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

Today’s episode is all about menstrual cups! After nearly 20 years as an avid cup user, I decided to weigh in and share my top tips for using cups successfully.

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

My Fertility Awareness Programs are designed to help you to master Fertility Awareness and take a deep dive into your cycles. Gain confidence in charting your cycles, and gain deep insights into the connection between your health, your fertility, and your cycles. Click here for more information!

• The issues associated with conventional pads and tampons from toxins to synthetic fibers
• The main differences between using menstrual cups vs pads and tampons
• The environmental impact of disposable menstrual products
• Benefits of using menstrual cups
• Why cups are helpful if you have either heavy or light periods
• How to choose a menstrual cup - size, shape, and firmness
• How to change your menstrual cup in public bathroom stalls
• How to minimize and manage leakage
• How to clean your menstrual cup
• My top hacks to optimize your use of menstrual cups

Resources mentioned:

• The Wire Cutter | The Best Menstrual Cup (Review)
• The Keeper
• The Diva Cup
• Me Luna
• Lunette
• Thinx
• Lunapads
• Cora Tampons
• Fertility Awareness 101 FREE Video Series
• 10 Week Fertility Awareness Mastery Group Program | Fertility Friday
• Fertility Friday Programs
• Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• 7 Things No One Tells You About Menstrual Cups | Fertility Friday
• FFP 156 | Menstrual Cups & Your Period | An Interview With The Founder of Lunette | Heli Kurjanen
• FFP 135 | Are Your Menstrual Products Toxic? | The Truth About Conventional Pads & Tampons | Managing Menstruation in Low Resource Settings | Molly Hayward
• FFP 078 | Lunapads & The Diva Cup | Sustainable, Eco-friendly & Healthy Menstrual Products | Madeleine Shaw & Suzanne Siemens
• Fertility Awareness Episodes | 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!

Warren is a Licensed acupuncturist, herbalist, and is the clinic director at Acupuncture Atlanta. Warren has practiced Chinese medicine for over 20 years in the fields of infertility and chronic disease conditions. He maintains an active clinical practice in Atlanta, Georgia.

He is the author of, Your Mitochondria: Key to Health and Longevity, which is based on the latest research on herbal isolates and nutraceuticals, presents approaches for correcting these three factors to reverse age-related diseases.

In today’s episode we talk about mitochondria, and the role they play in fertility (and egg quality).

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

My Fertility Awareness Programs are designed to help you to master Fertility Awareness and take a deep dive into your cycles. Gain confidence in charting your cycles, and gain deep insights into the connection between your health, your fertility, and your cycles. Click here for more information!

• What are mitochondria, and what is their role in our cells?
• How do mitochondria produce energy for our cells?
• How many mitochondria are in different cells of our body, specifically our heart cells, brain cells, and our egg cells
• How is the structure of the human egg cell unique from every other cell in the body?
• How many mitochondria are in the human egg cell, and what are the role of mitochondria in female fertility?
• The Traditional Chinese Medicine concept of essence, and why we derive this essence directly from our mothers
• What can we do to improve our mitochondria (and in turn improve our egg quality and fertility)?
• How does the process of oogenesis (egg development) work, and how does that affect our ability to improve egg quality?
• What do a woman's FSH levels have to do with the quality of her eggs?
• The incredible difference in the way energy is produced by our mitochondria depending on whether we consume carbohydrates or fat
• How do different types of exercise impact your mitochondria and your fertility?
• Nutritional supplements to support your mitochondria

Resources mentioned:

• Acupuncture Atlanta | Warren Cargal, L. Ac.
• Terry Whalls, MD
• Fertility Awareness 101 FREE Video Series
• Fertility Friday Programs
• Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• Fertility Awareness Episodes | 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. Jones is an internationally recognized speaker, consultant, and educator on the topic of women’s health and hormones.  She graduated from the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM), School of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon. She was adjunct faculty for many years at NUNM teaching gynecology and advanced endocrinology/fertility and has been the Medical Director for 2 large integrative clinics in Portland. She is also the Medical Director for Precision Analytical, Inc, creators of the DUTCH hormone test.

In today’s episode, we talk about how you can use the DUTCH test to help you get to the bottom of your hormonal imbalances.

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

My Fertility Awareness Programs are designed to help you to master Fertility Awareness and take a deep dive into your cycles. Gain confidence in 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 the DUTCH test? And how is it different from regular blood hormone testing?
• Why is the DUTCH test able to provide information, not only about hormone levels, but also information about how your hormones are metabolized in the body?
• Why it is important to work with a practitioner who specializes in reproductive hormone testing to support you in interpreting this complex test.
• When is it appropriate for you to have a DUTCH test? Is it necessary for every woman to have?
• What type of information can be derived from the DUTCH test that you cannot get from a simple blood draw?
• The challenge of lab ranges—how do you know if your levels are actually normal?
• Are all naturopathic doctors equipped to support you with DUTCH testing?
• How would you know if your practitioner is actually qualified to support you with this?
• How can you find a practitioner who is specialized in hormone testing, reproductive hormones, and/or sex hormone imbalances?
• Can the DUTCH hormone test support women who have recently come off hormonal birth control?
• Is testing always necessary? Is it possible to get support without having such a complex and detailed hormone test?
• Understanding the difference between the role of conventionally trained medical doctors and functional practitioners who specialize in hormonal health
• How can detailed hormone testing support women with PCOS specifically?
• Where do you start if your DUTCH test shows that you have several different hormonal challenges?

Resources mentioned:

• Dr. Carrie Jones, ND | Website
• DUTCH Test | Advanced Hormone Testing
• Fertility Awareness 101 FREE Video Series
• Fertility Friday Programs
• Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• FFP 214 | Hormone Testing | The DUTCH Test |  Diana Walley | Kristen Burkett
• FFP 053 | The Effect of Light on the Menstrual Cycle and Fertility | Sleeping in Darkness to Regulate Menstruation | Natural Family Planning | Joy DeFelice
• FFP 099 | HPA Axis Dysregulation, Adrenal Fatigue & Fertility | Stress Management | Kelsey Kinney (Marksteiner) RD
• Fertility Awareness Episodes | 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!

Diana and Kristen are Master Nutrition Therapists who are board certified in Holistic Nutrition by the National Association of Nutrition Professionals (NANP).

In today’s episode, we talk about how to utilize the DUTCH test to identify hormone imbalances. You'll also appreciate Friday's episode with Dr. Carrie Jones, where we delve deeply into the importance of working with a trained practitioner to help you interpret this complex hormone test.

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

My Fertility Awareness Programs are designed to help you to master Fertility Awareness and take a deep dive into your cycles. Gain confidence in 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 the relationship between stress and reproductive hormone production?
• The specific challenges women face with respect to stress management
• Why does stress impact the body differently as we get older?
• Stress, the adrenal glands, and cortisol
• Adrenal fatigue vs HPA axis disregulation (your hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal axis)
• The connection between the stress response and our sex hormones
• What is the DUTCH test? And how is it different to regular (blood) hormonal testings?
• Why is testing the urine (as is done in DUTCH testing) more helpful for hormonal testing?
• When is it appropriate for a woman to have this test done?
• How hormone testing can provide valuable information that can empower you to make informed choices about your hormone health
• What can you do to improve your hormone balance when you aren't in a financial position to pay for DUTCH testing
• How much exercise is too much?

Resources mentioned:

• Restore For You | Diana & Kristen
• DUTCH Test | Advanced Hormone Testing
• Fertility Awareness 101 FREE Video Series
• Fertility Friday Programs
• Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• FFP 215 | Understanding the DUTCH Hormone Test | Dr. Carrie Jones, ND
• FFP 197 | The Mind-Body Connection to Fertility | Amira Posner
• FFP 099 | HPA Axis Dysregulation, Adrenal Fatigue & Fertility | Stress Management | Kelsey Kinney (Marksteiner) RD
• FFP 097 | Managing the Stress of Infertility | The Physiology of Stress | Meditation & Guided Visualization | Hypnotherapy | Mind + Body Stress Reduction | Helen Adrienne
• Fertility Awareness Episodes | 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!

Today I am sharing 8 tips for surviving fertility challenges. These are themes that frequently come up in my client work, and have come up in podcast interviews over the years.

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

My Fertility Awareness Programs are designed to help you to master Fertility Awareness and take a deep dive into your cycles. Gain confidence in charting your cycles, and gain deep insights into the connection between your health, your fertility, and your cycles. Click here for more information!

• The importance of seeking professional support from a team of practitioners who specialize in the challenges you are facing
• Why you would benefit from support from both a medical doctor, a fertility specialist, and a functional practitioner
• Don't forget to have your male partner fully evaluated, given that 40-50% of the time, fertility challenges are related to male factor infertility
• The difference between infertility and a delay in conception
• The role of charting your menstrual cycles for both identifying your fertile window, and identifying any possible menstrual cycle issues
• The important role of cervical mucus in identifying your fertile window
• Utilizing your menstrual cycle as a diagnostic tool
• The role of stress in the menstrual cycle
• Why it's important to have sex for fun (outside of your fertile window)
• Surround yourself with women who are also facing similar fertility challenges

Resources mentioned:

• Fertility Awareness 101 FREE Video Series
• Fertility Friday Programs
• Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• FFP 149 | The Truth About Ovulation Predictor Kits (OPKs) | Lisa | Fertility Friday
• FFP 097 | Managing the Stress of Infertility | The Physiology of Stress | Meditation & Guided Visualization | Hypnotherapy | Mind + Body Stress Reduction | Helen Adrienne
• FFP 099 | HPA Axis Dysregulation, Adrenal Fatigue & Fertility | Stress Management | Kelsey Kinney (Marksteiner) RD
• FFP 096 | Deconstructing Your Infertility Diagnosis | Poor Ovarian Reserve | Practical Ways of Managing Stress | Traditional Chinese Medicine | Mary Wong
• Fertility Awareness Episodes | 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. Natasha Campbell-McBride is a medical doctor who graduated in Russia, and after practising for five years as a Neurologist and three years as a Neurosurgeon she started a family and moved to the UK, where she got her second postgraduate degree in Human Nutrition. She is well known for developing a concept of GAPS (Gut And Psychology Syndrome), which she described in her book Gut And Psychology Syndrome - Natural Treatment for Autism. If you haven’t heard episode 66, make sure to take a listen to our first interview together all about the GAPS diet.

In today’s episode, we’re talking about Dr. Natasha’s new book Vegetarianism Explained.

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

My Fertility Awareness Programs are designed to help you to master Fertility Awareness and take a deep dive into your cycles. Gain confidence in charting your cycles, and gain deep insights into the connection between your health, your fertility, and your cycles. Click here for more information!

• What type of scientific research has been done on vegetarian and vegan diets?
• What is the difference between the way the body handles plant and animal foods?
• What is the difference between herbivorous animals and omnivorous animals?
• How is animal protein and fat digested in the body?
• The basic composition of the human body
• Do meat and fat cause cancer and heart disease?
• What is the role of animal foods in the body?
• What is the role of plant foods in the body?
• Is veganism a diet or a form of fasting?
• The moral, political, and ideological reasons for vegan and vegetarian diets
• An alternative to factory farms and animal cruelty
• The devastating environmental impact of big commercial agriculture
• What does commercial agriculture do to the soil?
• The link between diet and strengthening the immune system

Resources mentioned:

• Vegetarianism Explained: Making an Informed Decision
• Vegetarianism Explained | Website
• Savory Institute
• Fertility Awareness 101 FREE Video Series
• Fertility Friday Programs
• Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• FFP 066 | Gut Health and Fertility | Preconception Nutrition | GAPS Diet | Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride
• Fertility Awareness Episodes | 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!

Amy is a certified health coach who specializes in working with women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). She is the author of Healing PCOS, and she works with women who are frustrated and have lost all hope when the only solution their doctors offer is to lose weight, take a pill, and live with their symptoms. Amy founded PCOS Diva to offer women tools to help gain control of their PCOS and regain their fertility, femininity, health, and happiness, and she has developed a proven protocol of supplements, diet, and lifestyle programs to support women to heal their PCOS. In case you haven’t heard Amy’s first appearance on the podcast, click here to have a listen.

In today’s episode, we talk about overcoming PCOS naturally, and the importance of advocating for the support you need..

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

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 PCOS, and what are the most common symptoms?
• What is a PCOS diva?
• The importance of advocating for yourself to get the care and support you need
• The importance of believing that you can be healthy and recover from PCOS
• The connection between PCOS, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and endometrial cancer
• Why PCOS is not simply a condition of the "ovaries"
• 21 days to managing your PCOS symptoms
• Movement for PCOS
• Dealing with a PCOS diagnosis
• The role of supplementation in healing PCOS

Resources mentioned:

• Healing PCOS book by Amy Medling
• Fertility Awareness 101 FREE Video Series
• Fertility Friday Programs
• Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• FFP 022 | What is PCOS? | Healing PCOS Naturally | PCOS Diva Amy Medling
• PCOS Series | Fertility Friday
• Fertility Awareness Episodes | 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!

Jane is the Director of FertilityUK – a national fertility awareness service which provides factual information and support for general health education, planning and avoiding pregnancy using a combination of fertility indicators. FertilityUK also offers training for health professionals in the UK and internationally. Jane has authored several books including The Complete Guide to Fertility Awareness.

In today’s episode, we talk about Fertility Awareness and get into the role of fertility awareness educators in supporting women to chart their cycles.

This episode is also sponsored by my 10 Week Fertility Awareness Mastery Group Program. The next session begins next week!

You are invited to join us in the Fertility Awareness Mastery program! You'll have an opportunity to master Fertility Awareness, 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 to apply now!

• Does the fertility awareness method work effectively as birth control?
• What factors impact the effectiveness of fertility awareness as a method of birth control?
• Why certain methods of fertility awareness are more effective for certain women
• The benefits of utilizing several fertile signs (i.e. cervical mucus, basal body temperature, and cervical position)
• When using a fertility monitor can be beneficial for women along with the additional signs in fertility awareness charting
• How can women derive the highest effectiveness from the fertility awareness method?
• How can apps be used to help women chart their cycles and use fertility awareness for birth control?
• The impact of stress on the menstrual cycle, and how it impacts your use of the fertility awareness method
• What you need to know before you start teaching fertility awareness

Resources mentioned:

• The Complete Guide To Fertility Awareness | Jane Knight
• Fertility Awareness 101 FREE Video Series
• Fertility Friday Programs
• Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• Fertility Awareness Episodes | 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’s episode is the newest installment of the Pill Reality Series. Malissa shares her experience with Depo Provera.

This episode is also sponsored by my 10 Week Fertility Awareness Mastery Group Program. The next session begins next week!

You are invited to join us in the Fertility Awareness Mastery program! You'll have an opportunity to master Fertility Awareness, 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 to apply now!

• What drew Malissa to the contraceptive injection (the shot) in the first place
• What side effects did Malissa experience while taking the shot?
• How did the shot affect Malissa's libido?
• The ins and outs of negotiating the switch to a non-hormonal birth control method with your partner
• How long did it take for Malissa's period to come back?
• What was Malissa's previous history with hormonal birth control?
• Why your cycle is important even if you never want to have children?
• Why loss of libido (as a side effect of hormonal birth control) is a really big deal

Resources mentioned:

• Fertility Awareness 101 FREE Video Series
• Fertility Awareness Mastery group program
• Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• Pill Reality Series Episodes | Fertility Friday
• FFP 175 |  Dangers of Depo | Side Effects of Injectable Birth Control | Traci Johnstone
• On-Air Client Sessions | Fertility Awareness Reality Series
• Fertility Awareness Episodes | 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 FAM Reality Series episode, Michelle shares her experience transitioning off hormonal contraceptives, in favour of the fertility awareness method.

Today's episode is sponsored by Steamy Chick. Learn the ancient practice of vaginal steaming to improve menstrual cycle health and fertility. Become a Vaginal Steam Facilitator for only $194 online.

Today's episode is also sponsored by my 10 Week Fertility Awareness Mastery Group Program. The next session begins in July 2018!

You are invited to join us in the Fertility Awareness Mastery program! You'll have an opportunity to master Fertility Awareness, 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 to apply now!

• Transitioning from hormonal contraceptives to the fertility awareness method
• How to draw the coverline/baseline on your menstrual cycle chart
• Getting an accurate basal body temperature
• Cervical position charting
• What factors impact cervical mucus production?
• How to manage the fertile window
• Using fertility awareness confidently to prevent pregnancy

Resources mentioned:

• Fertility Awareness 101 FREE Video Series
• Fertility Friday Programs
• Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• On-Air Client Sessions | Fertility Awareness Reality Series
• Fertility Awareness Episodes | 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 Steamy Chick. Learn the ancient practice of vaginal steaming to improve menstrual cycle health and fertility. Become a Vaginal Steam Facilitator for only $194 online and begin offering this service that is quickly growing in demand as women revive this advanced form of women's health. Head over to steamychick.com and click certification for more information.

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!