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

This is the second 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 Carolina, who is a member of my most recent Fertility Friday Group Program! We delve into her history of contraceptive use, her fertility challenges, as well as her recent transition from a vegetarian diet to now incorporating meat products.

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

• Improving fertility after 18 years of a vegetarian diet
• IBS, digestion and gluten sensitivity
• What is the difference between peak mucus & non-peak mucus?
• How to draw a baseline on your menstrual cycle chart?
• The MTHFR gene mutation and how it affects your body's ability to utilize B vitamins
• Restoring depleted nutrient stores through diet and proper supplementation

Resources mentioned

• 23 and Me Genetic Testing
• 2017 Fertility Friday Group Programs

Related Podcast Episodes

• FFP 054 | The MTHFR Gene Mutation and Fertility | Recurrent Miscarriage, Nutrient Deficiencies, and Folic Acid | Diane Keddy
• FFP 094 | The Vegetarian Myth | Veganism & Fertility | Reflections After 20 Years of a Vegan Diet | Lierre Keith
• FFP 059 | Transitioning From a Vegan Diet | Learning to Listen to Your Cravings | Alexandra Jamieson
• FFP 009 | Sacred Fertility Foods | The key to having healthy babies and a healthy pregnancy | Sally Fallon-Morell

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 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

Nora Pope is a retired naturopathic doctor and Creighton Model FertilityCare Practitioner with a private practice in Toronto from 2002-19. She is a graduate of the NaPro Technology Medical Consultant Auditor Program and has been presenting continuing education programs to healthcare professionals since 2004. For more information on her courses, please visit: www.fertilityCE.com.

In today’s episode, Nora and I talk about using a woman’s menstrual cycle chart as a diagnostic tool both from a medical perspective and from a Naturopathic perspective. We focus on assessing a woman’s hormonal levels and supporting them in a way that aligns with her menstrual cycle. We also focus on progesterone levels specifically. How to test for progesterone, what your levels should be, how to know if your levels are low, and what to do about it if they are.

Topics discussed in today's episode

• What is the difference between bio-identical progesterone and synthetic progesterone?
• What is NaPro (Natural Procreative) technology?
• How can NaPro technology be applied to a woman's cycle from a Naturopathic perspective?
• What is wrong with using the 28-day menstrual cycle model to inform testing and treatment of women?
• Why is the standard day 21 progesterone test useless for most women most of the time?
• When should a woman's progesterone be tested to get an accurate reading?
• How do a woman's progesterone levels change during pregnancy?
• What role does progesterone play in sustaining a pregnancy?
• What is the optimal lab range for progesterone 7 days after ovulation?
• How would you know if your progesterone might be low?
• How are a woman's progesterone levels related to her mental health?
• What is the relationship between progesterone levels and seizures?

Connect with NoraPope

You can connect with Nora on her Website and on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter

Resources mentioned

• Nora Pope | Website
• Cycle Charting & Progesterone HRT | Health-Local.com
• NaPro Technology
• FFP 062 | Acupuncture for Fertility and Menstrual Cycle Health | Jani White
• FFP 055 | Menstrual Cycle Health | Why Regular Ovulation is Essential for Bone, Heart and Breast Health | Dr. Jerilynn Prior

NaPro Technology Related Podcast Episodes

• 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

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 first 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 Teri, who is a member of my most recent Fertility Friday Group Program! We delve into her history of contraceptive use, as well as how her menstrual cycles have changed over time. We also delve into her recent PCOS diagnosis, how this is showing up on her charts, and what she can do to begin addressing these issues through dietary and lifestyle changes.

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

• Understanding ovulation pain and how to keep track of it through charting
• Deconstructing the PCOS diagnosis
• The importance of balancing blood sugar when managing PCOS
• How does The Pill impact cervical mucus production both while you're on it and afterward
• How to structure meals for nutrient density instead of counting calories
• The impact of sleep on the menstrual cycle

Resources mentioned

• 23 and Me Genetic Testing
• The Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby and Child Care
• 2017 Fertility Friday Group Programs

PCOS Related Podcast Episodes

• FFP 022 | What is PCOS? | Healing PCOS Naturally | PCOS Diva Amy Medling
• FFP 029 | Learning to use Fertility Awareness after Coming Off  of the Pill | Managing PCOS Naturally | Jennifer Neff
• FFP 052 | Surviving Fertility Challenges | Infertility, PCOS & IVF | Kym Campbell
• FFP 060 | Treating PCOS Without Fertility Drugs | Conceiving Naturally With PCOS | Dr. Katherine Sherif
• FFP 072 | The Connection Between Eating Disorders, PCOS, & Fertility | Angela Grassi
• FFP 103 | Real Food for PCOS | PCOS, Insulin Resistance & Diabetes | Managing PCOS Naturally with Diet |  Balancing Blood Sugar | Lily Nichols

Other Episodes in the FAM Reality Series

• [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

Dr. Naylor is a board-certified family physician, focused on preventive medicine and nutrition. As an osteopathic physician, she treats patients with a whole-person approach and has training in treating the body with hands-on techniques, called osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). She became especially interested in fertility during the end of her residency training when she herself stopped hormonal contraception in an effort to get pregnant and didn't get a period. Almost 2 years later, she continues her journey to naturally regain a healthy menstrual cycle and reflects on how western medicine addresses (or doesn't address) this common issue.

I’m excited to talk with  Dr. Naylor about how physicians are trained regarding hormonal contraceptives, and what her experience was like with fertility challenges since coming off the pill herself.

Topics discussed in today's episode

• What is Osteopathic medicine?
• Dr. Naylor shares how her own experience on hormonal contraceptives has shifted how she views prescribing them in her own practice
• Why type of training to medical Doctors typically receive regarding hormonal contraceptives?
• Why do Doctors typically recommend hormonal methods of birth control over non-hormonal methods?
• Why the official recommendation is for women to use hormonal contraceptives throughout most of their adult life up until approximately age 50
• How are physicians typically educated regarding the side effects of hormonal contraceptives?
• What training are physicians given to the menstrual cycle and maintaining reproductive health?
• What is the best way to approach your doctor when you are seeking care outside of the traditional medical paradigm?
• Why advocating for yourself isn't always easy
• How to approach your Doctor when he or she isn't receptive to the treatment, medication or approach you wish to take

Connect with Dr. Naylor

You can connect with Dr. Naylor on her Website

Resources mentioned

• Dr. Miranda Naylor (website)
• What is a DO?
• FFP 007 | What the pill really does to your hormones | PCOS & Menstrual Irregularities | Dr. Lara Briden
• FFP 095 | No More Periods? The Blessings of the Curse | Menstrual Suppression | The Pill | Dr. Susan Rako
• FFP 100 | Anniversary Edition Part 1 | Multi-Episode Compilation | Fertility Awareness Method | Pregnancy | Birth Control | Women’s Health | Lisa | Fertility Friday

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!

Lily is a researcher, speaker, and author with a passion for evidence-based prenatal nutrition and a unique specialty in gestational diabetes. As a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Certified Diabetes Educator, and Certified Pilates Instructor, she is the first to advocate for a nutrient-dense, lower carb diet for managing gestational diabetes. Her book, Real Food for Gestational Diabetes, (and an online course of the same name), has helped thousands of women have healthy babies - and most without the need for blood sugar-lowering medication. What’s now been dubbed her “Real Food Approach” is currently being used in several research studies.

Lily joined us on 2 previous episodes: episode 16 where we talked all about gestational diabetes and episode 25 where we talked about exercise during pregnancy!

I’m excited to have Lily back on the show to talk about PCOS, and how to manage PCOS through diet and lifestyle changes!

Topics discussed in today's episode

• What is the connection between PCOS and diabetes?
• What are some of the classic signs & symptoms of PCOS?
• How big of an impact can dietary changes make on your PCOS symptoms?
• Does a poor diet cause PCOS?
• How does PCOS impact the menstrual cycle?
• What is the link between PCOS, insulin sensitivity & diabetes?
• How is obesity related to PCOS?
• What foods cause insulin to spike?
• Is it possible to eat too much fruit?
• How does our consumption of carbohydrates impact our blood sugar?
• How does consuming soy products impact our hormone levels?
• Why is breakfast actually the most important place to start when balancing hormones?
• What can I eat for breakfast that is filling, nutritious, fast, won't spike my blood sugar, and will leave me feeling satisfied afterward?

Connect with Lily

You can connect with Lily on her Website and on Facebook and Twitter

Resources mentioned

• Pilates Nutritionist | Lily Nichols
• Real Food for Gestational Diabetes: An Effective Alternative to the Conventional Nutrition Approach (book) | Lily Nichols
• Real Food for Gestational Diabetes | Lily Nichols
• Real Food For Gestational Diabetes (Book Review) | Fertility Friday
• FFP 016 | Real Food for Gestational Diabetes | Pre-conception & Pregnancy Nutrition | Lily Nichols
• FFP 025 | How Much Should Women Exercise During Pregnancy? | The Good, The Bad and the Uncomfortable | Lily Nichols
• FFP 009 | Sacred Fertility Foods | The key to having healthy babies and a healthy pregnancy | Sally Fallon-Morell

PCOS Related Podcast Episodes

• FFP 022 | What is PCOS? | Healing PCOS Naturally | PCOS Diva Amy Medling
• FFP 029 | Learning to use Fertility Awareness after Coming Off  of the Pill | Managing PCOS Naturally | Jennifer Neff
• FFP 052 | Surviving Fertility Challenges | Infertility, PCOS & IVF | Kym Campbell
• FFP 060 | Treating PCOS Without Fertility Drugs | Conceiving Naturally With PCOS | Dr. Katherine Sherif
• FFP 072 | The Connection Between Eating Disorders, PCOS, & Fertility | Angela Grassi

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!

Molly is an American homebirth midwife, reproductive health advocate, and educator, specializing in supporting pregnancy loss and abortion. She works with a full spectrum of reproductive experiences and supports individuals and families in finding the best options for themselves, including traditional, home- and plant-based alternatives.

She teaches workshops on a variety of subjects within alternative reproductive healthcare aiming to provide empowered support for our complicated and fluid reproductive lives. She has taught hundreds of people the art and science of alternative fertility management, honoring its roots, and exploring its potential to change the way we relate to our bodies, our fertility, and our bleeding. She also loves catching babies and supporting birthing and postpartum families.

In today’s show, we talk about abortion, miscarriage, pregnancy loss, stillbirth, and menstrual extraction. We talk about the role midwifery care plays in helping women to manage these devastating life events. Please keep in mind that in today's episode we are talking about extremely difficult and sensitive topics. If you have experienced pregnancy loss of any kind this episode may be triggering for you.

Topics discussed in today's episode

• Herbal abortion, emmenagogues & herbs that encourage menstruation and abortion
• The complexities of seeking support for an abortion if you have limited access in your region
• Financial barriers to miscarriage
• The implications of seeking support for abortion from a midwife
• What is a Full Spectrum Doula/Full Spectrum Midwifery?
• What is menstrual extraction, and in what situations can it be used?
• What role can menstrual extraction play for athletes, early abortion, and miscarriage?
• How did the introduction of hormonal contraceptives impact the prevalence of menstrual extraction?
• The implications of menstrual extraction for endometriosis
• The reality of miscarriage
• The emotional impact of pregnancy loss
• The different ways women experience miscarriage
• Should women allow miscarriage to happen naturally or seek medical intervention? (when the fetal heartbeat is not detected anymore for example)
• The traumatic experience of stillbirth and late-term pregnancy loss
• The role of midwifery care in pregnancy loss
• Supporting women who have experienced pregnancy loss

Connect with Molly

You can connect with Molly on her Website and via email

Resources mentioned

• Molly Dutton-Kenny | Certified Professional Midwife
• FFP 091 | The Fifth Vital Sign | Fertility Awareness Method | Reproductive Health | Kelsey Knight & Emily Varnam
• FFP 018 | Arvigo Abdominal Therapy | Vaginal Steaming | Traditional Maya healing for Fertility and Menstrual Cycle Irregularities| Dr. Rosita Arvigo
• FFP 009 | Sacred Fertility Foods | The key to having healthy babies and a healthy pregnancy | Sally Fallon-Morell
• FFP 093 | Mind & Body Connection to Fertility | Visualization & Meditation for Fertility | Circle + Bloom | Joanne Verkuilen

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!

Jessica is the Founder and CEO of the Integrative Women's Health Institute and is passionate about caring for and empowering women who struggle with women’s and pelvic health conditions. She is equally passionate about educating and supporting clinicians in confidently and safely using integrative tools to transform women's pelvic healthcare.

Having over a decade of experience as a women’s and pelvic physical therapist plus owning a private women’s health clinical nutrition and coaching practice gives her a unique perspective on the integrative, conservative options for pelvic pain management.

Jessica was educated at the University of Virginia, Emory University, The Institute of Integrative Nutrition, and Duke Integrative Medicine.  She is currently a doctoral student in clinical nutrition at Maryland University of Integrative Health

In today’s show, we talk about pelvic health, what causes pelvic pain and inflammation and how to address these issues from a functional medicine perspective.

Topics discussed in today's episode

• How does pelvic pain impact the quality of life for women?
• How are the pelvic floor muscles interconnected?
• What factors contribute to pelvic pain in women?
• The structural factors that contribute to pelvic pain (i.e. birth or physical trauma)
• The link between food sensitivities, inflammation, hormone imbalance and pelvic pain
• The importance of connecting with your pelvic area, your vulva, vagina and knowing your basic anatomy and physiology
• The connection between pelvic pain and gut health
• Why it is important to be diagnosed if you think you may have endometriosis
• Differentiating between muscle tension, tightness, weakness and strength
• The psychosocial connection to pelvic pain
• What is pelvic floor physiotherapy?
• Are Kegels the best exercise for strengthening the pelvic floor muscles?
• Is it possible to heal and restore the integrity of the pelvic floor muscles after childbirth?
• What is the best way to engage and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles?

Connect with Jessica

You can connect with Jessica on her Website and on Facebook and Twitter

Resources mentioned

• Integrative Women's Health Institute | Jessica Drummond
• FFP 027 | The Impact of Sexual Abuse on Fertility and Infertility | Part 2 | Dr. Erica Berman
• FFP 009 | Sacred Fertility Foods | The key to having healthy babies and a healthy pregnancy | Sally Fallon-Morell

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!

After nearly 2 years of this podcasting journey, I'm still going strong, and I wanted to celebrate my 100th episode by creating a special compilation! In this episode, I have strung together a number of clips from numerous different episodes. I have had the incredible privilege of interviewing over 100 amazing guests who have shared their knowledge, experience, and wisdom for all of us to benefit from.

I had such a hard time narrowing down which episodes to pull from that I ended up with a 2 part series!  I created these episodes as a thank you to my amazing listeners and guests, so I hope you enjoy episode 100! Click here to listen to part 1!

Episode list from Episode 100 Part 1 (in order)

• FFP 044 | Taking Charge of Your Fertility | Fertility Awareness Method | Toni Weschler
• FFP 007 | What the pill really does to your hormones | PCOS & Menstrual Irregularities | Dr Lara Briden
• FFP 055 | Menstrual Cycle Health | Why Regular Ovulation is Essential for Bone, Heart and Breast Health | Dr. Jerilynn Prior
• FFP 053 | The Effect of Light on the Menstrual Cycle and Fertility | Sleeping in Darkness to Regulate Menstruation | Natural Family Planning | Joy DeFelice
• FFP 067 | Healthy Menstruation | Fertility Awareness | Fertility Massage Therapy | Rachel Eyre
• FFP 018 | Arvigo Abdominal Therapy | Vaginal Steaming | Traditional Maya healing for Fertility and Menstrual Cycle Irregularities| Dr. Rosita Arvigo

Additional Clips from Episode 100 Part 1 (in order)

• FFP 071 | Connecting With the Wisdom of Your Menstrual Cycle | Fertility Massage Therapy | Clare Blake
• FFP 024 | Celebrating Menstruation from Menarche | Embracing your Fertility and your Menstrual Cycle with Fertility Awareness | Jane Bennett
• FFP 038 | Using Fertility Awareness to Navigate Through Perimenopause and Menopause | Lisa Leger
• FFP 002 | Fertility Awareness Method Cycle Charting | Rose Yewchuk
• FFP 073 | Copper Toxicity, IUDs, and the Birth Control Pill | Julie Casper
• FFP 061 | How to Conceive Naturally and Have a Healthy Pregnancy after 30 | Willow Buckley
• FFP 010 | Coping with Infertility | Using the Law of Attraction to manifest a baby | Alexandra Sipos-Kocsis
• FFP 097 | Managing the Stress of Infertility | The Physiology of Stress | Meditation & Guided Visualization | Hypnotherapy | Mind + Body Stress Reduction | Helen Adrienne

Episode list from Episode 100 Part 2 (in order)

• FFP 020 | How to Accurately time Sex to Optimize your chances of getting Pregnant | Why Cervical Mucus is Essential | Dr. Kerry Hampton
• FFP 036 | Increasing Body Literacy with Fertility Awareness | Health Benefits of Regular Ovulation | Feminism and The Pill | Laura Wershler
• FFP 070 | Healing, Illness, Fertility & Pregnancy | Getting to the Root Cause | Dr. Thomas Cowan
• FFP 095 | No More Periods? The Blessings of the Curse | Menstrual Suppression | The Pill | Dr. Susan Rako
• FFP 084 | Adrenal Fatigue, Fertility & Hormone Balance | The Kalish Method | Dr. Daniel Kalish
• FFP 066 | Gut Health and Fertility | Preconception Nutrition | GAPS Diet | Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride
• FFP 031 | Using Fertility Awareness Charting to Treat Infertility Naturally | NaPro Technology | Dr. Danielle Miller

Additional Clips from Episode 100 Part 2 (in order)

• FFP 056 | The History of Fertility Awareness-Based Methods | The Justisse Method of Fertility Management | Learning and Teaching Fertility Awareness | Geraldine Matus
• FFP 082 | Fertility Awareness | Body Literacy | Grace of The Moon | Sarah Bly
• FFP 033 | The Garden of Fertility | Night Lighting & Cycle Regulation | Electromagnetic Radiation | Katie Singer
• FFP 013 | Using Fertility Awareness with Irregular Cycles | Charting your Cycles while Breastfeeding | Justina Thompson
• FFP 008 | Trying to conceive after long-term birth control use | Fertility Awareness | Amy Sedgwick
• FFP 021 | What Hormonal Contraceptives Really do to Women | Sweetening the Pill | Holly Grigg-Spall
• FFP 045 | Autoimmune Disease and Fertility | Thyroid Health | MTHFR Gene Mutation | Dr. Fiona McCulloch
• FFP 012 | Recovering from Post-Birth Control Syndrome | How to get your period back | Laura Schoenfeld
• FFP 068 | Sleep your way to a Healthy Menstrual Cycle | The Connection Between Sleep and Fertility | Shawn Stevenson
• FFP 054 | The MTHFR Gene Mutation and Fertility | Recurrent Miscarriage, Nutrient Deficiencies, and Folic Acid | Diane Keddy
• FFP 011 | Age-Related Fertility Decline | Using Reproductive Technologies | IVF IUI & IVM | Dr. Melanie McDowall
• FFP 092 | Natural Fertility Info | Nutrition For Fertility | Smart Supplementation | Get Pregnant Naturally | Hethir Rodriguez
• FFP 060 | Treating PCOS Without Fertility Drugs | Conceiving Naturally With PCOS | Dr. Katherine Sherif
• FFP 017 | Natural Treatment for Unexplained Infertility | Treating Endometriosis and Fibroids | Dr. Shawna Darou, ND
• FFP 096 | Deconstructing Your Infertility Diagnosis | Poor Ovarian Reserve | Practical Ways of Managing Stress | Traditional Chinese Medicine | Mary Wong
• FFP 101 | Pelvic Pain and Inflammation | Functional Nutrition | Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy | Jessica Drummond
• FFP 074 | Resurrection Year | Maintaining Hope Through Infertility | Sheridan Voysey

Connect with Lisa

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

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!

After nearly 2 years of this podcasting journey I'm still going strong, and I wanted to celebrate my 100th episode by creating a special compilation! In this episode I have strung together a number of clips from numerous different episodes. I have had the incredible privilege of interviewing over 100 amazing guests who have shared their knowledge, experience and wisdom for all of us to benefit from.

I had such a hard time narrowing down which episodes to pull from that I ended up with a 2 part series!  I created these episodes as a thank you to my amazing listeners and guests, so I hope you enjoy episode 100! Click here to listen to part 2.

Episode list from Episode 100 Part 1 (in order)

• FFP 044 | Taking Charge of Your Fertility | Fertility Awareness Method | Toni Weschler
• FFP 007 | What the pill really does to your hormones | PCOS & Menstrual Irregularities | Dr Lara Briden
• FFP 055 | Menstrual Cycle Health | Why Regular Ovulation is Essential for Bone, Heart and Breast Health | Dr. Jerilynn Prior
• FFP 053 | The Effect of Light on the Menstrual Cycle and Fertility | Sleeping in Darkness to Regulate Menstruation | Natural Family Planning | Joy DeFelice
• FFP 067 | Healthy Menstruation | Fertility Awareness | Fertility Massage Therapy | Rachel Eyre
• FFP 018 | Arvigo Abdominal Therapy | Vaginal Steaming | Traditional Maya healing for Fertility and Menstrual Cycle Irregularities| Dr Rosita Arvigo

Additional Clips from Episode 100 Part 1 (in order)

• FFP 071 | Connecting With the Wisdom of Your Menstrual Cycle | Fertility Massage Therapy | Clare Blake
• FFP 024 | Celebrating Menstruation from Menarche | Embracing your Fertility and your Menstrual Cycle with Fertility Awareness | Jane Bennett
• FFP 038 | Using Fertility Awareness to Navigate Through Perimenopause and Menopause | Lisa Leger
• FFP 002 | Fertility Awareness Method Cycle Charting | Rose Yewchuk
• FFP 073 | Copper Toxicity, IUDs and the Birth Control Pill | Julie Casper
• FFP 061 | How to Conceive Naturally and Have a Healthy Pregnancy after 30 | Willow Buckley
• FFP 010 | Coping with Infertility | Using the Law of Attraction to manifest a baby | Alexandra Sipos-Kocsis
• FFP 097 | Managing the Stress of Infertility | The Physiology of Stress | Meditation & Guided Visualization | Hypnotherapy | Mind + Body Stress Reduction | Helen Adrienne

Episode list from Episode 100 Part 2 (in order)

• FFP 020 | How to Accurately time Sex to Optimize your chances of getting Pregnant | Why Cervical Mucus is Essential | Dr Kerry Hampton
• FFP 036 | Increasing Body Literacy with Fertility Awareness | Health Benefits of Regular Ovulation | Feminism and The Pill | Laura Wershler
• FFP 070 | Healing, Illness, Fertility & Pregnancy | Getting to the Root Cause | Dr. Thomas Cowan
• FFP 095 | No More Periods? The Blessings of the Curse | Menstrual Suppression | The Pill | Dr. Susan Rako
• FFP 084 | Adrenal Fatigue, Fertility & Hormone Balance | The Kalish Method | Dr. Daniel Kalish
• FFP 066 | Gut Health and Fertility | Preconception Nutrition | GAPS Diet | Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride
• FFP 031 | Using Fertility Awareness Charting to Treat Infertility Naturally | NaPro Technology | Dr. Danielle Miller

Additional Clips from Episode 100 Part 2 (in order)

• FFP 056 | The History of Fertility Awareness Based Methods | The Justisse Method of Fertility Management | Learning and Teaching Fertility Awareness | Geraldine Matus
• FFP 082 | Fertility Awareness | Body Literacy | Grace of The Moon | Sarah Bly
• FFP 033 | The Garden of Fertility | Night Lighting & Cycle Regulation | Electromagnetic Radiation | Katie Singer
• FFP 013 | Using Fertility Awareness with Irregular Cycles | Charting your Cycles while Breastfeeding | Justina Thompson
• FFP 008 | Trying to conceive after long-term birth control use | Fertility Awareness | Amy Sedgwick
• FFP 021 | What Hormonal Contraceptives Really do to Women | Sweetening the Pill | Holly Grigg-Spall
• FFP 045 | Autoimmune Disease and Fertility | Thyroid Health | MTHFR Gene Mutation | Dr. Fiona McCulloch
• FFP 012 | Recovering from Post-Birth Control Syndrome | How to get your period back | Laura Schoenfeld
• FFP 068 | Sleep your way to a Healthy Menstrual Cycle | The Connection Between Sleep and Fertility | Shawn Stevenson
• FFP 054 | The MTHFR Gene Mutation and Fertility | Recurrent Miscarriage, Nutrient Deficiencies, and Folic Acid | Diane Keddy
• FFP 011 | Age Related Fertility Decline | Using Reproductive Technologies | IVF IUI & IVM | Dr Melanie McDowall
• FFP 092 | Natural Fertility Info | Nutrition For Fertility | Smart Supplementation | Get Pregnant Naturally | Hethir Rodriguez
• FFP 060 | Treating PCOS Without Fertility Drugs | Conceiving Naturally With PCOS | Dr. Katherine Sherif
• FFP 017 | Natural Treatment for Unexplained Infertility | Treating Endometriosis and Fibroids | Dr Shawna Darou, ND
• FFP 096 | Deconstructing Your Infertility Diagnosis | Poor Ovarian Reserve | Practical Ways of Managing Stress | Traditional Chinese Medicine | Mary Wong
• FFP 101 | Pelvic Pain and Inflammation | Functional Nutrition | Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy | Jessica Drummund
• FFP 074 | Resurrection Year | Maintaining Hope Through Infertility | Sheridan Voysey

Connect with Lisa

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

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

Kelsey is a Registered Dietitian who quickly learned in her program that she wasn’t being taught what dieticians should really be teaching their patients. She decided to study functional medicine, open her own practice, and pursue her dream of working with clients who really care about themselves, who want to invest in their health and receive support along their health journey.

In today’s show, Kelsey and I talk about Adrenal health, HPA axis dysregulation, and how this can impact fertility. I’ve had a number of questions from listeners about adrenal fatigue and HPA axis dysregulation because of the impact it can have on a woman’s fertility hormones!

Topics discussed in today's episode

• What is adrenal fatigue? Does it mean that your adrenals are "tired"?
• Why the label of "adrenal fatigue" is actually a misnomer, and the term "HPA axis dysregulation" is actually more accurate
• What is the body's hormonal response to stress?
• The connection between gut dysbiosis and stress
• The link between PCOS, testosterone, and cortisol
• What are the symptoms of HPA axis dysregulation?
• What is the link between blood pressure & HPA axis dysregulation?
• How to address HPA axis dysregulation/adrenal fatigue in a practical way
• What are some of the ways that you can reduce your stress in your daily life?
• What to do if you're not into Meditation, Visualization, and Yoga
• The scientific explanation for why bringing fun into your life improves HPA axis dysregulation and reduces your overall stress
• The role of cortisol in the body and why cortisol isn't actually "bad" for you when your levels are optimal
• Is it possible to exercise too much?
• What is overexercise and how does it impact your stress levels?

Connect with Kelsey

You can connect with Kelsey on her Website and on Facebook and Twitter

Resources mentioned

• Healthy Gut Healthy Life | Kelsey Kinney (Marksteiner)
• The Ancestral RDs | Kelsey Kinney & Laura Schoenfeld
• The Ancestral RDs Podcast | Kelsey Kinney & Laura Schoenfeld
• FFP 012 | Recovering from Post-Birth Control Syndrome | How to get your period back | Laura Schoenfeld
• FFP 084 | Adrenal Fatigue, Fertility & Hormone Balance | The Kalish Method | Dr. Daniel Kalish
• Headspace Meditation App
• Stress Doctor App

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