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

This is the sixth episode of my Fertility Awareness Reality Series! I share the work that I do with clients "on air" with you in these special episodes where I am hosting live mini-sessions with women who I have worked with.

In today's episode, I interview Aarathi. Aarathi was a member of my previous Fertility Friday Group Program, who has been trying to conceive for quite some time. After a failed attempt at IVF Aarathi sought a more natural route which is what lead her to discover the podcast. She wanted to be part of this series hoping that her story may give hope and/or inspiration to others.

Make sure to head over to my Group Programs page to find out more about my upcoming January 2017 group programs and how you can apply to be a part of it! You'll want to apply early as there are a limited number of participants I can accept into each group.

Topics discussed in today's episode

• Aarathi’s contraceptive history
• How to monitor cervical mucus when you don’t have much to start with
• How contraceptive pills can have long-term effects on cervical mucus
• What are the key nutrients that are critical for cervical health?
• Aarathi’s experience with failed IVF and MTFHR
• How excessive fertility testing took its toll on Aarathi
• Are there income-based grants for IVF?
• Aarathi discusses her experience with charting and what the most difficult part is for her
• Lisa and Aarathi break down the observational method as it relates to charting cervical mucous
• When is the optimal time for sex when you’re trying to conceive?
• How you can change your sleep habits to help with certain aspects of conceiving
• How Aarathi’s vegetarian diet affects her fertility
• Why Lisa recommends cod liver oil instead of fish oil

Resources mentioned

• FFP 054 | The MTHFR Gene Mutation and Fertility | Recurrent Miscarriage, Nutrient Deficiencies, and Folic Acid | Diane Keddy
• FFP 053 | The Effect of Light on the Menstrual Cycle and Fertility | Sleeping in Darkness to Regulate Menstruation | Natural Family Planning | Joy DeFelice
• FFP 009 | Sacred Fertility Foods | The key to having healthy babies and a healthy pregnancy | Sally Fallon-Morell
• F.lux App
• ScreenShade App (Mac)

Other Episodes in the FAM Reality Series

• [On-Air Client Session] FFP 105 | Fertility Awareness Reality Series | Fertility Awareness Method | PCOS | Balancing Blood Sugar | Nutrition for Fertility | Teri & Lisa
• [On-Air Client Session] FFP 107 | Fertility Awareness Reality Series | Fertility Awareness Method | Low Hormone Cycle | Impact of a Long-Term Vegetarian Diet on the Menstrual Cycle | Carolina & Lisa
• [On-Air Client Session] FFP 110 | Fertility Awareness Reality Series | Using Fertility Awareness for Birth Control | Aisha & Lisa
• [On-Air Client Session] FFP 112 | Fertility Awareness Reality Series | Low Progesterone, Miscarriage, Stress & The Menstrual Cycle | Overcoming Fertility Challenges | Amelia & Lisa
• [On-Air Client Session] FFP | 113 Fertility Awareness Reality Series | Hypothalamic Amenorrhea | Making Fertility Awareness Work for You | FAM & Breastfeeding | Managing Your Fertile Window | Sarah, Lisa, & Rose Yewchuk

Join the community! Find us on the Fertility Friday Facebook Fan Page

Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast on iTunes!

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

Sponsored By

This episode is sponsored by Circle + Bloom! Click here to receive 20% off Circle + Bloom products! Make sure to use discount code: FertilityFriday at checkout!

In this special episode, I celebrate my 2nd "Podcastiversary" (Podcast Anniversary)!

I have learned so much from my experiences working with clients and getting to know you better and it has made a huge impact on me. So, in honor of this milestone, I decided to do a solo episode this week and share with you my top ten biggest takeaways after two years of podcasting and producing over 100 episodes.

If you're new to this show, or to fertility awareness, this is a great episode with lots resources and is a perfect starting point.

To all of my listeners, thank you so much for making 2016 such an amazing year and I'm incredibly excited to see where 2017 will take all of us!

Topics discussed in today's episode

• My thoughts on the overall response I’ve received from listeners of the podcast
• What keeps me going after 100+ episodes?
• Takeaway #1: Women do not deserve to suffer in silence
• Takeaway #2: Self-advocacy is difficult but worth it
• Takeaway #3: Know how to approach your doctors and get clarity on what they do
• Takeaway #4: Healing is possible but sometimes doesn’t take the path we expect
• Takeaway #5: An important part of restoring your fertility involves balancing male and female energy
• Takeaway #6: Every woman will fit fertility awareness into her life differently
• Takeaway #7: Fertility awareness does take work to get to the point where it’s easy
• Takeaway #8: The importance of this podcast is evident by how few women know about fertility awareness
• Takeaway #9: The pill has a detrimental impact on a woman’s health
• Takeaway #10: The power of community
• What’s to come in 2017?

Connect with Lisa

You can connect with Lisa on the Fertility Friday website and on Facebook and Twitter!

Resources mentioned

• 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 007 | What the pill really does to your hormones | PCOS & Menstrual Irregularities | Dr. Lara Briden
• FFP 021 | What Hormonal Contraceptives Really do to Women | Sweetening the Pill | Holly Grigg-Spall
• Sweetening the Pill: or How We Got Hooked on Hormonal Birth Control | Holly Grigg-Spall
• Lisa's Guest Appearance on the All About Breastfeeding Podcast

PCOS Related Podcast Episodes

• FFP 022 | What is PCOS? | Healing PCOS Naturally | PCOS Diva Amy Medling
• FFP 060 | Treating PCOS Without Fertility Drugs | Conceiving Naturally With PCOS | Dr. Katherine Sherif
• FFP 103 | Real Food for PCOS | PCOS, Insulin Resistance & Diabetes | Managing PCOS Naturally with Diet | Balancing Blood Sugar | Lily Nichols
• FFP 105 | Fertility Awareness Reality Series | Fertility Awareness Method | PCOS | Balancing Blood Sugar | Nutrition for Fertility | Teri & Lisa
• FFP 111 | 8 Steps to Reverse Your PCOS | Inflammation, Gut Health, Thyroid Disorders & PCOS | Infertility | Autoimmunity | Dr. Fiona McCulloch, ND

Join the community! Find us on the Fertility Friday Facebook Fan Page

Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast on iTunes!

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

Sponsored By

This episode is sponsored by Circle + Bloom! Click here to receive 20% off Circle + Bloom products! Make sure to use discount code: FertilityFriday at checkout!

In this special episode, I celebrate my 2nd “Podcastiversary” (Podcast Anniversary)! I have learned so much from my experiences working with clients and getting to know you better and it has made a huge impact on me. So, in honor of this milestone, I decided to do a solo episode this week and share with… Read More »

The post FFP 114 | Anniversary Edition | Top 10 Takeaways after 2 Years of Podcasting and over 100 episodes | Empowerment Through Body Literacy | Fertility Awareness Method | Hormonal Contraceptives | Lisa | Fertility Friday appeared first on Fertility Friday.

This is the fifth episode in my new Fertility Awareness Reality Series! I share the work that I do with clients "on air" with you in these special episodes where I am hosting live mini-sessions with women who I have worked with.

In today's episode, I interview Sarah. Sarah was a member of my previous Fertility Friday Group Program and wanted to be part of this series hoping that her story of using hormonal contraceptives and eventually conceiving using holistic approaches may give hope and/or inspiration to others. I'm very honored to be joined on this call by my mentor, and previous guest, Rose Yewchuck. Rose is a Justisse Holistic Reproductive Health Practitioner (HRHP) and Justisse HRHP Educator. You can connect with Rose on her website.

Make sure to head over to my Group Programs page to find out more about my upcoming January 2017 group programs and how you can apply to be a part of it! You'll want to apply early as there are a limited number of participants I can accept into each group.

Topics discussed in today's episode

• Sarah’s history with hormonal contraceptives
• Sarah’s experience getting pregnant with her now two-year-old
• The often-overlooked negative connection between intense exercise and getting pregnant
• What is Hypothalamic Amenorrhea and can it factor into your cycle?
• Sarah’s challenges with charting
• How the Kindara Wink Thermometer help Sarah get more accurate temperature recordings
• The reality of being inaccurate with your charting
• Why can knowing your body, and your cycle, sometimes cause issues with charting?
• Is the fertile shift in a cycle subtle or obvious?
• How our cycles are directly connected to the events in our life
• Breastfeeding and the impact it has on the cycle
• Is withdrawal a legitimate pregnancy prevention method and how should it be marked when charting?
• Can lubricants, and even coconut oil, have a negative impact on conceiving?
• Sarah talks about how she thought something was wrong after noticing a discharge in the toilet after going to the bathroom before learning it was cervical mucus
• The connection between synthetic hormonal contraceptives and vaginal dryness

Resources mentioned

• FFP 002 | Fertility Awareness Method Cycle Charting | Rose Yewchuk
• FFP 003 | Identifying Menstrual Irregularities with Fertility Awareness | Special Charting Considerations | Rose Yewchuk
• FFP 015 | Fertility Awareness Method Cycle Charting Q&A Session | Common Charting Questions | Rose Yewchuk
• Rose Yewchuk | Holistic Reproductive Health Practitioner
• 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 103 | Real Food for PCOS | PCOS, Insulin Resistance & Diabetes | Managing PCOS Naturally with Diet |  Balancing Blood Sugar | Lily Nichols
• FFP 004 | Using Fertility Awareness with Condoms and Withdrawal | Hannah Ransom
• Wink by Kindara - Fertility Thermometer

Other Episodes in the FAM Reality Series

• [On-Air Client Session] FFP 105 | Fertility Awareness Reality Series | Fertility Awareness Method | PCOS | Balancing Blood Sugar | Nutrition for Fertility | Teri & Lisa
• [On-Air Client Session] FFP 107 | Fertility Awareness Reality Series | Fertility Awareness Method | Low Hormone Cycle | Impact of a Long-Term Vegetarian Diet on the Menstrual Cycle | Carolina & Lisa
• [On-Air Client Session] FFP 110 | Fertility Awareness Reality Series | Using Fertility Awareness for Birth Control | Aisha & Lisa
• [On-Air Client Session] FFP 112 | Fertility Awareness Reality Series | Low Progesterone, Miscarriage, Stress & The Menstrual Cycle | Overcoming Fertility Challenges | Amelia & Lisa

Join the community! Find us on the Fertility Friday Facebook Fan Page

Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast on iTunes!

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

Sponsored By

This episode is sponsored by Circle + Bloom! Click here to receive 20% off Circle + Bloom products! Make sure to use discount code: FertilityFriday at checkout!

This is the fifth episode in my new Fertility Awareness Reality Series! I share the work that I do with clients “on air” with you in these special episodes where I am hosting live mini-sessions with women who I have worked with. In today’s episode I interview Sarah. Sarah was a member of my previous… Read More »

The post [On-Air Client Session] FFP | 113 Fertility Awareness Reality Series | Hypothalamic Amenorrhea | Making Fertility Awareness Work for You | FAM & Breastfeeding | Managing Your Fertile Window | Sarah, Lisa, & Rose Yewchuk appeared first on Fertility Friday.

This is the fourth episode in my new Fertility Awareness Reality Series! I share the work that I do with clients "on air" with you in these special episodes where I am hosting live mini-sessions with women who I have worked with.

In today's episode, I interview Amelia. Amelia was a member of my previous Fertility Friday Group Program and wanted to be part of this series hoping that her story of struggling with multiple miscarriages and low Progesterone may give hope and/or inspiration to others.

Make sure to head over to my Group Programs page to find out more about my upcoming January 2017 group programs and how you can apply to be a part of it! You'll want to apply early as there are a limited number of participants I can accept into each group.

Topics discussed in today's episode

• Amelia’s contraceptive and menstrual history
• The unfortunate, but common, practice of using the pill as a cure-all
• Amelia’s transition of coming off the pill
• What type of charting was Amelia doing before starting the Justisse Method?
• How has Amelia’s understanding of cervical mucus changed since starting the program?
• Amelia realizes how recent stressful life events caused her to not ovulate
• When is the right time to test Progesterone levels during your menstrual cycle?
• The role Progesterone plays in the menstrual cycle
• Explaining the impact of stress, and even travel, on a menstrual cycle
• Why more Estrogen is not always the answer
• The connection between Amelia’s diet changes and the leveling of her cycle
• Why Amelia feels it’s critical to be kind to yourself
• Amelia’s recent experience with Circle + Bloom

Resources mentioned

• FFP 093 | Mind & Body Connection to Fertility | Visualization & Meditation for Fertility | Circle + Bloom | Joanne Verkuilen
• FFP 106 | What You Need To Know About Progesterone and Pregnancy | Using Your Cycle To Time Hormone Testing | Fertility Awareness Method | Dr. Nora Pope
• To find out if there is a medical consultant in your area trained in NaPro technology go to this website and click on "Find a Medical Consultant"
• 2017 Fertility Friday Group Programs

Other Episodes in the FAM Reality Series

• [On-Air Client Session] FFP 105 | Fertility Awareness Reality Series | Fertility Awareness Method | PCOS | Balancing Blood Sugar | Nutrition for Fertility | Teri & Lisa
• [On-Air Client Session] FFP 107 | Fertility Awareness Reality Series | Fertility Awareness Method | Low Hormone Cycle | Impact of a Long-Term Vegetarian Diet on the Menstrual Cycle | Carolina & Lisa
• [On-Air Client Session] FFP 110 | Fertility Awareness Reality Series | Using Fertility Awareness for Birth Control | Aisha & Lisa

Join the community! Find us on the Fertility Friday Facebook Fan Page

Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast on iTunes!

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

Sponsored By

This episode is sponsored by Circle + Bloom! Click here to receive 20% off Circle + Bloom products! Make sure to use discount code: FertilityFriday at checkout!

Dr. Fiona McCulloch ND, the founder, and owner of White Lotus Integrative Medicine has worked with thousands of people seeking better health over the past 15 years of her practice. She is committed to health education and advocacy, empowering her patients with the most current information on health topics and natural medicine therapies with a warm, empathic approach.

In today’s show, we talk about Dr. Fiona’s new book “8 Steps to Reverse your PCOS” which she just released in September 2016! We also talk about the connection between PCOS, inflammation, gut health & thyroid conditions!

Dr. Fiona joined us on a previous episode: episode 45 where we talked about the autoimmune disease as it relates to fertility, thyroid health, and MTHFR gene mutation.

Topics discussed in today's episode

• Why has there been a recent push to change the name of PCOS?
• The connection between PCOS, insulin resistance, and Diabetes
• What is inflammation as it relates to PCOS and how is it caused?
• The connection between inflammation, food sensitivities, and autoimmunity
• Why is following whole foods based nutrition plan so important for reducing chronic low-grade inflammation?
• Androgen excess and PCOS
• What is Hirsutism and how can it connect to PCOS?
• How do stress and hormones affect the length of the ovulatory process?
• How hormones affect a woman’s cycle as she matures
• Why doctors should use caution when diagnosing PCOS for an adolescent female
• The connection between PCOS and Cardiovascular Disease
• How can thyroid disorders play a role in PCOS?
• Dispelling the myth that PCOS doesn’t go away after giving birth
• Dr. Fiona’s advice for women with PCOS who are trying to conceive

Connect with Dr. Fiona McCulloch, ND

You can connect with Dr. Fiona on her Website and on Facebook

Resources mentioned

• FFP 045 | Autoimmune Disease and Fertility | Thyroid Health | MTHFR Gene Mutation | Dr. Fiona McCulloch
• Dr. Fiona's Book: 8 Steps to Reverse your PCOS
• White Lotus Integrative Medicine

PCOS Related Podcast Episodes

• FFP 022 | What is PCOS? | Healing PCOS Naturally | PCOS Diva Amy Medling
• FFP 060 | Treating PCOS Without Fertility Drugs | Conceiving Naturally With PCOS | Dr. Katherine Sherif
• FFP 103 | Real Food for PCOS | PCOS, Insulin Resistance & Diabetes | Managing PCOS Naturally with Diet | Balancing Blood Sugar | Lily Nichols

Join the community! Find us on the Fertility Friday Facebook Fan Page

Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast on iTunes!

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

Sponsored By

This episode is sponsored by Circle + Bloom! Click here to receive 20% off Circle + Bloom products! Make sure to use discount code: FertilityFriday at checkout!

This is the third episode in my new Fertility Awareness Reality Series! I will be sharing the work that I do with clients "on air" with you in these special episodes where I am hosting live mini-sessions with women who I have worked with.

In today's episode, I interview Aisha. Aisha is an experienced charter who has been charting her cycles for the past 4 years. Aisha reached out to me because she wanted to learn the Justisse Charting system in particular. She wanted to gain a better understanding of her mucus & learn how to use the Fertility Awareness Method for birth control in her pre-ovulatory phase as well as the post-ovulatory phase.

Make sure to head over to my Group Programs page to find out more about my upcoming January 2017 group programs and how you can apply to be a part of it! You'll want to apply early as there are a limited number of participants I can accept into each group.

Topics discussed in today's episode

• How cervical mucus led to Aisha learning more about the Fertility Awareness Method
• The most surprising thing Aisha learned in Lisa’s educational materials
• Getting really clear on what a “dry day” is
• Why are the pre and post-ovulatory phases are infertile?
• Clearing up the misunderstanding of how long ovulation actually lasts during a cycle
• What is “peak day” and why is it so important?
• Using your thermal shift to determine when you’re ovulating
• What is the Observational Routine and how has it been working for Aisha?
• How the Semen Elimination Technique helps reduce confusion during observations
• Checking your cervical position

Resources mentioned

• FFP 035 | From Learning Fertility Awareness to Creating a Facebook Group with Over 1500 Members | Aisha Mukooza
• Fertility Awareness Method of Birth Control Facebook Group
• 2017 Fertility Friday Group Programs

Other Episodes in the FAM Reality Series

• [On-Air Client Session] FFP 105 | Fertility Awareness Reality Series | Fertility Awareness Method | PCOS | Balancing Blood Sugar | Nutrition for Fertility | Teri & Lisa Lisa
• [On-Air Client Session] FFP 107 | Fertility Awareness Reality Series | Fertility Awareness Method | Low Hormone Cycle | Impact of a Long-Term Vegetarian Diet on the Menstrual Cycle | Carolina & Lisa
• [On-Air Client Session] FFP 112 | Fertility Awareness Reality Series | Low Progesterone, Miscarriage, Stress & The Menstrual Cycle | Overcoming Fertility Challenges | Amelia & Lisa

Join the community! Find us on the Fertility Friday Facebook Fan Page

Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast on iTunes!

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

Dr. Dixon is a graduate of the McGill University’s School of Medicine. Her initial postgraduate training was at the University of Toronto, in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Her passion for reproductive medicine continued during her postgraduate training, where she specialized in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Vermont.  Dr. Dixon is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center. She also speaks both nationally and internationally at conferences in her field of  Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Dixon recently at the grand opening of her new clinic, Anova Fertility & Reproductive Health.

In today’s show, we talk about the impact of aging infertility, the reality of IVF, and future of fertility treatments!

Topics discussed in today's episode

• What is Dr. Dixon’s vision, and unique approach, for her new clinic?
• Why Dr. Dixon integrates working with a variety of caregivers into the management of her patients and practice
• What event was the catalyst that made Dr. Dixon want to specialize in her specific field?
• The shocking statistics of successfully conceiving as you age
• Why is a woman over the age 40 less likely to conceive even if she’s in peak physical condition?
• How likely is it that IVF will be successful and what is the most important factor?
• Why you need to know the difference between a clinical pregnancy and a “take-home baby”
• Dr. Dixon breaks down just how long an IVF cycle actually is
• What is Dr. Dixon’s perspective on patients who come to her with very specific plans; especially when they aren’t a path she would recommend for them?
• Does the future of fertility treatments include men being able to carry a child in a transplanted uterus?
• Is it possible that stem cells will allow IVF to be successful without having to take any medications?
• What is Augment IVF Treatment and what are the implications of this breakthrough?
• What is the one thing Dr. Dixon wants you to take away from her appearance today?
• The one myth Dr. Dixon would eliminate if possible

Connect with Dr. Marjorie Dixon

You can connect with Dr. Dixon on her clinic's Website and on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Resources mentioned

• Anova Fertility & Reproductive Health | Dr. Marjorie Dixon's Clinic
• FFP 088 | IVF Using Donor Eggs | Egg Donation | Infertility | Donor Egg Bank USA | Heidi Hayes
• FFP 096 | Deconstructing Your Infertility Diagnosis | Poor Ovarian Reserve | Practical Ways of Managing Stress | Traditional Chinese Medicine | Mary Wong
• Pathways to Pregnancy: Personal stories and practical advice for your fertility journey
• American Society for Reproductive Medicine
• Canadian Fertility & Andrology Society
• Fertility Friday Group Programs

Join the community! Find us on the Fertility Friday Facebook Fan Page

Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast on iTunes!

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

Sponsored By

This episode is sponsored by Circle + Bloom! Click here to receive 20% off Circle + Bloom products! Make sure to use discount code: FertilityFriday at checkout!

Vicki Braun is a master fertility awareness consultant, trained and certified in four different methods of NFP; she is also a certified GAPS practitioner.  She has a Bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry and a Master's Degree in microbiology.  She writes and speaks on NFP, balancing hormones and healing the gut.  She has taught NFP for over thirty years and has consulted with thousands of women.  She combines NFP and her knowledge of hormonal imbalances with a focus on gut health in order to help people restore hormonal balance through diet and lifestyle changes.

In today's show, we talk about cervical mucus and why it's central to the fertility awareness method. We also talk about the connection between gut health, diet, and fertility.

Topics discussed in today's episode

• Why is cervical mucus central to a woman's hormone health?
• Can women learn fertility awareness on their own?
• What are the benefits of learning fertility awareness from an instructor?
• How to manage continuous mucus observations
• What is the connection between diet & fertility?
• What is the connection between gut health & fertility and how does that show up in your menstrual cycle?
• Weston A. Price dietary principles for fertility
• How do xenoestrogens impact fertility & the menstrual cycle?

Connect with Vicki

You can connect with Vicki on her Website

Resources mentioned

• Wise Fertility Choices | Vicki Braun
• Billings Ovulation Method | Main Site
• Billings Ovulation Method | Wikipedia
• Serena Canada
• Couple to Couple League
• The Family of the Americas | Natural Family Planning
• FFP 084 | Adrenal Fatigue, Fertility & Hormone Balance | The Kalish Method | Dr. Daniel Kalish

Join the community! Find us on the Fertility Friday Facebook Fan Page

Subscribe to the Fertility Friday Podcast on iTunes!

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

Sponsored By

This episode is sponsored by Circle + Bloom! Click here to receive 20% off Circle + Bloom products! Make sure to use discount code: FertilityFriday at checkout!