(not so) Simply la Femme

Raise your hand if the moment you got your period you started hearing “practice safe sex, don’t get pregnant!” and then 10 years later the scolding turned to questioning, “are you going to have a baby soon? Better hurry or your eggs will dry up!". 

Society has dictated our perspective of fertility by encouraging us to fear conception, then feel inadequate if we’re not pregnant by a certain age. Well, it's about time we took all of this unsolicited advice and traded it for education and support.

In this episode, we talk to Ally, founder of Lilia, an egg freezing concierge service. You read that right, instead of researching, booking appointments and stressing any further about your fertility options, Lilia does the work for you! #fertilitygoals After listening to this episode, we know you’ll feel relieved, empowered and informed. All of your questions about freezing your eggs, including price, process and procedure will be answered and your worries about your biological clock will be gone!

In this episode, we chat with Leo, a fellow Thinx leader and our first international guest- all the way from the UK baby! We discovered Leo on YouTube whilst researching the experiences of trans people, specifically in regards to menstruation. Leo shares absolutely everything on his channel and we can guarantee that he has a video that answers any and all of your questions (yup, including vaginoplasty- genital reconstruction). Click here to check out Leo's YouTube channel.

Leo describes himself as a gay, transgender youth worker and content creator, but humbly fails to mention that he's an absolutely lovely, authentic and selfless human being! We know you'll love listening and learning from Leo just as much as we do. 

Leo's personal Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/mrleomateus/?hl=en

Leo's art Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/mrleomateusart/?hl=en

Leo's patreon, https://www.patreon.com/MrLeomateus

You asked so we’re answering! Between the two of us, we’ve tried almost every hormonal birth control under the sun. This means that we can talk to the mood swings, hormonal shifts and libido spikes! If you’re wondering any of the following, this eppy is a must listen: 1. I’m sexually active but I don’t want to get pregnant yet, are there non-hormonal options? 2. I just got an IUD but now I have horrible cystic acne, wtf?! 3. Is there a type of hormonal birth control that helps with mood swings? 4. Does birth control really affect fertility? Should I get off it if it’s not affecting me badly? 5. How can I navigate a hormonal imbalance with an IUD? 6. Is there a progesterone only pill! How is it different form a combination pill? 7. You mention the pill on your page, but is other hormonal birth control ring/iud) bad? 8. What changes did you notice when you stopped taking hormonal birth control? 9. How does birth control affect sex drive? I’m on the pill and have no sex drive. 10. I hear too much about how birth control affects us and how we shouldn’t use it long term, but there’s no clear information?!

Check out the two books we're referencing in this episode!

This Is Your Brain on Birth Control by Sarah Hill

In the FLO by Alisa Vitti

Don't forget to give us a follow on IG @simplylafemme 

In this episode, Hormonal nutritionist, Ashleigh is sharing all of her expertise on seed cycling- an effective, affordable and natural way to balance your fluctuating hormones. All you have to do is incorporate a tablespoon of a simple seed mixture into your diet on a daily basis- easy, right?

If you have irregular periods, PCOS, PMS or a heavy flow, seed cycling is definitely something you're going to want to try. As menstruators, we often lack key vitamins and minerals, which shockingly, have a significant impact on our hormones. 

Balanced hormones can improve our skin, hair, mood, sleep quality, sex drive, weight and general wellness, so eat your dayum (raw & unsalted) seeds.

Download Ashleigh's (@thesoulfulsprout) FREE seed cycling guide HERE! 

The birth control pill and anti-depressants are too often prescribed to girls and womxn in their reproductive years. Both of these drugs can mask symptoms of hormonal imbalances and infertility. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a common, but under diagnosed hormonal imbalance and metabolic disorder. If left unmanaged, PCOS can trigger type 2 diabetes, infertility, cardiovascular disease, depression and more.

Visible signs and symptoms of PCOS include, irregular cycles , male pattern/ excess hair growth, acne, moodiness, weight gain .

Luckily,  Naturopathic Doctor Dr. Anne Hussain has all of the answers to your PCOS questions. In this episode, she shares her professional knowledge and her personal journey with PCOS. To connect with Dr. Anne Hussain, click here!