Infertility, Recurrent Miscarriage & Other Gynecological Care
Dermatologic Evaluation & Treatment
Vitae Family Care Clinic is ultimately concerned with your health as a woman. While many health providers are content to simply treat symptoms, we provide the highest level of personalized, compassionate care for women. Whether you are experiencing little or no difficulty with fertility, or you are struggling with infertility, recurrent miscarriage, or other gynecologic conditions, we want to provide care specific to your needs.
Services We Provide:
NaPro Technology
The Creighton Model Fertility Care System (CrMS) utilizes the observation and charting of biological markers that accurately indicate possible abnormalities in a women’s cycle, as well as when a woman is naturally fertile or not fertile. Couples are then able to use this information to decide to achieve or avoid pregnancy with precise accuracy and without negative side-effects. The Creighton Model FertilityCare System is applicable at any stage in a woman’s reproductive life including:
- Times of Regular Cycles
- Times of Irregular Cycles
- Postpartum
- While Breastfeeding
- Post-pill, shot or IUD
- Pre-Menopause
The Creighton Model FertilityCare System requires an Introductory Session and then regularly scheduled follow ups. The Introductory Session gives an overview of the system with good explanation for charting. This session will last approximately 90 minutes and can be scheduled in a group setting. The follow up visits will last approximately 60 minutes and are personalized visits with your FertilityCare practitioner. This allows you to ask questions and learn the system as it applies to you specifically.
CrMS Schedule
- Introductory Session
- 1st Follow-Up: 2 Weeks
- 2nd Follow-Up: 4 Weeks
- 3rd Follow-Up: 6 weeks
- 4th Follow-Up: 8 weeks
- 5th Follow-Up: 3 months
- 6th Follow-Up: 6 months
- 7th Follow-Up: 9 months
- 8th Follow-Up: 12 months
The Creighton Model FertilityCare System is:
- 99.5% effective in avoiding pregnancy (with perfect use & 100% charting)
- 98% effective in achieving pregnancy within the first 6 months for couples of normal fertility (with perfect use & 100% charting)
NaPro Technology
NaPro Technology provides real medical solutions to real problems and can be used to treat:
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
- Endometriosis
- Infertility
- Recurrent Miscarriage
- Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
- Menstrual Cramps
- Irregular or Abnormal Bleeding
- Postpartum Depression
NaPro Technology uses the Creighton Model FertilityCare system as a guide to accurately identify and treat these conditions in a way that cooperates with, rather than suppresses or destroys, the procreative and gynecologic system using safe, bioidentical medication intervention. Current reproductive medicine all too often relies on a “Band-aid” approach that deals only with symptom management and does not address the underlying biochemical and physiologic causes of the problem. NaPro Technology does not manage women’s health in this way, but instead formulates a treatment plan specific to each patient’s individual cycle and concerns. Treatment plans can include precisely timed lab studies, medical management, ultrasound imaging and surgical intervention.
Family Medicine
We want to be your first line of defense when something unexpected happens. When a health issue or concern comes up and you aren’t sure what to do, give us a call to help. We know that you and your family depend on each other, and we want to help you take care of the people you love the most. Our team is here to advocate for and guide your family in making healthy life choices!
Vitae Family Care Clinic is a full family practice, and we are happy to provide the following services:
- Acute Care – We strive to have same-day appointments available for sick visits, injuries, and other urgent needs.
- Sick Visits
- Lacerations
- Minor Sprains/Strains
- Osteopathic Manipulative Treatments
- Back Pain
- Migraines
- Musculoskeletal Concerns
- Mastitis
- Chronic Condition Management
- Hypertension, Heart Disease, Hyperlipidemia
- Type II Diabetes
- Asthma
- Anxiety/Depression
- Dermatologic Conditions
- Poison Ivy
- Acne
- Wart Treatment
- Skin Lesion Checks and Treatment
- Boils and Abscess Treatment
Preventative Care
Annual preventative care is vital to disease detection and prevention. It is recommended to make an appointment on a yearly basis for a well-woman exam. The following will be included with your exam:
- Physical Exam and History
- Detailed Breast Exam
- Fasting Labs (if indicated)
- PAP Smear
- Recommended Every 3 Years for Women Age 21-29 (with a history of normal results)
- Recommended Every 5 Years for Women Age 30-65 (with a history of normal results)
- Mammogram
- Baseline Screening Recommended at Age 40-44
- Annual Screening Recommended at Age 45-54
- Screening Every 2 Years Recommended at Age 55-75
- Colonoscopy
- Recommended at age 45
Obstetrical Care
We offer personalized obstetric care where you will see the same healthcare team at each of your visits.
OB Appointment Schedule
- Initial Appointment – Please call us as soon as you have a positive pregnancy test to inquire about our pregnancy preservation protocol.
- 8 Weeks – Initial Ultrasound
- 12 Weeks – Physical Exam, Ultrasound, PAP (if not up to date), Complete OB Lab Panel Order Given
- 16 Weeks – Routine Visit
- All routine visits will include pertinent vital signs, urinalysis, fetal heart tone monitoring, and fundal height measurement.
- 20 Weeks – Structural Ultrasound (Gender)
- 24 Weeks – Routine Visit + Glucose Tolerance Test Order Given
- 28 Weeks – Routine Visit
- 30 Weeks – Routine Visit
- 32 Weeks – Routine Visit
- 34 Weeks – Routine Visit
- 36 Weeks – Routine Visit + Group B Strep Screening
- 37 Weeks – Routine Visit
- 38 Weeks – Routine Visit
- 39 Weeks – Routine Visit
- 40 Weeks – Biophysical Profile Ultrasound, Non-Stress Test, Cervical Dilation Check & Routine Visit
- Postpartum Visit – 3 weeks after delivery
Pregnancy Preservation Protocol
Protecting life is what we are all about at Vitae Family Care Clinic and that starts right from conception. We offer serum progesterone monitoring as a means of helping to reduce the risk of miscarriage, premature delivery, premature rupture of membranes, and pregnancy-induced hypertension. If you are charting the Creighton Model FertilityCare System, we ask that you call us on P+17 for lab orders. If not, please call us as soon as you have a positive home pregnancy test.