PCOS Explained

Having spent the majority of my pregnancy in lockdown (106 days to be exact), I’ve had lots of time to think about how the journey has been for me so far. Pregnancy can be incredibly daunting and isolating, let alone adding PCOS into the mix! 

Obviously the first trimester is nerve wracking but the second trimester can feel like just as much of a rollercoaster.

You’re getting used to your body changing quite drastically, most people actually know you’re pregnant, you’re figuring out what exercise looks like for you, you’re hoping you’re out of the woods with nausea and food aversions, you’re realising you’re getting closer to actually meeting your baby, you’ve got the dreaded pregnancy glucose challenge to face, you’ve got more energy but you’re not feeling too massive and slow just yet. Phew — there’s a lot that happens in the second trimester. It’s getting real real now!

Loads of you who are pregnant with PCOS, have been before and plan to be in the future absolutely loved my first trimester episode. So I’m giving the people what they want of course and releasing my second trimester learnings ASAP!

I’m giving you all the juicy details on all things second trimester of being pregnant with PCOS. Everything from what’s gotten better for me since first trimester and what I’m still struggling with, to what exercise you’re actually okay to do in pregnancy, to still dealing with constipation in the second trimester, to food aversions and their changes in this stage as well as iron levels in PCOS pregnancy, pelvic floor WOFs (I found I was a bit of an overachiever in this area!), sweet cravings, gestational diabetes testing and much more.

This episode is for you if:

• You’re currently pregnant or are trying to conceive
• You are trying to navigate the changes happening in your body at the moment
• Being pregnant with PCOS, you’re quite worried about doing the gestational diabetes glucose test
• Your PCOS symptoms are changing (maybe even getting better) during your pregnancy
• You want to know if pregnancy can ‘undo’ PCOS symptoms
• You don’t know what types of exercise are actually okay in pregnancy
• You want to know more about how you should feel after exercising while pregnant
• Iron levels are an issue for you (either low or high iron)
• You want to know what the heck a pelvic floor WOF is and why it’s important
• You’re still dealing with constipation and some food aversions
• You want to hear other people’s experiences of being pregnant with PCOS

Some things we cover in this episode:

• What’s gotten better for me since first trimester and what I’m still struggling with
• Dealing with that sweet tooth while being pregnant with PCOS
• The dreaded OGTT for gestational diabetes risk
• PCOS symptoms changing in pregnancy
• Spending my entire second trimester in strict lockdown and how I coped
• Keeping active and what that looks like in PCOS pregnancy
• Struggling with focusing on work
• Keeping watch of my iron levels

Resources and References:

• Caitlin Day: The Vagina Physio
• Unity Studios
• 7 question quiz: What does a ‘vagina physio’ do?
• My Book: Getting Pregnant with PCOS

Links to our programs:

• The PCOS Protocol
• Eggducated

It’s no secret now that I’m pregnant. I could only hide that bump for so long... although lockdown definitely helped me keep it a secret for the first trimester 😂

I know that for many of you getting pregnant with PCOS is a goal but I also know that some of you have managed to conceive! So you’ll be very interested in today’s episode of the pod.

No one really tells you what to expect when you actually get pregnant with PCOS, because so much of the focus is on getting you pregnant — but not what happens once you are.

It’s a whole different ball game, let me tell you (as my late second trimester self).

I thought it’d be great to give you a rundown of each trimester and my learnings from them — for those of you who are currently pregnant with PCOS, those of you who are trying to conceive and those of you who aren’t but plan to sometime in the future. And of course anyone else who wants to listen to my ‘being pregnant with pcos’ rambles!

I’ll be talking all things testing in pcos pregnancy, nutrition and navigating food aversions while having insulin resistance (ie. what the heck do I do if all I want is white bread and McDonalds fries?!), training while pregnant, what I wasn’t prepared for, gut symptoms in the first trimester, supplements and much more. 

And these are all things that I help patients navigate in The PCOS Protocol too (so if you’re needing help with your PCOS, even if you’re pregnant, jump in there)! It’s for anyone and everyone who has PCOS — I want to save you from wasting 10 years, thousands and thousands of dollars, tears and so much energy on trying to figure this all out on your own. 

This episode is for you if:

• You’re trying to conceive and want to know what to expect with PCOS
• You’ve recently found out you’re pregnant
• You have no plans on being pregnant but you’re interested in hearing how my pregnancy is going
• You want to know more about how insulin resistance impacts your PCOS
• You are struggling with carb cravings and food aversions — and you want to know how to manage them while still staying on top of your PCOS symptoms
• You’ve ever heard that you can’t exercise while pregnant
• IBS and SIBO are things you’ve dealt with so you want to know how pregnancy in PCOS may affect your gut
• Testing and what to get tested when pregnant with PCOS is something that interests you

Some things we cover in this episode:

• Blood testing in pcos pregnancy
• Nutrition and navigating food aversions while having insulin resistance
• Training while pregnant
• What I wasn’t prepared for
• Gut symptoms in the first trimester
• Supplements I took in my first trimester

Resources and References:

• My Book: Getting Pregnant with PCOS

Links to our programs:

• The PCOS Protocol
• Eggducated

Holiday season is fast approaching, can you believe it?

Things are getting busy with wrapping up work projects before your christmas break, dinner parties and gatherings (or in our case here in New Zealand, BBQs and boat trips), travelling (hopefully) to see loved ones and checking things off your holiday to-do list. 

If you’re anything like I was, you’re probably wondering how the heck you’re going to actually enjoy this time of year while still keeping on top of your PCOS symptoms.

It’s easy to get swept up in the holiday chaos and push setting (and maintaining) habits until January 1st (you know, the whole #newyearnewme carry on)!

But what I’ve seen to be most successful amongst my patients is actually setting those good habits now - just as we’re about to launch into the holiday season. 

It may seem counterintuitive, but the holiday season is one of the best times to make changes. Because you’re forced to be really 80/20 about your approach to these lifestyle changes — rather than being really rigid and then blowing out when any slight change to your routine (or habits) appears - ie. Christmas and New Years!

So today on the podcast, I’m chatting with our other Registered Nutritionist, Emma and we’re talking all about how to manage your PCOS effectively over the holiday season. 

We share how we approach it personally as well as some really tactical, actionable ways to help you keep up with your PCOS lifestyle changes 80% of the time without interrupting the well deserved (and enjoyable) 20% that inevitably comes with this time of year.

This episode is for you if:

• You have solid habits but you’re worried about how you’re going to stay on track with them during the holiday season
• You take a really perfectionist approach to your lifestyle, so you’re worried about adapting that over the holiday season
• You’re travelling over the holiday season and want some tips on how to manage your PCOS while you’re away
• You have lots of gatherings, BBQs and dinner parties and you’re worried about if there will be anything you can eat there

Some things we cover in this episode:

• Being prepared - and how to do it
• Why sleep is so key over this time
• Keeping hydrated and managing your alcohol intake
• Using ‘dead time’ to plan ahead
• How to approach movement at this time of year (especially when you’re not at home)
• Tackling BBQs, dinner parties and events where you’re not in control of what food will be there

Resources and References:

• 99: How to set boundaries, actually stick to habits and be kind to yourself with Clinical Psychologist Dr. Rebecca Ray
• Ottenlenghi cookbooks
• My Book: Getting Pregnant with PCOS

Links to our programs:

• The PCOS Protocol
• Eggducated

You know what no one talks about with PCOS? The freakin’ mental and emotional strain it puts on you.

There’s information for yonks about how to remove those pesky dark hairs, lose stubborn weight, reduce and remove acne, grow back the hair you’ve lost, get your periods back and regular, trying to conceive but no one talks about the non-tangible problems that come along with it.

The depressive episodes because nothing is working, the negative self talk and self loathing, the overwhelm of trying to make changes, feeling judged others about always making lifestyle changes, trying to be perfect and on top of everything 24/7, getting everything done, feeling like you can’t stop judging yourself and looking at what’s gone wrong, feeling like you do waaaaay more than everyone else and yet they get better results than you, wondering if it’s just you, this is the way it’ll always be and it’s your fault.

Living with PCOS is draining when it’s out of control. Even when you are more on top of the physical symptoms, it can feel like an uphill battle sometimes. 

Most times I speak to patients, the hardest thing isn’t knowing what to do, it's actually sticking to habits, maintaining boundaries with themselves and others and not getting bogged down with trying to be perfect all the time.

Enter the fabulous Dr Rebecca — a pilot turned clinical psychologist who has been through her fair share of struggles with self-worth, fear of judgement, feelings of failure, not feeling good enough and ineffective boundaries. Dr. Rebecca has dedicated her career as a psychologist to helping people, especially women, understand their worth and power, building a life with firm but flexible boundaries to help them align with their values and goals.

Judgement, fear, hopelessness, lacking self-worth, body image issues and poor boundaries are all things that can derail the great potential we have to get on top of our PCOS.

And like I said, the actual ‘doing’ bit is really hard so let’s talk about it! In this episode of The PCOS Nutritionist Podcast, Dr. Rebecca and I talk about all things boundaries, effectively setting habits, boundaries, respect, lifestyle change, perfectionism, protecting your peace, kindness, self compassion and judgement.

It’s a must listen — consider this your on-the-go habit and boundary guide!

This episode is for you if:

• You’re feeling overwhelmed on your PCOS journey
• You don’t feel like those around you respect your choices and changes
• You are the person that gives to everyone but you don’t feel like you have anything left to give for yourself
• Judging yourself and self-loathing is a habit you’d like to get out of but you don’t know how to
• You’d consider yourself a Type A person and/or a perfectionist
• You are keen to implement more kindness towards yourself and self compassion but don’t really know how to
• You want to establish better boundaries with yourself and others
• Others are judgemental about the lifestyle changes you’ve made for your PCOS and you’re not sure how to address these without being offensive, rude or causing drama

Some things we cover in this episode:

• Dealing with the opinions or disapproval of those around you on lifestyle changes 
• How to set boundaries around what you will and won’t tolerate from others about your PCOS journey
• Setting boundaries with people you live with
• How to identify if self sabotage is a type of inner dialogue we're having and what you can do about it
• Tools you can implement to address the fear of being judged as well as judging yourself
• Why perfectionism happens and why it’s so dang hard to get out of that mindset
• Approaching tasks that feel ‘too hard’ and dealing with feelings of overwhelm
• Self compassion and simple, actionable ways to incorporate more self compassio

Ever seen people in PCOS forums ask something along the lines of... "Is whole wheat pasta okay for people with PCOS?"..."What kind of exercise is okay for us with PCOS?"..."What supplements should I take for PCOS?"

Most of us have been there or are there! All we want is some answers. We got that PCOS diagnosis one way or another and thought "great, now I actually have something to pinpoint some of these symptoms to" but what to do next (apart from lose weight and/or go on hormonal contraception and/or come back when you want to get pregnant) isn't as clear as you'd hope for. So you're just looking for something that works. You're trying everything you hear about on podcasts, PCOS facebook pages, forums and on social media but nothing seems to quite move the needle.

But when we strip it back, while it makes sense to ask the questions "what foods/exercise/supplements are okay for PCOS" we're actually asking the wrong questions! We want to know what that root cause is and reframe that question to ask "is this food/exercise/supplement suitable for my physiology and my root cause?" because otherwise we end up just cutting out every food under the sun, prioritising endless hours in the gym over other important things and spend ridiculous amounts on supplements that may not even work or be useful for our specific situation! 

And let's be real, who the HECK wants to cut more things out, spend half their life in the gym and spend hundreds (if not thousands) on supplements? NOT me and I'm sure not you either! So in today's podcast I'm chatting with my team member Sophia all about personalised nutrition and why it's so important — we talk about all the different areas of PCOS and share why there's no one size fits all — as well as how to approach understanding what changes are right for you.

It’s pretty tough to know whether or not something will actually work for you — especially when you feel like you’ve tried literally everything under the sun for your PCOS and nothing has worked so far. So why would this be any different?

Because we focus on sustainability and making these changes personalised to YOUR root cause. But it’s still really helpful to figure out what that could look like, so how can you know if the Protocol is a good fit for you before diving in? 

Well, that’s why we’re offering free 15 minute discovery calls! So you can see whether we’re a good fit for you and what we can do to help. Plus, if you get into the Protocol and work through the first 14 days of modules (completing all the coursework and modules) and you don’t get value or feel like you haven’t learned anything new, we’ll promptly refund the money you’ve paid us (minus any transaction fees).  

So what do you have to lose? It’s time to figure out your root cause, learn how to make sustainable changes that you can maintain for years (not weeks! there’s no fast fad diets here!) and help you get on top of those frustrating symptoms so you can focus on the more important things! To book a free discovery call with one of our team, click here.

This episode is for you if:

• You’re unsure about the next step to take on your PCOS journey
• You’ve heard lots of different recommendations on what’s “good” or “bad” for PCOS
• After your diagnosis, you tried lots of different lifestyle changes, yet nothing seems to work
• No matter how much you work out, you never seem to be able to get the same results as your friends 
• Your specialists haven’t been able to give you lifestyle advice beyond what you already know
• You’ve been let down by other programs and changes before (so it feels like nothing will work for you)

Some things we cover in this episode:

• Why personalised lif

Surprise! 

You can obviously tell by the title of this that, yes, I’m pregnant! I’ve finally let the cat out of the bag.

Like many of you though, I was told when I was diagnosed with PCOS that:

• it’d be virtually impossible for me to conceive naturally
• that fertility treatment was my only hope of getting pregnant and
• that I should start trying now if I wanted any chance of getting pregnant

...not what you want to hear as a fresh uni grad in her mid 20s with no desire of having a baby. And yes, back then if I had started trying, I probably would’ve struggled because my hormones were all over the place. But now that I have my root cause under control, we’ve been lucky to get pregnant on my first ovulation of us trying. Not that I did all this work on my root cause just to get pregnant but being able to conceive relatively easily is a bonus of getting things working optimally. 

So today's episode of The PCOS Nutritionist Podcast is a very special one, where I'll be sharing my fertility journey, the steps that helped ensure I got pregnant and stayed pregnant, age and pregnancy (because yes, I’m considered a geriatric mother 😂) and how research shows age and ability to conceive may be slightly different in PCOS as well as my advice to you.

I know it’s really hard to understand whether or not something may work for you and you’ve probably been let down many times before when trying to figure out your PCOS or try more holistic approaches to conceiving. You’ve been to all of the fertility consults, tried all of the products and supplements but it all feels like a scam since you’re still not able to conceive.

That’s why we’re offering free discovery calls to chat through whether we’re a good fit for you, what your barriers are with trying something new and what we can do to help. If you get into the protocol and work through the first 14 days of modules (completing all the coursework and modules) and you don’t get value or feel like you haven’t learned anything new, we’ll promptly refund the money you’ve paid us (minus any transaction fees).  

So what do you have to lose? It’s time to figure out your root cause, learn how to make sustainable changes that you can maintain for years (not weeks! there’s no fast fad diets here!) and help get your body in the best position to conceive — whether you go with fertility treatments or not.

To book a free discovery call with one of our team, click here.

This episode is for you if:

• You’re trying to conceive but haven’t had any luck
• You want to know how your root cause affects your ability to conceive
• You’re looking for some actionable tips to help your fertility
• You’ve been told that you’ll never conceive naturally
• You know that you’re ovulating but you still can’t seem to conceive

Some things we cover in this episode:

• The 3 fertile ingredients
• Understanding your cycle
• Progesterone and why it’s so important
• Being 35+ (ie geriatric in the maternity world!) and getting pregnant
• Why people with PCOS have a bigger window of opportunity age wise to conceive
• Getting your nutrients in
• Lifestyle changes to help with conception

Resources and References:

• 8: How to Get Pregnant with PCOS
• 9: Treating the root cause of infertility
• 16: The single biggest factor for getting pregnant – and you’re in control of it
• 44: Your Guide to Birth Control (Part 1): Hormonal Birth Control&

Do you notice when PCOS is talked about, often there’s a lot of focus on the physical burdens of PCOS? While these are absolutely awful to deal with (I’ve been there!), there’s also so much that people don’t see. That’s the thing that can make PCOS so isolating. 

People can see the weight gain but no one sees the countless doctors appointments where you’re told ‘just lose weight, eat less, move more’ (like it’s that easy!) and coming out of them so frustrated and sitting in your car in tears. People can see the acne but no one sees the times where you’re looking at your skin in the bathroom mirror teary-eyed. No one sees the tests that come back ‘normal’, when your body feels anything but. 

People don’t see the breakdowns at yet another negative pregnancy test, the constant appointments with fertility specialists that drain you physically, emotionally and financially, the feelings of being out of control of your body, the devastating feeling of miscarrying and wondering why… the feeling of having to hold a brave face in front of everyone else but feeling so upset and confused by why your body ‘hates you’.

You’re just searching for something that’ll help you get a grasp on why you have these symptoms and why nothing seems to have worked. This podcast is going to delve into that a bit more with Protocoler, Tess.

I know it’s really hard to understand whether or not something may work for you and you’ve probably been let down many times before. That’s why we’re offering free discovery calls to chat through whether we’re a good fit for you, what your barriers are with trying something new and what we can do to help. If you get into the protocol and work through the first 14 days of modules (completing all the coursework and modules) and you don’t get value or feel like you haven’t learned anything new, we’ll promptly refund the money you’ve paid us (minus any transaction fees).  

So what’s stopping you? It’s time to figure out your root cause, learn how to make sustainable changes that you can maintain for years (not weeks! there’s no fast fad diets here!) and finally feel in control of your symptoms.

To book a free discovery call with one of our team, click here.

This episode is for you if:

• You struggle with unexplained weight gain
• Your tests keep coming back normal but your symptoms would suggest otherwise
• You are struggling with conceiving
• Your periods are SO irregular
• Acne is a problem for you
• You’ve experienced miscarriages as part of your fertility journey

Some things we cover in this episode:

• Tess’ PCOS journey
• Unexplained weight gain 
• Cystic acne
• Fertility challenges — not just for her first, but also second child
• Very low milk supply 
• Miscarriage and low progesterone

Resources and References:

• 22: Is breast really best? Breastfeeding and PCOS – the things you need to know
• 64: What you need to know about pelvic floor health (and no it’s not just for those that are postpartum) with Caitlin Day (The Vagina Physio)
• 68: All about Progesterone: why it may be low, why it’s important and how to improve your levels with Dr. Samina Mitha
• The Vagina Physio
• My Book: Getting Pregnant with PCOS

Ever heard someone say the following...

“My PCOS got so bad, a cyst burst! I had to go to the ER”

“PCOS is so painful, when I do get my periods, they’re so bad”

“My doctor/OBGYN/specialist said my ovaries had cysts but I don’t have any PCOS, I guess I just have a mild form?”

… or something similar?

Did you know that PCOS, ovarian cysts and cystic ovaries are all DIFFERENT things?
If you said no, don’t worry! I’ll admit, when I was first understanding the world of PCOS, I didn’t know there was a difference either.

You can have all three, a combination of two of them, just one of them or none at all. But time and time again, I hear people confusing them. If we don’t understand the differentiation between them, we can end up down a rabbit warren of doing things that aren’t actually best serving us.

I know they all sound very similar, so you’re probably wondering where the differences lie! Well, I’ve decided it’s about time I sit down and record an actual episode about the difference between PCOS, cystic ovaries and ovarian cysts. So that’s what today’s episode of The PCOS Nutritionist Podcast is all about! I’ll be going through the definition of each of these issues, the differences, the similarities and what to do next.

So the next time you hear someone getting confused, direct them to this episode! Dealing with PCOS alongside ovarian cysts? Confused on whether you have PCOS or just cystic ovaries?

Before going and making any lifestyle changes, you want to be sure you’ve got the right diagnosis. While we can’t do this for you, we can help you understand if what you’re experiencing is in fact likely PCOS — and when you’ve had a proper diagnosis, you can come join us in The PCOS Protocol! 

That’s where we help you to determine YOUR root cause and the lifestyle changes that will directly address it, so you can get on top of those nasty symptoms you’re dealing with.

This episode is for you if:

• You haven’t been diagnosed but wonder if you have PCOS
• PCOS ‘gives you pain’
• You’ve had to go to the ER because a cyst burst
• An ultrasound has shown cystic ovaries but you haven’t been diagnosed with PCOS
• You didn’t know there was a difference between PCOS, cystic ovaries and ovarian cysts
• You aren’t sure if you have PCOS, cystic ovaries or ovarian cysts, one of them or a combination of all three

Some things we cover in this episode:

• What PCOS is
• What ovarian cysts are
• What cystic ovaries are
• Why all of these are different — even though they sound very similar
• What the similarities and differences are between PCOS, cystic ovaries and ovarian cysts

Resources and References:

• Period Repair Manual: Every woman’s guide to better periods
• CEMCOR: PCOS should actually be called AAE
• My Book: Getting Pregnant with PCOS

Links to our programs:

• The PCOS Protocol
• Eggducated

Are you trying to get pregnant with PCOS at the moment, but struggling? If so, keep on reading.

You’ve likely been told by your doctor that you ‘just need to lose some weight and try for at least a year to 18 months before coming back’. There’s a lot of emphasis in PCOS on losing weight to get pregnant. Sure, losing a little weight won’t do you any harm if you’re not already on the lower end weight wise but it’s definitely not the magical pill that will help you get pregnant with PCOS.

When it comes to getting pregnant with PCOS, we need to ensure that we have all 3 fertile ingredients - good quality eggs and sperm, timing sex correctly so there is sperm waiting for the egg to be released i.e. pre ovulation and keeping your uterine lining intact for at least the first 12-14 weeks. We also need to make sure you’re ovulating on the regular so you actually can carry out the above steps.

In some cases losing weight can help this but we also need to ensure that your hormones are in check - like your insulin, your thyroid, your progesterone and all of the other wonderful hormones that are so important for conception. It can be a bit of a battle to figure out what’s out of whack, what changes specifically will help and also the less talked about side: getting your partner on board with changes and getting checked out for any potential fertility issues.

Today’s guest Ana, who has been a patient of mine in The PCOS Protocol for a while now, has been going through the struggle of conceiving of PCOS. She was told a similar spiel to what you were: It’s just about losing weight through eating less and moving more when getting pregnant with PCOS. But for most people, it’s not that simple. Ana had other things going on that have played into her fertility struggles.

In today’s episode of The PCOS Nutritionist Podcast, we go through Ana’s story. From being diagnosed with PCOS, to other conditions and health concerns, struggling with getting her partner on board with testing, understanding her root cause, her journey with using medications AND lifestyle changes and her advice to other women struggling with TTC and those doing fertility treatment.

This episode is for you if:

• You’re struggling to conceive
• You don’t know what the fertile ingredients are or what you might be missing for you
• You think or know you have insulin resistance
• You wonder if your thyroid is playing into your PCOS
• You’re tossing up whether or not to use fertility medications and treatments in your journey

Some things we cover in this episode:

• Ana’s PCOS journey
• Struggling with other conditions and health concerns alongside PCOS
• Understanding how your root cause impacts fertility
• Dealing with a partner who doesn’t want to get testing done or is resistant to change
• Understanding the role of your thyroid in getting pregnant
• Using medications and lifestyle changes for improving fertility
• Advice for other couples TTC

Resources and References:

• My Book: Getting Pregnant with PCOS

Links to our programs:

• The PCOS Protocol
• Eggducated

If you’ve been anywhere near the news or social media, you’ve probably heard about what’s going on in with the law changes in Texas (which in my personal opinion is absolutely despicable), making it illegal to get an abortion after 6 weeks. Given this, I thought it was timely to chat about Emergency contraception.

Most people even going through fertility treatment will only find out they are pregnant at 5 weeks, so that leaves you with a grand total of 1 week to find a clinic and go through the process - and that’s in a planned scenario and isn’t realistic. 

It’s even worse for those of us with PCOS and irregular cycles, as it isn’t hugely out of the ordinary for many of us would think anything of it if our periods were just a few days late. I just had a patient who didn’t realise she was 12.5 weeks pregnant because she’d had irregular cycles in the past and just thought her cycles had regressed again.

I’m so angry for the people of Texas. Given that 1 in 4 of childbearing people in the US will have had an abortion before the age of 45, this is this is disastrous for their rights in Texas (and potentially other states as a flow on effect). I hope for the health rights of other Americans and other countries’ rights that this isn’t replicated. As someone who works with people with PCOS day in day out and speaks to people all about advocating for their health - there is nothing more infuriating than people not having bodily autonomy.

In New Zealand, the Growing Up in New Zealand, which was a massive longitudinal study found that 40% of childbearing parents reported their pregnancies were unplanned. But regardless of where you live and abortion laws, there are many reasons why we’d need to emergency contraceptive. After many years of using the ECP myself, I was really shocked a few years ago when I learnt how it actually worked! And most importantly, when it wasn’t likely to work and what you could do instead. 

So in this episode, I really wanted to give you the 411 on all things emergency contraception, what it is, how it works, what counts as an emergency contraceptive, how PCOS affects this, how weight affects the emergency contraceptive and much more.

If you’ve listened to any of my podcasts, you’ll know how much I love having you informed so you can make the best decision for you. So regardless of whether or not this is relevant for you, I definitely recommend listening to this because you never know when you may be in a situation where an emergency contraceptive is needed OR when someone you know might need some advice on one!

This episode is for you if:

• You’ve been worried about accidentally falling pregnant
• You want to learn more about emergency contraception
• You’re on the copper IUD
• You want to know how weight can affect the use of emergency contraception
• You’ve found out you’re pregnant but you can’t viably continue to this pregnancy for whatever reason and are trying to figure out your options

Some things we cover in this episode:

• What emergency contraception actually is
• What the statistics around emergency contraception use show
• What are the most common types of emergency contraception
• The mechanisms that emergency contraception use to stop pregnancy
• Weight and emergency contraception

Resources and References:

• Mechanism of Action of Ulipristal Acetate for Emergency Contraception: A Systematic Review
• Choosing the right type of emergency contraception
• Mechanism of action of levonorgestrel emergency contraception