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

Nicole is a Naturopathic Doctor who practices in the Durham Region. She received her medical training from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine after completing a 4-year Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology degree from McMaster University. Nicole welcomes treating a variety of health conditions however she has a special interest in treating women’s health and hormonal issues. Having undergone her own challenges to begin her family, she is passionate about helping others with their fertility concerns. She combines natural medicines with conventional science to create a truly integrative healthcare experience. She is passionate about what she does and enjoys spreading the message of health. She has lectured at local colleges and has appeared on local television programs to educate others on various health topics.

In today’s show, we talk about seed cycling and the role it can play in balancing hormones and improving menstrual cycle health. We also discuss realigning your expectations coming off of hormonal birth control because it is really important to know that there is a transition period after using a hormonal contraceptive. We also elaborate the factors that could affect your pregnancy and most especially about having a healthy baby. That knowing about your chart and what a healthy cycle looks like will be beneficial in attaining your overall health. After coming off of hormonal birth control there is a very real transition period until your cycle returns to healthy and normal parameters.

Topics discussed in today's episode:

• Nicole shares her experience with endometriosis and how it led her to become a Naturopathic Doctor.
• How do ovulation predictor kits (OPKs) work?
• Is it possible to have endometriosis without having any signs and symptoms?
• What is laparoscopy?
• The importance of having the right diagnosis and how you would benefit from it
• The truth about unexplained infertility
• What is seed cycling and how can it help balance your menstrual cycle?
• The connection between the menstrual cycle and the lunar calendar
• What to expect coming off of hormonal birth control?
• How long does it typically take for a woman's period to come back after coming off of hormonal contraceptives?
• Using Vitex to regulate your hormones. How long should you take it for?
• How to improve your egg quality?
• The importance of having adequate progesterone production in the body.
• How diet and lifestyle affect your body and your reproductive health?
• When is the best time to get off the pill?

Connect with Dr. Sandilands.

You can connect with Dr. Sandilands on her Website, and on Facebook and Twitter.

Resources mentioned

• FFP 140 | Transitioning From Hormonal Birth Control After Long-Term Pill Use | Lisa | Fertility Friday
• FFP 136 | Endometriosis, PCOS & Fibroids | Surgical Techniques That Preserve Fertility | NaPro Technology | Dr. Kyle Beiter
• FFP 134 | Optimizing Sperm Health | Motility, Morphology & Sperm Count | Why He Needs To Get Tested ASAP | Marc Sklar
• FFP 106 | What You Need To Know About Progesterone and Pregnancy | Using Your Cycle To Time Hormone Testing | Fertility Awareness Method | Dr. Nora Pope
• FFP 096 | Deconstructing Your Infertility Diagnosis | Poor Ovarian Reserve | Practical Ways of Managing Stress | Traditional Chinese Medicine | Mary Wong
• FFP 014 | What does a Healthy Menstrual Cycle look like? | The Menstrual Cycle as the 5th Vital Sign | Colleen Flowers
• Cora Tampons | Organic Tampons That Work

Join the community! Find us in the Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast on iTunes! 

This episode is sponsored by Cora! Made from 100% organic cotton, Cora tampons were designed not only to help you manage your periods but also to preserve your health.  For every month of tampons you buy, Cora gives a month of pads along with menstrual health education to a girl in need in India. Click here to receive your first month's supply free of charge.

*Please note that Cora only ships within the United States.

This episode is sponsored by my Fertility Management Masterclass! Gain clarity and confidence using the Fertility Awareness Method and improve your cycle health at the same time! Click here for more information!

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

In this solo episode, I share with you my top tips and strategies for finding a health practitioner who will really support you. I have been receiving more and more requests from listeners wanting referrals and resources for practitioners in their local areas. One thing I’ve found over the years from doing well over 150 interviews with health professionals is that you are best served when you find a practitioner who has taken a specialized interest in the area you need support in.

What it comes down to is that you want to work with someone whose perspective aligns with yours. Whether you see a medical doctor, a functional practitioner, a naturopath or a physiotherapist, you have the right to work with someone who will work with you and support you to achieve optimal health. I show you how to step in the driver's seat and find a practitioner who shares your perspective and will support the decisions you make about your health.

Topics discussed in today's episode:

• How to choose a practitioner that's right for you and aligns with your values
• How to approach a practitioner if you're not sure they're "on-board" already
• How to find out where your practitioner is coming from & understand her approach to treatment
• Why it's important to understand your practitioner's goal as far as treatment is concerned and evaluate if it matches yours
• How to find a practitioner that recognizes your needs?
• Who are the members of your health team?
• The importance of asking the right questions
• How to determine what you really need from a practitioner
• What to do if you find yourself working with a practitioner who isn't supportive
• The benefits of working with a practitioner who has experience with the specific issue you have
• What questions should you ask when looking for a practitioner?
• What truly makes the biggest impact when you approach health challenges?

Connect with Lisa.

You can connect with Lisa on the Fertility Friday Website, and on Facebook, and Twitter.

Resources mentioned

• 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
• 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.
• FFP 104 | Birth Control Pills From Your Doctor’s Perspective | Why Your Physician isn’t Looking at the Root Cause | Alternative Medicine for Women | Dr. Miranda Naylor
• Cora Tampons | Organic Tampons That Work

Join the community! Find us in the Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast on iTunes!

This episode is sponsored by Cora! Made from 100% organic cotton, Cora tampons were designed not only to help you manage your periods but also to preserve your health.  For every month of tampons you buy, Cora gives a month of pads along with menstrual health education to a girl in need in India. Click here to receive your first month's supply free of charge.

*Please note that Cora only ships within the United States.

This episode is sponsored by my Fertility Management Masterclass! Gain clarity and confidence using the Fertility Awareness Method and improve your cycle health at the same time! Click here for more information!

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

Dr. Pamela Frank, BSc (Hons), ND has been practicing as a naturopathic doctor since 1999 and has 20 years of experience as a medical laboratory technologist at Humber River Regional Hospital.  She is Clinic Director of Forces of Nature Wellness Clinic in Toronto and was twice voted “Best Naturopath in Toronto” by the readers of NOW Magazine and twice selected as Best Naturopathy in Toronto by the City Centre Mirror.

Dr. Frank has a particular interest in natural, evidence-based treatment for hormonal imbalances including infertility, acne, hair loss, endometriosis, and PCOS.

Because of her background in laboratory medicine, Dr. Frank advocates for an extensive investigation into the cause of disease and has helped thousands of patients restore their hair, have healthy babies, clear their skin, balance their hormones & enjoy greater vitality.

In today’s show, we talk about her perspective on different areas of specialization from endometriosis to PCOS, and unexplained infertility, and her process when it comes to treating and supporting her patients to improve their health and their fertility. She also explained her detailed diagnostic protocol and approach that she takes for her patients. She also shares that improving health and fertility is a complex process. That it is important that you go to a practitioner that specializes in that area before you make a decision.

Topics discussed in today's episode:

• Dr. Frank shares her experience working as a Naturopath in Toronto over the past 20 years.
• She describes her specialization and how it shifted from her previous practice
• She shares her own personal experience having a child at age 41
• Dr. Frank shares her personal experience overcoming PCOS
• Why your IVF doctor may not be doing the same tests as your functional practitioner
• Why an investigation for endometriosis should be done in any case of "unexplained infertility"
• What is PCOS? What are the most common signs and symptoms?
• What is the relationship between testosterone levels and PCOS?
• Improving fertility in non-invasive ways
• Treating endometriosis, PCOS and other reproductive health issues naturally
• The impact hormonal birth control has on your body
• The importance of balancing blood sugar when dealing with PCOS
• The relationship between Acne & PCOS

Connect with Dr. Pamela Frank

You can connect with Pamela on her Website, and on Facebook, and Twitter.

Resources mentioned

• FFP 103 | Real Food for PCOS | PCOS, Insulin Resistance & Diabetes | Managing PCOS Naturally with Diet |  Balancing Blood Sugar | Lily Nichols
• FFP 072 | The Connection Between Eating Disorders, PCOS, & Fertility | Angela Grassi
• FFP 060 | Treating PCOS Without Fertility Drugs | Conceiving Naturally With PCOS | Dr. Katherine Sherif
• FFP 018 | Arvigo Abdominal Therapy | Vaginal Steaming | Traditional Maya healing for Fertility and Menstrual Cycle Irregularities| Dr. Rosita Arvigo
• FFP 136 | Endometriosis, PCOS & Fibroids | Surgical Techniques That Preserve Fertility | NaPro Technology | Dr. Kyle Beiter
• PCOS related episodes | Fertility Friday
• Cora Tampons | Organic Tampons That Work

Join the community! Find us in the Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast on iTunes!

This episode is sponsored by Cora! Made from 100% organic cotton, Cora tampons were designed not only to help you manage your periods but also to preserve your health.  For every month of tampons you buy, Cora gives a month of pads along with menstrual health education to a girl in need in India. Click here to receive your first month's supply free of charge.

*Please note that Cora only ships within the United States.

This episode is sponsored by my Fertility Management Masterclass! Gain clarity and confidence using the Fertility Awareness Method and improve your cycle health at the same time! Click here for more information!

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

Nicola is the author of the book, No Period. Now What? A book that came out of her own experience trying to conceive over an 18 month period. After receiving a diagnosis of hypothalamic amenorrhea, she took matters into her own hands doing research and using the knowledge she gained to eventually recover and bring her period back. She tried the medical route to pregnancy, with multiple doctor visits, injections, and ultrasounds but was not successful in her efforts. Ultimately, she was able to conceive naturally, and since that time Nicola has shared her knowledge of the path to recovery, helping hundreds of others achieve their dreams of pregnancy.

In this episode, Nicola helps us understand the factors that affect your periods. She discusses the impact of vigorous exercise and diet on reproductive health, and the impact that hormonal birth control can have on your menstrual cycles and your fertility. She also sheds some light on the difference between Hypothalamic Amenorrhea and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Nicola emphasizes the importance of looking at your lifestyle factors, particularly diet, exercise and stress, as you work towards bringing your periods back.

Topics discussed in today's episode:

• What inspired Nicola to write her book, No Period. Now What?
• How having an active lifestyle and engaging in sports activities can influence your menstrual cycles
• Why it's important for women to have access to information about their reproductive health
• How to know if you have Hypothalamic Amenorrhea
• What effect do exercise, diet, and birth control pills have on your reproductive health?
• In terms of exercise, how do we know how much is too much?
• Why it's important to pay attention to your luteal phase
• What factors can cause a woman to lose her period?
• When is the right time to focus on weight loss?
• At what point is it appropriate to cut back on exercise?
• How does hormonal contraceptive use impact your menstrual cycles?

Connect with Nicola Rinaldi

You can connect with Nicola on her Website, and on Facebook, and Twitter.

Resources mentioned

• No Period. Now What? | Nicola Rinaldi
• 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
• FFP 104 | Birth Control Pills From Your Doctor’s Perspective | Why Your Physician isn’t Looking at the Root Cause | Alternative Medicine for Women | Dr. Miranda Naylor
• FFP 086 | Hypothalamic Amenorrhea | Period Repair Manual | Healthy Hormones | Dr. Lara Briden
• FFP 138 | Post-Pill Amenorrhea | Why It Took 4 Years For Her Period To Come Back | Andrea Petrus
• Cora Tampons | Organic Tampons That Work

Join the community! Find us in the Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast on iTunes!

This episode is sponsored by Cora! Made from 100% organic cotton, Cora tampons were designed not only to help you manage your periods but also to preserve your health.  For every month of tampons you buy, Cora gives a month of pads along with menstrual health education to a girl in need in India. Click here to receive your first month's supply free of charge.

*Please note that Cora only ships within the United States.

This episode is sponsored by my Fertility Management Masterclass! Gain clarity and confidence using the Fertility Awareness Method and improve your cycle health at the same time! Click here for more information!

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

In this episode I decided to go solo to talk with you about the reality of coming off hormonal birth control. For some reason numerous health professionals continue to advise women that they will get pregnant immediately after they come off the pill. The thing is that when you take a look at the research, most women who take hormonal birth control long term do experience a delay in the return of their fertility. For some women it is a few months, and for others it is over a year. In this episode I talk about the transition period after coming off hormonal contraceptives and how long it typically takes before your cycles go back to normal. I also talk about how you can prepare for that transition period and optimize your chances of conceiving when you're ready to start a family.

Topics discussed in today's episode

• Why it's unethical for your doctor to tell you that your period will definitely come back right away after you come off hormonal birth control
• Why it's hard to know how long it will take you to conceive whether you've just come off the pill or if you've had natural cycles for awhile
• Why you can expect it to take you about twice as long to conceive if you've used hormonal birth control long-term
• The 5 factors that will influence how long it will take before your menstrual cycles return normally and be within healthy parameters
• Why hormonal contraceptives are contraindicated for women who have irregular cycles and why you're at a greater risk of delayed return of ovulation if your cycles were irregular before you started taking the pill
• The impact of aging on fertility on how long it could take
• Managing the transition period between coming off hormonal contraceptives and having normal healthy cycles
• How long it actually takes for a woman's cycle to return normally after coming off hormonal birth control
• The role hormonal contraceptives play in increasing the likelihood that you may and up needing additional interventions later on
• Why you may want to consider coming off hormonal contraceptives 2-3 years before you're ready to start trying to have babies
• The importance of preconception nutrition
• Using Fertility Awareness for birth control in the interim period
• The connection between hormonal birth control to nutrient deficiencies

Connect with Lisa

You can connect with Lisa on the Fertility Friday Website, and on Facebook, and Twitter

Resources mentioned

• Cycle characteristics after discontinuation of oral contraceptives | Pub Med
• Is previous use of hormonal contraception associated with a detrimental effect on subsequent fecundity? | Pub Med
• FFP 100 | Anniversary Edition Part 2 | Multi-Episode Compilation | Fertility Awareness Method | Pregnancy | Birth Control | Women’s Health | Lisa | Fertility Friday
• FFP 009 | Sacred Fertility Foods | The key to having healthy babies and a healthy pregnancy | Sally Fallon-Morell
• Fertility Awareness Episodes | Fertility Friday Podcast
• FFP 012 | Recovering from Post-Birth Control Syndrome | How to get your period back | Laura Schoenfeld
• List of Episodes | Fertility Friday Podcast
• Cora Tampons | Organic Tampons That Work

Join the community! Find us in the Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast on iTunes!

*Please note that Cora only ships within the United States.

This episode is sponsored by my Fertility Management Masterclass! Gain clarity and confidence using the Fertility Awareness Method and improve your cycle health at the same time! Click here for more information!

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

Stephanie Risinger is a Fertility Coach, and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Stephanie has been a therapist for nine years, and she decided to start her podcast, The Holistic Fertility and Wellness Podcast, after experiencing several years of fertility challenges and pursuing holistic approaches to improving fertility.  She found that the information she sought was not as easily accessible as she had hoped.  She worked hard to find resources and is now sharing those resources with others through her podcast.

In today's show, Stephanie shares her own fertility journey with us. After her 9 year journey with fertility challenges, Stephanie is expecting her first baby! She shares how she managed to maintain hope throughout her journey, and how she was able to maintain her own sense of identity and worthiness during the years she was unable to conceive.

Topics discussed in today's episode

• Stephanie takes us through her 9-year fertility journey
• Stephanie shares her experience with the adoption process
• The importance of understanding your menstrual cycle
• How to manage infertility when it feels like everyone around you is getting pregnant
• How to navigate conversations with friends who get pregnant while you're struggling with infertility
• The impact infertility has on relationships
• The unexpected way infertility affects grandparents
• Challenging the idea that your body is broken and instead choosing to believe your body can do it
• How fertility challenges can impact your intimate relationship with your partner
• What it was that finally made the difference for Stephanie and lead to her finally being able to conceive naturally

Connect with Stephanie

You can connect with Stephanie on her Website, and on Facebook, and Twitter

Resources mentioned

• Holistic Fertility & Wellness Podcast | Stephanie Risinger
• Holistic Fertility & Wellness Podcast | Understanding Your Menstrual Cycles | Lisa Jack
• FFP 076 | The Emotional Connection to Fertility & Health | Aimee Raupp
• FFP 134 | Optimizing Sperm Health | Motility, Morphology & Sperm Count | Why He Needs To Get Tested ASAP | Marc Sklar
• Cora Tampons | Organic Tampons That Work

Join the community! Find us in the Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast on iTunes!

This episode is sponsored by Cora! Made from 100% organic cotton, Cora tampons were designed not only to help you manage your periods but also to preserve your health.  For every month of tampons you buy, Cora gives a month of pads along with menstrual health education to a girl in need in India. Click here to receive your first month's supply free of charge.

*Please note that Cora only ships within the United States.

This episode is sponsored by my Fertility Management Masterclass! Gain clarity and confidence using the Fertility Awareness Method and improve your cycle health at the same time! Click here for more information!

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

Andrea struggled with amenorrhea for 4 years after coming off hormonal contraceptives. Andrea had come off the pill to try to conceive. After undergoing multiple failed rounds of IUI and IVF Andrea decided to turn to the world of naturopathic medicine. After a long road, Andrea's period finally returned after she made a number of significant dietary and lifestyle changes.

In today's show, Andrea shares her story, and what it was that finally helped her to turn the corner and bring her period back after so many years.

Topics discussed in today's episode

• Andrea's history with hormonal contraceptive over a 12 year period
• What happened (or rather didn't happen) when Andrea went off the pill
• Andrea's experience with IUI and IVF along her fertility journey
• What finally brought Andrea's period back after 4 years of amenorrhea
• How the pill masked the underlying issue that caused Andrea's period to be MIA for so long
• The possible PCOS-Thyroid connection to Andrea's prolonged amenorrhea
• The transition period for Andrea towards a more natural lifestyle that allowed her to nourish and heal her body
• The emotional aspect of Andrea's healing beyond the dietary and lifestyle changes
• The benefits of a social media detox if your Facebook feed is causing you unnecessary pain and stress
• The dietary and lifestyle changes Andrea made to improve her menstrual cycle health
• The importance of seeking support from a functional practitioner
• Why it's so very important to come off hormonal contraceptives before you're ready to start trying for a baby (at least a year or more).

Resources mentioned

• Fertility Friday | Fertility Awareness Podcast Episodes
• FFP 104 | Birth Control Pills From Your Doctor’s Perspective | Why Your Physician isn’t Looking at the Root Cause | Alternative Medicine for Women | Dr. Miranda Naylor
• FFP 086 | Hypothalamic Amenorrhea | Period Repair Manual | Healthy Hormones | Dr. Lara Briden
• Cora Tampons | Organic Tampons That Work

Join the community! Find us in the Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast on iTunes!

This episode is sponsored by Cora! Made from 100% organic cotton, Cora tampons were designed not only to help you manage your periods but also to preserve your health.  For every month of tampons you buy, Cora gives a month of pads along with menstrual health education to a girl in need in India. Click here to receive your first month's supply free of charge.

*Please note that Cora only ships within the United States.

This episode is sponsored by my Fertility Management Masterclass! Gain clarity and confidence using the Fertility Awareness Method and improve your cycle health at the same time! Click here for more information!

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

In today's episode, I share two powerful stories with you. I recently reached out to the members of the Fertility Friday Facebook Community and asked if anyone had experienced negative side effects on hormonal contraceptives. The responses were overwhelming, and I decided to invite two of the women who reached out to me to share their stories on the show. Both Briana and Cieara share their reflections about their time on hormonal birth control and the impact that it had on their moods.

Topics discussed in today's episode

• Briana shares her experience taking hormonal contraceptives
• Why Briana had to stop taking the pill 3 days after she started taking it for the first time
• How hormonal birth control impacted Briana's moods the second time she was put on them
• Why Briana didn't attribute many of the side effects of the pill to the pill until she finally stopped taking it
• The scientific evidence that validates the effect the pill has on mood and painful sex
• Why doctors often recommend a different pill instead of suggesting you stop altogether when you have a bad reaction to it
• The political implications associated with telling the truth about the pill and the way it affects women
• Cieara shares her experience taking hormonal contraceptives
• The connection between the pill and chronic yeast infections
• The roller coaster Cieara went on going from yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis
• Why it was the headaches that Cieara experienced that finally made her come off the pill
• Why Cieara didn't make the connection between the yeast infections and the pill until after she stopped taking it.

Connect with Lisa

You can connect with Lisa on the Fertility Friday Website and in the Fertility Friday Facebook Community 

Resources mentioned

• FFP 021 | What Hormonal Contraceptives Really do to Women | Sweetening the Pill | Holly Grigg-Spall
• Is The Pill Destroying Your Sex Life? Top 3 Ways Hormonal Contraceptives Obliterate Your Libido, And Why It Might Be Permanent
• FFP 104 | Birth Control Pills From Your Doctor’s Perspective | Why Your Physician isn’t Looking at the Root Cause | Alternative Medicine for Women | Dr. Miranda Naylor
• Characteristics of women who experience mood and sexual side effects with the use of hormonal contraception | Research Study
• FFP 121 | Fertility Awareness Method | Reproductive Justice | Association of Fertility Awareness Professionals | Ilene Richman
• Cora Tampons | Organic Tampons That Work

Join the community! Find us in the Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast on iTunes!

This episode is sponsored by Cora! Made from 100% organic cotton, Cora tampons were designed not only to help you manage your periods but also to preserve your health.  For every month of tampons you buy, Cora gives a month of pads along with menstrual health education to a girl in need in India. Click here to receive your first month's supply free of charge.

*Please note that Cora only ships within the United States.

This episode is sponsored by my Fertility Management Masterclass! Gain clarity and confidence using the Fertility Awareness Method and improve your cycle health at the same time! Click here for more information!

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

Dr. Beiter is a Board Certified Medical Doctor, with a specialization in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology who specializes in fertility. Dr. Beiter is a trained NaPro Technology Surgeon. For those of you who aren’t familiar with NaPro technology is a specialized form of gynecologic surgery whose primary aim is to reconstruct the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries in such a way that minimized adhesions and protects your tissues.

In today’s episode, we talk about the surgical side of NaPro technology, what it can mean for your health and fertility, and how the NaPro surgical approach can support women with fibroids, endometriosis, PCOS, pelvic pain, and infertility.

• How the NaPro Technology surgical approach differs from the general approach that is taken by classically trained Obstetrician-Gynecologists
• What are the main reasons why women are referred for surgery in the first place?
• At what point would surgery be appropriate to remove fibroids?
• What are the surgical techniques that minimize bleeding, scarring, and adhesions when removing fibroids surgically?
• What exactly is an adhesion, and how do NaPro technology surgical procedures minimize adhesions of your reproductive tissues?
• What is endometriosis, and how is endometriosis diagnosed?
• Why you can't diagnose endometriosis with an ultrasound alone
• How does endometriosis contribute to or cause infertility?
• What does endometriosis actually look like in the body?
• Does endometriosis just grow back after surgery?
• What is adenomyosis and how is it related to endometriosis and infertility?
• Can surgery (i.e. ovarian wedge resection surgery) improve PCOS symptoms?
• How do ovulatory disorders contribute to or cause infertility?
• How ultrasounds can be used to help to identify ovulatory disorders
• What is LUF -- Luteinized Unruptured Follicle -- and how does it contribute to and cause fertility challenges?

You can connect with Dr. Beiter on his Website

• Gianna Center Website | Dr. Kyle Beiter
• NaPro Technology | Find a Practitioner
• Endometriosis | Powerpoint Presentation {With Images}
• Cora Tampons | Organic Tampons That Work

NaPro Technology

• FFP 031 | Using Fertility Awareness Charting to Treat Infertility Naturally | NaPro Technology | Dr. Danielle Miller
• FFP 075 | Cervical Mucus Charting | Fertility Awareness Method | NaPro Technology | Megan Faller

Abdominal Therapy Modalities

• FFP 018 | Arvigo Abdominal Therapy | Vaginal Steaming | Traditional Maya healing for Fertility and Menstrual Cycle Irregularities| Dr.Rosita Arvigo
• FFP 030 | Alignment and Movement for Fertility | Merciér Therapy | Marie Wittman
• FFP 050 | Journeys in Healing | Arvigo® Therapy for Fertility and Pregnancy | Donna Zubrod & Diane MacDonald
• FFP 067 | Healthy Menstruation | Fertility Awareness | Fertility Massage Therapy | Rachel Eyre
• FFP 071 | Connecting With the Wisdom of Your Menstrual Cycle | Fertility Massage Therapy | Clare Blake

Join the community! Find us in the Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast on iTunes!

This episode is sponsored by Cora! Made from 100% organic cotton, Cora tampons were designed not only to help you manage your periods but also to preserve your health.  For every month of tampons you buy, Cora gives a month of pads along with menstrual health education to a girl in need in India. Click here to receive your first month's supply free of charge.

*Please note that Cora only ships within the United States.

This episode is sponsored by my Fertility Management Masterclass! Gain clarity and confidence using the Fertility Awareness Method and improve your menstrual cycle health at the same time! Click here for more information!

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

Molly is the visionary female founder of Cora. If you haven’t heard of Cora tampons before, Cora is a brand committed to providing healthy, modern menstrual products (i.e. tampons) in a completely new way.

After travelling the world through many developing nations Molly saw how menstruation negatively affects girls and women living in low resource settings. Many of these girls are unable to afford menstrual products and have to resort to using old rags, newspaper, tree bark, and even pieces of old mattresses to manage their monthly bleeds. As you can imagine, using unhygienic methods such as these can cause infections, reproductive health problems, not to mention leaking. When Molly later learned that many of the menstrual products widely sold in North America use harmful chemicals and materials (i.e. pesticides, and other synthetic chemicals) that can cause endocrine disruption, cancer and other illnesses she decided to take matters into her own hands. Molly joined forces with her business partner Morgen and founded Cora.

Not only are Cora tampons made from premium organic cotton (and free from harmful pesticides & synthetic materials), but Cora’s is on a mission to empower girls in developing nations. For every product sold, Cora provides sustainable menstrual products to girls in low resource settings.

In today's episode, we expose the dangers of using conventional menstrual products, and we also have a much-needed discussion of the challenges that girls and women face in low resource settings. What it means for women and girls when they don't have access to the menstrual products they need to manage their periods.

Topics discussed in today's episode

• Why women in low resource settings are managing their periods with old clothes, tree bark and pieces of old mattresses
• The reality for women and girls in low resource settings who are not able to attend school and work because of their periods
• What toxic chemicals are lurking in your menstrual products
• The link between synthetic materials like rayon and polyester and Toxic Shock Syndrome
• The health benefits of using 100% organic cotton tampons compared to the regular tampons you buy at the store
• Why women and girls in low resource settings lack access to menstrual products and what they use instead
• How the lack of access to menstrual products prevents girls from attending school during their period in many countries worldwide.
• Why menstrual products should be provided free of charge besides every toilet just like toilet paper
• How Cora has integrated the fundamental issue of access to menstrual products their company's mission
• How your purchase of Cora Tampons benefits girls in India and Kenya
• The connection between conventional menstrual products and health issues like painful periods, yeast infections, and bacterial vaginosis.
• The inspiration behind the design of Cora Tampons and accessories (i.e. say no to the obnoxious pink and purple packaging characteristic of conventional menstrual products)
• Why the design savvy carrying case and other accessories are not about hiding your period or being ashamed of it but instead are about embracing it and creating a positive experience of menstruation
• Why women who buy Cora tampons don't pay the tampon tax

Connect with Molly

You can connect with Molly on the Cora Website, on Facebook, and Twitter

Resources mentioned

• Cora | Organic Tampons That Work
• FFP 078 | Lunapads & The Diva Cup | Sustainable, Eco-friendly & Healthy Menstrual Products | Madeleine Shaw & Suzanne Siemens
• FFP 065 | 6 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Xenoestrogen Exposure with Lisa | Fertility Friday

Join the community! Find us in the Fertility Friday Facebook Group

Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast on iTunes!

This episode is sponsored by Cora! Made from 100% organic cotton, Cora tampons were designed not only to help you manage your periods but also to preserve your health.  For every month of tampons you buy, Cora gives a month of pads along with menstrual health education to a girl in need in India. Click here to receive your first month's supply free of charge.

*Please note that Cora only ships within the United States.

This episode is sponsored by my Fertility Management Masterclass! Gain clarity and confidence using the Fertility Awareness Method and improve your cycle health at the same time! Click here for more information!

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