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

In today’s episode, you get a sneak peek into what I am doing to prepare my body for pregnancy. Spoiler alert…I’m not pregnant! And I’m not currently trying to get pregnant, but there is a possibility that I will want to have another baby in the distant future, and there are several things that I am actively doing to prepare my body for pregnancy at this very moment.

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!

• The importance of food based nutrition, and taking time to replenish nutrients when preparing for pregnancy
• Incorporating fertility boosting foods including healthy fats, and organ meats
• Supporting gut health by eating fermented foods and consuming bone broth
• The role of fertility awareness (as a form of non-hormonal birth control) in preserving fertility and preparing for pregnancy
• The impact of pregnancy and breastfeeding on your nutrient stores
• Child spacing as pregnancy preparation
• The role of sleep to balance hormones
• Ensuring your partner is preparing for pregnancy also

Resources mentioned:

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

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• FFP 009 | Sacred Fertility Foods | The key to having healthy babies and a healthy pregnancy | Sally Fallon-Morell
• FFP 172 |  Nourishing Fats | Why You Need Animal Fats For Fertility & Pregnancy | Sally Fallon Morell
• FFP 188 | Real Food For Pregnancy | Optimizing vegetarian & vegan diets for pregnancy | Lily Nichols
• FFP 133 | Preparing for Pregnancy and Childbirth Naturally | Mama Natural | Genevieve Howland
• 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!

In today’s FAM Reality Series episode, Heather shares her experience with hormonal contraceptives, painful periods, and why she decided to transition to fertility awareness.

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!

• Heather takes us through her history of hormonal birth control use
• Managing period pain
• How is endometriosis diagnosed?
• Monitoring cervical health through cervical mucus observations
• Interpreting temperatures on the menstrual cycle chart
• Timing sex for pregnancy
• Identifying ovulation on the menstrual cycle chart
• Cervical position charting
• Utilizing the menstrual cycle as a vital sign

Resources mentioned:

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

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• FFP 202 | Vaginal Steaming for Period Problems | Steamy Chick | Keli Garza
• FFP 180 | Managing Painful Periods | Dysmenorrhea | Endometriosis | Dr. Lara Briden, ND
• FFP 173 | Reclaiming Menstruation | The Wisdom and Power of Your Menstrual Cycle | Lara Owen
• On-Air Client Sessions | Fertility Awareness Reality 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 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!

In today’s Pill Reality Series episode, Allie shares her experience using the Mirena IUD.

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!

• What side effects did Allie experience while using the Mirena IUD
• Anxiety, sleep disturbances, and other neurological symptoms
• How long it took for Allie's symptoms to go away after having her IUD removed
• Why Allie's doctor did not consider that the IUD could be causing her symptoms
• Transitioning from using IUDs to using fertility awareness for birth control
• How does the IUD prevent pregnancy?

Resources mentioned:

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

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• Pill Reality Series Episodes | Fertility Friday
• Fertility Awareness Episodes | Fertility Friday
• FFP 161 | Are IUDs Safer Than The Pill? | Hormonal IUDs vs Copper IUDs | Dr. Steve Gangemi
• FFP 021 | What Hormonal Contraceptives Really do to Women | Sweetening the Pill | Holly Grigg-Spall
• FFP 202 | Vaginal Steaming for Period Problems | Steamy Chick | Keli Garza
• FFP 073 | Copper Toxicity, IUDs and the Birth Control Pill | Julie Casper

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!

Today I am delving into the topic of charting apps in a special solo episode. There are hundreds of various period tracker and fertility awareness charting apps that allow you to input your data. Most (if not all) of these apps have settings that predict when you ovulate and tell you when your period comes. In today’s episode, I share the top 10 issues that arise when using charting apps that predict ovulation, as well as my top tips for choosing which charting app to use!

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 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!

• The difference between FAM and the rhythm method
• Do charting apps cause confusion?
• Should you use apps as birth control or as a tool for data entry?
• Has your charting app been tested scientifically for efficacy?
• Why most apps overestimate your fertile window to achieve higher effectiveness
• How frequently do apps estimate your fertile window incorrectly?
• What you need to know about using charting apps
• How to choose a charting app

Resources mentioned:

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

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• Fertility Awareness Episodes | Fertility Friday
• FFP 063 | Lady Comp & Daysy – Using Tech with Fertility Awareness | Holly Grigg-Spall

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!

Ross, also known as the Natural Pharmacist, is a Certified Clinical Nutritionist. He received his Ph.D. in Psychology and holistic health. He has written  10 books including “The Pill Problem: How to protect your health from the side effects of oral contraceptives” and “The Nutritional Cost of Prescription Drugs”, and in 1999, he was named one of the Top 50 Most Influential Pharmacists in the U.S. by American Druggist magazine for my educational work in natural medicine.

In today’s show we talk about his book “The Pill Problem,” and the different side effects that are associated with hormonal contraceptives.

Today's episode is 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!

Don’t forget to sign up for my FREE FAM 101 video series. Click here for access.

• Why the pill causes more nutrient deficiencies compared to all other drugs
• How the changes your physiology and pheromone production
• The relationship between the pill and deficiencies in B vitamins (such as folate, vitamin B6 and vitamin B12) in particular
• Why every woman taking the pill (or other hormonal contraceptives) should take a good multivitamin to counter some degree of nutrient depletion
• The connection between the pill, nutrient deficiencies, and depression
• The relationship between the pill and sleep problems
• What is the most common reason women stop taking the pill?
• What about women who report that they experienced no side effects while on the pill?
• Why the pill increases your chances of developing a yeast infection
• The cumulative effect of nutrient depletion over time
• How does the pill contribute to the increased risk of blood clots and stroke?
• Are doctors aware of the most common side effects associated with hormonal contraceptives?
• Does the pill reduce your risk of developing cancer?

Resources mentioned:

• The Nutritional Cost of Prescription Drugs book by Ross Pelton
• The Pill Problem book by Ross Pelton
• The Pill Problem
• Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook by Ross Pelton
• The Smart Women's Choice
• Natural Pharmacist
• Fertility Awareness 101 FREE Video Series
• Fertility Friday Programs
• Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• FFP 182 | Depression, Weight Gain & Mood Disorders | The Truth About Hormonal Birth Control | Lisa & Lorena
• FFP 180 | Managing Painful Periods | Dysmenorrhea | Endometriosis | Dr. Lara Briden, ND
• FFP 146 | Anxiety, Depression & Low Libido | The Truth About Hormonal Birth Control | LeAnna & Samantha
• FFP 054 | The MTHFR Gene Mutation and Fertility | Recurrent Miscarriage, Nutrient Deficiencies, and Folic Acid | Diane Keddy
• 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!

Keli is the founder of Steamy Chick--the largest distributor of vaginal steam supplies in the United States. Keli began to work with her customers to research their results with vaginal steaming. Having recorded over seven hundred case studies, Keli holds the only known research database on vaginal steaming. Learning from her customer's experiences she developed unique vaginal steam treatment protocols for different conditions becoming a skillful practitioner able to treat a wide array of women's health concerns. Based on her practice Keli is now founding a new field of women's medicine called Peristeam Hydrotherapy—the use of vaginal steaming for menstrual and reproductive health. She has certified over one hundred practitioners worldwide through her Peristeam Hydrotherapy Institute and is conducting clinical studies which will help to establish vaginal steaming as an evidence-based medical science.

In today’s episode, we talk all about vaginal steaming and the role it can play in healthy periods!

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!

Don’t forget to sign up for my FREE FAM 101 video series. Click here for access.

• What is vaginal steaming, and why do women use it?
• Vaginal steaming within the Korean community (Korean spas)
• Why Keli started making vaginal steam spas for the masses
• What are the benefits of vaginal steaming?
• Using vaginal steaming to improve menstrual cramps, abnormal bleeding, spotting, and a variety of common menstrual conditions (including bacterial vaginosis)
• The use of vaginal steaming throughout the world (more than 40 countries worldwide)
• The history of vaginal steaming
• The use of vaginal steaming for postpartum healing
• The power of steam for cleaning, cleansing, and improving blood flow

Resources mentioned:

• Steamy Chick | User Guide
• Peristeam Hydrotherapy
• Vaginal Steam Directory
• Professional Courses
• Gwyneth Paltrow advises women to 'steam-clean' their vaginas
• Gwyneth Paltrow scorned for suggesting women steam-clean their vaginas
• Fertility Awareness 101 FREE Video Series
• Fertility Friday Programs
• Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• FFP 018 | Arvigo Abdominal Therapy | Vaginal Steaming | Traditional Maya healing for Fertility and Menstrual Cycle Irregularities| Dr. Rosita Arvigo
• FFP 050 | Journeys in Healing | Arvigo® Therapy for Fertility and Pregnancy | Donna Zubrod & Diane MacDonald
• FFP 201 | Pelvic Floor Alchemy | Isa Herrera
• FFP 053 | The Effect of Light on the Menstrual Cycle and Fertility | Sleeping in Darkness to Regulate Menstruation | Natural Family Planning | Joy DeFelice
• FFP 068 | Sleep your way to a Healthy Menstrual Cycle | The Connection Between Sleep and Fertility | Shawn Stevenson
• 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!

Isa is a leading authority in the field of integrative pelvic health and has successfully treated thousands of women suffering from incontinence, prolapse, and sexual dysfunction. She’s the creator of pelvicpainrelief.com. Her goal is to empower women to achieve lifelong pelvic health and wellness. In her new book, Female Pelvic Alchemy, Isa shares her secrets about the right way to Kegel, how to perform your own self-exams and massages, how to strengthen your core, and how to reconnect to your orgasms.

In today’s episode, we talk about how to keep your pelvic floor muscles healthy!

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!

Don’t forget to sign up for my FREE FAM 101 video series. Click here for access.

• Why 1 out of every 3 women has an issue with her pelvic floor, but will likely not be diagnosed
• What are the 5 functions of the pelvic floor muscles?
• What kegals exercises are, and why you probably shouldn't be doing them
• What is the right way to do kegal exercises?
• Should you consider pelvic floor physiotherapy after birth?
• The role of vaginal massage in healing your pelvic floor muscles
• Pelvic floor physiotherapy for painful sex
• How can pelvic floor physiotherapy help you to have better sex, and stronger orgasms?
• What is prolapse, and why does it happen?

Resources mentioned:

• Female Pelvic Alchemy by Isa Herrera
• Ending Pain in Pregnancy book by Isa Herrera
• Ending Female Pain book by Isa Herrera
• Fertility Awareness 101 FREE Video Series
• Fertility Friday Programs
• Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• FFP 159 | Vulvodynia | Pain with Sex (Intercourse) | The Truth About Hormonal Birth Control | Lisa & Madeline
• FFP 101 | Pelvic Pain and Inflammation | Functional Nutrition | Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy | Jessica Drummond
• FFP 143 | Choosing the Right Practitioner | How To Find A Functional Practitioner Who Will Really Help You | Lisa | Fertility Friday
• FFP 027 | The Impact of Sexual Abuse on Fertility and Infertility | Part 2 | Dr. Erica Berman
• FFP 026 |  Myths and Facts About Sexual Assault | The Impact of Sexual Abuse on Fertility and Infertility Part 1 | Erin Martin
• 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’m thrilled to be celebrating the 200th episode of the Fertility Friday Podcast! I’m sharing a special solo episode all about using fertility awareness as your primary birth control method. After using fertility awareness to avoid pregnancy for the past 17 years (except for the two specific occasions when I was actively trying to conceive), I definitely have a few things to share about the topic! The most important being that it is possible to use fertility awareness effectively to avoid pregnancy naturally. No hormones required!

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!

Don’t forget to sign up for my FREE FAM 101 video series. Click here for access.

• Using Fertility Awareness for birth control
• Chart every day!
• Master your cervical mucus
• Master your basal body temperature
• Always do a cross-check
• Know the difference between a fertile day and infertile day
• Know how to check your cervical position
• Know what to do when in doubt
• Know when to use the count of 3
• Know where you are on the intention scale
• Getting your partner on board
• Know that your friends, family and health care practitioners may not support your decision to use Fertility Awareness

Resources mentioned:

• The Keeper
• The Divacup
• 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!

Sara is a fertility law lawyer based in Toronto, with clients throughout Canada and beyond. She is the founder of Fertility Law Canada and a partner at D2Law LLP where her practice is exclusively devoted to fertility law.  She approaches fertility law with the compassion, empathy and the respect it deserves. Sara regularly acts on behalf of intended parents, surrogate mothers, egg donors, sperm donors, embryo donors, and other people involved with reproductive technologies. She is also an adjunct professor of law at Osgoode Hall Law School where she teaches reproductive law. Sara is an advocate for all parties involved in third party reproductive technology- loves what she does and it shows!

In today’s show, we talk about Fertility Law and the legal implications of assisted reproductive technologies.

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!

Don’t forget to sign up for my FREE FAM 101 video series. Click here for access.

• At what point is it necessary to seek legal support?
• How does the law restrict the use of frozen embryos if a couple separates after the embryos were made?
• What are the laws around surrogacy?
• What is the difference between traditional surrogacy and gestational surrogacy?
• What are the laws regarding egg, embryo, and sperm donation?
• Preventing consanguinity (too many offspring from the same donor)
• Canadian law around sperm donation (and why it has led to a sperm shortage in Canada)
• Regulations about egg, sperm, and embryo donation around the world
• Open versus anonymous donation

Resources mentioned:

• Fertility Law Canada | Sara Cohen
• Oprah Winfrey Show - When Dad is a Sperm Donor
• Fertility Awareness 101 FREE Video Series
• Fertility Friday Programs
• Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• FFP 011 | Age-Related Fertility Decline | Using Reproductive Technologies | IVF IUI & IVM | Dr. Melanie McDowall
• FFP 109 | The Reality of Aging & Fertility | IVF & Assisted Reproductive Technology | The Future of Fertility Treatments | Dr. Marjorie Dixon
• FFP 196 | Egg Donation | Infertility | The World Egg Bank | Diana Thomas
• 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!

Angelique is a writer, foodie and health crusader with an immense passion for the healing power of food. Angelique is a nutritional therapist, with her own successful West End practice specializing in female health, stress, and digestion and is also the author of The Balance Plan, which is a diet and lifestyle approach to balancing hormones.

In today’s show, we talk about the importance of real food, eating to support gut health, sleep, and how these changes positively impact hormonal health!

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!

Don’t forget to sign up for my FREE FAM 101 video series. Click here for access.

• Practical ways to reduce sugar consumption
• Maintaining a balance of protein, fat and carbohydrates in the diet
• Finding ways to incorporate more fat in the diet
• Why do we need fat and how does fat impact hormonal health?
• Food as nourishment for your body instead of entertainment
• How to balance your blood sugar when you don't eat animal protein
• Using your cycle as a guide to identify if your diet is providing the nutrients you need
• The important role of sleep in regulating hunger and food cravings
• The six pillars of optimal hormone health

Resources mentioned:

• The Balance Plan: Six Steps to Optimize Your Hormone Health (book) | Angelique Panagos
• Fertility Friday Programs
• Fertility Awareness 101 FREE Video Series
• Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Related podcasts & blog posts:

• FFP 051 | The Impact of Sugar Consumption on Fertility and Health | Creating a Healthy Relationship with Food | Angelique Panagos
• 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!