Fertility Friday | Fertility Awareness Mastery for Women's Health Professionals

Today I share an on-air client session with my client Leah C. Leah was a part of my most recent 10 Week Fertility Awareness Mastery group program. In today’s episode, we explore the challenges associated with coming off hormonal contraceptives and transitioning to using fertility awareness for birth control.

Join us for Fertility Awareness Mastery in January 2019! We start in a few weeks.

Today’s episode is also sponsored by my 10 Week Fertility Awareness Mastery Group Program! Gain confidence charting your cycles, and gain deep insights into the connection between your health, your fertility, and your cycles. We start on January 22nd, 2019. Will you be joining us?

Click here for more information!

• The link between hormonal birth control and migraines
• Managing the fear of coming off birth control
• The downside of coming off hormonal birth control in Leah's case
• Supporting liver function
• Managing sugar cravings (and keeping your blood sugar balanced)
• Transitioning off birth control in favour of using fertility awareness to prevent pregnancy

• Fertility Awareness Mastery Live Group Program (January 2019)

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• On-Air Client Sessions | Fertility Awareness Reality Series Episodes | Fertility Friday
• Fertility Awareness Podcast Episodes | Fertility Friday
• Pill Reality Series | Fertility Friday

Join the community! Find us in the Fertility Friday Facebook Group. Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast in Apple Podcasts!

Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Produced by J-Gantic

This episode is sponsored by my 10 Week Fertility Awareness Mastery Group Program! Master Fertility Awareness and take a deep dive into your cycles and how they relate to your overall health! Click here to apply now!

Today I share an on-air client session with my client Dana. Dana was a part of my most recent 10 Week Fertility Awareness Mastery group program. Join us for Fertility Awareness Mastery in January 2019! We start in a few weeks.

Today’s episode is also sponsored by my 10 Week Fertility Awareness Mastery Group Program! Gain confidence charting your cycles, and gain deep insights into the connection between your health, your fertility, and your cycles. We start on January 22nd, 2019. Will you be joining us?

Click here for more information!

• Using fertility awareness for birth control, and also to gain important health information
• Birth control side effects
• The issue with IUDs, more specifically, painful insertion
• Identifying the fertile window (the role of mucus)
• Discharge related to abnormal cervical cells and how charting can help you identify it
• Getting into the habit of checking your cervix (and dealing with the frustration of cervix checking!)
• How to identify pregnancy on your chart
• The importance of developing body literacy
• Assembling your ideal healthcare team

• Fertility Awareness Mastery Live Group Program (January 2019)

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• On-Air Client Sessions | Fertility Awareness Reality Series Episodes | Fertility Friday
• Fertility Awareness Podcast Episodes | Fertility Friday
• Pill Reality Series | Fertility Friday

Join the community! Find us in the Fertility Friday Facebook Group. Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast in Apple Podcasts!

Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Produced by J-Gantic

This episode is sponsored by my 10 Week Fertility Awareness Mastery Group Program! Master Fertility Awareness and take a deep dive into your cycles and how they relate to your overall health! Click here to apply now!

Today I share an on-air client session with my client Leah B. Leah was a part of my most recent 10 Week Fertility Awareness Mastery group program. Join us for Fertility Awareness Mastery in January 2019! We start in a few weeks.

Today’s episode is also sponsored by my 10 Week Fertility Awareness Mastery Group Program! Gain confidence charting your cycles, and gain deep insights into the connection between your health, your fertility, and your cycles. We start on January 22nd, 2019. Will you be joining us?

Click here for more information!

• How to tell if your menstrual/pelvic pain is normal
• Could pelvic/menstrual pain be related to endometriosis?
• How Leah used body literacy to reduce her pelvic pain over time
• Deconstructing cervical position charting
• Why it's easier to chart your cycles when your cycles are healthy
• The impact of light on the menstrual cycle
• Reducing nighttime light exposure

• F.Lux | Computer Screen App
• Fertility Awareness Mastery Live Group Program (January 2019)

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• Fertility Awareness Reality Series Episodes | Fertility Friday
• Fertility Awareness Podcast Episodes | Fertility Friday
• Pill Reality Series | Fertility Friday

Join the community! Find us in the Fertility Friday Facebook Group. Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast in Apple Podcasts!

Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Produced by J-Gantic

This episode is sponsored by my 10 Week Fertility Awareness Mastery Group Program! Master Fertility Awareness and take a deep dive into your cycles and how they relate to your overall health! Click here to apply now!

Happy Podcast-aversary to Fertility Friday! (Yay!) The Fertility Friday podcast has been going strong for 4 years. I can barely believe it because it certainly doesn’t feel like it’s been that long. The saying “time flies when you’re having fun” definitely applies here!

In today’s episode, I share my top takeaways from 2018. I often think of my years in themes, and several themes came up for me this year. I call out the healthcare system, do a bit of pill-bashing, and discuss where feminism fits into it all leaving you with a jam-packed and informative episode you won’t want to miss!

Today’s episode is also sponsored by my 10 Week Fertility Awareness Mastery Group Program! Gain confidence charting your cycles, and gain deep insights into the connection between your health, your fertility, and your cycles. We start on January 22nd, 2019. Will you be joining us?

Taq was a member of my January 10 Week Fertility Awareness Mastery Program, and today she joins me for an on-air client session! We talk about thyroid and fertility, and why it’s not always easy to find a practitioner who will help you determine the root cause.

Today’s episode is also sponsored by my 10 Week Fertility Awareness Mastery Group Program! Gain confidence charting your cycles, and gain deep insights into the connection between your health, your fertility, and your cycles. We start on January 22nd, 2019. Will you be joining us?

Click here for more information!

• The emotional side effects Taq experienced on hormonal birth control
• Building the habit of charting your cycles
• Reducing nighttime sleep exposure to improve menstrual cycle health
• How thyroid disorders show up on the menstrual cycle chart
• The difference between T4 and T3 (thyroid hormones) and why the TSH test alone isn't sufficient to diagnose thyroid disorders
• Functional vs conventional ranges for thyroid hormone lab tests
• Shifting to body literacy, and learning to appreciate your menstrual cycles
• The importance of seeking support from a qualified health practitioner who specializes in the specific issue you have

• FFP 124 | Thyroid Health & Fertility, Why the TSH Test Isn’t Enough | Iodine & Thyroid Function | Wilson’s Temperature Syndrome | Dr. David Brownstein, MD | Dr. Denis Wilson, MD
• Fertility Awareness Mastery Live Group Program (January 2018)

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• On-Air Client Sessions | Fertility Awareness Reality Series
• FFP 202 | Vaginal Steaming for Period Problems | Steamy Chick | Keli Garza
• FFP 018 | Arvigo Abdominal Therapy | Vaginal Steaming | Traditional Maya healing for Fertility and Menstrual Cycle Irregularities| Dr Rosita Arvigo
• FFP 164 | Thyroid Health and Fertility | Erika Enos
• FFP 116 | Stop The Thyroid Madness | Going Beyond Synthroid & Getting to the Root Cause of Thyroid Disorders | Why the TSH Test Isn’t Enough | What to do when your Doctor Won’t Cooperate | Janie Bowthorpe, M. Ed.
• Fertility Awareness Podcast Episodes | Fertility Friday
• Pill Reality Series | Fertility Friday

Join the community! Find us in the Fertility Friday Facebook Group. Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast in Apple Podcasts!

Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Produced by J-Gantic

This episode is sponsored by my 10 Week Fertility Awareness Mastery Group Program! Master Fertility Awareness and take a deep dive into your cycles and how they relate to your overall health! Click here to apply now!

Dr. Prior is a Professor of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of British Columbia working on women’s health. She studies menstrual cycles, the effects of ovulation and its disturbances on women’s later life osteoporotic fracture, heart attack, and breast cancer risks. She is the British Columbia Center Director of the Canadian Multicentre Osteoporosis Study (CaMos), a 20-year prospective 9-centre population-based bone and general health study and the Scientific Director and Founder of the Centre for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research.

I first interviewed Dr. Prior back in episode 55, so make sure to take a listen if you haven’t heard it before. In today’s episode we’re talking about the important role of progesterone (and regular ovulation) for overall health, beyond your ability to procreate!

Today’s episode is also sponsored by my 10 Week Fertility Awareness Mastery Group Program! Gain confidence charting your cycles, and gain deep insights into the connection between your health, your fertility, and your cycles. We start on January 22nd, 2019. Will you be joining us? Click here for more information!

• The connection between regular ovulation and overall health
• The difference between anovulation and a short luteal phase as it relates to low progesterone
• The relationship between low progesterone, a short luteal phase, and stress
• Could menstrual cycle disruptions be related to the status of women in our culture?
• Why would subtle variations of progesterone in the luteal phase make such a significant difference in a woman's bone density
• The true ratio of estrogen to progesterone in the menstrual cycle
• The different roles of estrogen and progesterone in the menstrual cycle
• The impact of hormonal contraceptives on bone density, particularly as it relates to the development of peak bone mass
• The impact of progesterone on a woman's risk of heart attack
• The impact of stress on heart health
• The role of mindfulness practices in reducing stress

• The Center for Menstrual Cycle and Ovulation Research | Dr. Jerilynn Prior
• Combined hormonal contraceptives use and bone mineral density changes in adolescent and young women in a prospective population-based Canada-wide observational study
• Fertility Awareness Mastery Live Group Program (January 2018)

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• FFP 055 | Menstrual Cycle Health | Why Regular Ovulation is Essential for Bone, Heart and Breast Health | Dr. Jerilynn Prior
• FFP 097 | Managing the Stress of Infertility | The Physiology of Stress | Meditation & Guided Visualization | Hypnotherapy | Mind + Body Stress Reduction | Helen Adrienne
• FFP 097 | Managing the Stress of Infertility | The Physiology of Stress | Meditation & Guided Visualization | Hypnotherapy | Mind + Body Stress Reduction | Helen Adrienne
• Fertility Awareness Podcast Episodes | Fertility Friday
• Pill Reality Series | Fertility Friday

Join the community! Find us in the Fertility Friday Facebook Group. Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast in Apple Podcasts!

Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Produced by J-Gantic

This episode is sponsored by my 10 Week Fertility Awareness Mastery Group Program! Master Fertility Awareness and take a deep dive into your cycles and how they relate to your overall health! Click here to apply now!

Dr. Miller is board certified in Family Medicine and also has additional training as a Natural Procreative Technology Medical Consultant. As a NaPro physician, she has extensive experience in Natural Fertility Awareness and using a natural approach to correct common women’s health disorders. NaPro Technology is a new women’s health science that monitors and maintains a woman’s reproductive and gynecological health. It provides medical and surgical treatments that cooperate completely with the reproductive system. NaPro Technology Consultants have an extensive understanding of the female reproductive system and the fertility awareness method, and their treatment protocols are informed by the woman’s own unique menstrual cycle variations.

I first interviewed Dr. Miller back in Episode 31, so make sure to take a listen if you haven’t heard it before. In today’s episode, we’re talking about birth — preparing for birth, and how to maximize your chances of having the type of birth you want.

Today’s episode is also sponsored by my 10 Week Fertility Awareness Mastery Group Program! Gain confidence charting your cycles, and gain deep insights into the connection between your health, your fertility, and your cycles. We start on January 22nd, 2019. Will you be joining us? Click here for more information!

• Why Dr. Miller says she didn't really know what birth was until she had her first baby (even though she had previously attended over 100 births!)
• How Dr. Miller was able to go from doctor to patient by preparing herself for her first birth
• Why birth, itself, is not a medical emergency
• The role of the cervix in birth — the difference between dilation and effacement
• The incredible difference between Dr. Miller's first two birth experiences compared to her third

Resources mentioned:

• Dr Danielle Miller
• The Birth Hour Podcast
• The Bradley Method
• Hypnobirthing
• Fertility Awareness 101 FREE Video Series
• 10 Week Fertility Awareness Mastery Group Program
• Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• FFP 031 | Using Fertility Awareness Charting to Treat Infertility Naturally | NaPro Technology | Dr. Danielle Miller
• FFP 136 | Endometriosis, PCOS & Fibroids | Surgical Techniques That Preserve Fertility | NaPro Technology | Dr. Kyle Beiter
• FFP 075 | Cervical Mucus Charting | Fertility Awareness Method | NaPro Technology | Megan Faller
• Fertility Awareness Podcast Episodes | Fertility Friday
• Pill Reality Series | Fertility Friday

Join the community! Find us in the Fertility Friday Facebook Group. Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast in Apple Podcasts!

Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Produced by J-Gantic

This episode is sponsored by my 10 Week Fertility Awareness Mastery Group Program! Master Fertility Awareness and take a deep dive into your cycles and how they relate to your overall health! Click here to apply now!

In today’s episode, I share my top 10 strategies for getting your partner on board with fertility awareness charting, especially when you intend to switch to fertility awareness for birth control!

Today's episode is sponsored by my free FAM 101 video series? Click here for access.

Today’s episode is also sponsored by my Fertility Awareness Programs. My Fertility Awareness Programs are designed to help you to master Fertility Awareness and take a deep dive into your cycles. Gain confidence charting your cycles, and gain deep insights into the connection between your health, your fertility, and your cycles. Click here for more information!

• Share why fertility awareness is important to you
• Take the necessary time to learn and understand the method before you start using it
• Find out how much your partner wants to be involved
• Consider taking a class to show your partner how serious you are about making it work
• Decide on the lingo you and your partner will use to communicate whether you're fertile or infertile
• Be clear and honest in your communication, especially if you miss a day or if you are unsure of your observations
• Have a conversation about how you will manage your fertile window
• Share the science with skeptical partners
• Share the benefits of using fertility awareness!
• Be patient as it may take time for your partner to feel comfortable using FAM

Resources mentioned:

• Fertility Awareness 101 FREE Video Series
• 10 Week Fertility Awareness Mastery Group Program
• Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• Fertility Awareness Podcast Episodes | Fertility Friday
• Pill Reality Series | Fertility Friday

Join the community! Find us in the Fertility Friday Facebook Group. Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast in Apple Podcasts!

Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Produced by J-Gantic

This episode is sponsored by my Fertility Awareness Programs! Master Fertility Awareness and take a deep dive into your cycles and how they relate to your overall health! Click here for more information!

Angie Firmalino holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Metal smithing from Syracuse University, an Associate’s in Psychology from Syracuse University, and an Associate’s in Jewelry Design from the FIT.  She also studied abroad in Florence, Italy. She then worked as a bench jeweler in New York City, a goldsmith for Steven Kretchmer, and then became a freelance wax model maker after her first child was born in 1998.  Due to continuing health problems, she no longer is able to work as a jeweler.  Mrs. Firmalino founded an advocacy group against Essure in 2011, called Essure Problems.  She continues to run that group and founded ASHES nonprofit in 2015. She is also involved with Medical Device Problems, a website launched in July of 2018.  She and her family live in the Catskill Mountains of New York.

Amanda Rusmisell is a wife and mother of two boys in Charlotte, North Carolina. She holds her Bachelors of Science from Appalachian State University and her Masters of Counseling from the University of North Carolina Charlotte. Currently, she works in the nonprofit sector. Amanda has always been an active volunteer and advocate in her community. After being harmed from a medical device and having major surgery, she joined the Essure Problems Facebook Group. She was shocked to see the harm caused to so many women and was compelled to help. Amanda is the Legislative Liaison for the Essure Problems Group. She has spoken before the FDA, organized and participated in numerous advocacy meetings in Washington DC and collaborated with other nonprofits to bring awareness to the issues surrounding Essure and medical devices.

In today’s episode, we talk about the issues with Essure, a highly problematic form of permanent birth control that has affected tens of thousands of women worldwide, the recent Netflix documentary The Bleeding Edge, and the issue with the medical device industry.

Today's episode is sponsored by my free FAM 101 video series? Click here for access.

Today’s episode is also sponsored by my Fertility Awareness Programs. My Fertility Awareness Programs are designed to help you to master Fertility Awareness and take a deep dive into your cycles. Gain confidence charting your cycles, and gain deep insights into the connection between your health, your fertility, and your cycles. Click here for more information!

• What is Essure and why was an entire Netflix documentary created to address the issues with it?
• The tendency of many medical professionals to minimize the experiences of women (i.e. medical "gas-lighting")
• Pain with insertion and immediate side effects associated with Essure in some women
• The curious history of Essure as it was first created as a fertility device
• The role of the Essure Problems group in helping to get the Essure device discontinued in the United States (as of the end of 2018)
• The issues with the medical device approval process in the United States
• The various presentations of Essure side effects, and why many women don't experience side effects right away
• How Essure passed clinical trials even though many of the women in the initial clinical trials experienced serious side effects
• What side effects are associated with the Essure device
• Issues with insertion and removal and why the Essure Problems group have developed a special removal protocol to follow to minimize removal issues
• Broader implications of this situation as it relates to the status of women
• The importance of body literacy for all women
• The collective power of women when we join together
• Your right to advocate for the care you need

Resources mentioned:

• The Bleeding Edge | Netflix Documentary
• Essure Problems Website
• Essure Problems Facebook Group
• Ashes Non-profit Organization
• Medical Device Safety Act | Ashes Non-profit
• Fertility Awareness 101 FREE Video Series
• Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• The Pill Reality Series | The Truth About Hormonal Birth Control
• FFP 143 | Choosing the Right Practitioner | How To Find A Functional Practitioner Who Will Really Help You | Lisa | Fertility Friday

Join the community! Find us in the Fertility Friday Facebook Group. Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast in Apple Podcasts!

Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Produced by J-Gantic

This episode is sponsored by my Fertility Awareness Programs! Master Fertility Awareness and take a deep dive into your cycles and how they relate to your overall health! Click here for more information!

Dr. Rozenn has practiced Integrative Medicine for almost 20 years. She is a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine with a dual specialization in Women’s Health and Pain Management and a fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine (ABORM.org). She teaches Masters and Doctoral students from various universities on how to treat Women’s health, in addition to male and female fertility issues. Dr. Rozenn is working on the second edition of her book, Your Fertility Program, aimed to assist people to navigate the confusing field of infertility. You may remember her from our first interview together back in Episode 41.

Dr. Rozenn maintains a private practice in Santa Cruz, California where she provides specialized Integrative Medicine care including acupuncture and herbal therapy, diet and lifestyle counseling, and Western and Eastern diagnostic tests to men and women wishing to become parents.

In today’s episode, we talk about  Premature Ovarian Failure (POF) and Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR), and why, other than IVF with an egg donor, Western medicine has few options to offer.

Today's episode is sponsored by my free FAM 101 video series? Click here for access.

Today’s episode is also sponsored by my Fertility Awareness Programs. My Fertility Awareness Programs are designed to help you to master Fertility Awareness and take a deep dive into your cycles. Gain confidence charting your cycles, and gain deep insights into the connection between your health, your fertility, and your cycles. Click here for more information!

• What is premature ovarian failure?
• What is resistant ovarian syndrome?
• The cycle of seven in Chinese medicine as it pertains to women's reproductive lifespan
• How the perspective of Western medicine differs from Chinese medicine
• The challenge of hearing different information from different practitioners
• How long does it take to improve egg quality in women?
• The importance of consuming warm food (from a Chinese medicine perspective)
• Why Dr. Rozenn recommends that you reduce your sugar consumption!

Resources mentioned:

• Acupuncture Santacruz | Dr. Maureen Rozenn {831-426-1093}
• Hack Your Cycles to Change Your Life! | Live Event in New York | November 3rd, 2018
• Fertility Awareness 101 FREE Video Series
• Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• FFP 041 | Thyroid Health and Fertility | Dr. Maureen Rozenn
• FFP 216 | Improving Egg Quality | Mitochondria and Fertility | Warren Cargal

Join the community! Find us in the Fertility Friday Facebook Group. Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast in Apple Podcasts!

Music Credit: Intro/Outro music Produced by J-Gantic

This episode is sponsored by my Fertility Awareness Programs! Master Fertility Awareness and take a deep dive into your cycles and how they relate to your overall health! Click here for more information!