Your Cycle Could Be Telling You Something. Are You Listening?

By Saint Francis Health System Staff

For many women, a visit to the doctor about period problems ends the same way: a prescription for birth control, a referral for surgery, or a suggestion to try an antidepressant. The underlying question — why is this happening? — often goes unanswered.

Marian Medical Clinic at Saint Francis Health System is taking a different approach.
 

What Is Marian Medical Clinic?

Opened in July 2023, Marian Medical Clinic grew out of demand. 

Sister Gianna Marie Savidge, M.D. was using fertility education and medical management protocols in her Muskogee practice, and patients were driving 50 miles each way to see her. When she began seeing patients out of a Tulsa office half a day a week, those appointments also filled up immediately. 

It became clear there was a need — and a home for it within Saint Francis.

Today, Marian Medical Clinic offers women a comprehensive, holistic approach to their health — one that focuses on understanding and restoring the body's natural processes rather than suppressing them.
 

Ovulation Is a Sign of Health

At the heart of Marian's approach is a simple but powerful idea: a woman's cycle is a window into her overall health.

The clinic primarily uses FEMM — Fertility Education and Medical Management — a protocol with strong medical foundations rooted in the Reproductive Health Research Institute. 

The FEMM approach teaches women to identify and chart key biomarkers: ovulation patterns, bleeding patterns, mucus patterns, cycle length, luteal phase length and more. Together, these data points paint a detailed picture of what's happening hormonally — day to day.

When patterns fall outside the range of healthy, that's a signal worth investigating — not masking.

This approach is useful across a woman's entire reproductive life, from adolescence through perimenopause, and is relevant to a wide range of conditions including:

• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
• Endometriosis
• Infertility
• Irregular or heavy periods
• Hormonal imbalances
• Perimenopausal changes
   

Getting to the Root Cause

Women come to Marian Medical Clinic frustrated — frustrated with symptoms that have been treated but never explained. The clinic's goal is to help identify what's actually going on and give each patient the knowledge and options to make informed decisions about her care.

That might mean flagging signs of endometriosis that have gone unrecognized for years. It might mean identifying insulin resistance driving a PCOS diagnosis. It might mean finding a hormonal imbalance that explains years of irregular cycles. 

Whatever the path, the approach is the same: understand the root cause, treat the whole person and restore health — instead of just managing symptoms.

Medications are part of the toolkit when needed. But the goal is always to work with the body, not against it.
 

Free Classes Open to Everyone

You don't need a clinic appointment to start learning. 

Marian Medical Clinic offers free introductory Natural Family Planning (NFP) classes one Wednesday evening per month, open to the public — no referral needed. 

Classes are held at Saint Francis Hospital South, 5th Level Conference Room, Bishop's Building.

These classes cover the basics: what natural family planning and fertility awareness methods are, what ovulation is and how the different charting methods work. They're a great starting point for any woman who wants to better understand her cycle — whether or not she ever becomes a clinic patient.
 

Is Marian Medical Clinic Right for You?

Marian Medical Clinic welcomes women at any stage of life and with any reproductive health goal — from understanding a teenager’s cycle, to navigating infertility, to managing perimenopausal changes.

To schedule an appointment, call Marian Medical Clinic directly. For class information or to confirm upcoming dates, contact the clinic or visit the Diocese of Tulsa website.