The Catholic Fertility Podcast

If you’ve been told your labs are “normal,” but you’re still not getting pregnant, this episode is for you. Especially if you’re a Catholic woman trying to conceive and feeling stuck in the frustration of not having answers.

In this episode of The Catholic Fertility Podcast, I’m sharing how functional lab testing shifted my own fertility journey postpartum—when I knew something in my body was off, even though conventional labs didn’t show anything wrong. We’re talking about what functional testing actually looks like, why “normal” labs don’t always mean optimal health, and how to uncover the root causes behind hormone imbalances, missing ovulation, and unexplained infertility.

I also walk you through the deeper factors that impact fertility—like nutrient deficiencies, undernourishment, gut health, and postpartum depletion—and how to begin restoring your body in a way that aligns with your faith and supports natural conception.

What I cover in this episode:

• What functional lab testing is and how it’s different from conventional labs
• My postpartum experience and discovering nutrient depletion
• Why “normal” labs don’t always mean optimal fertility
• The connection between under-eating, depletion, and hormone imbalance
• How minerals, gut health, and nourishment impact ovulation
• Why data + interpretation matters in fertility care
• Advocating for yourself when something feels off
• Trusting your body and God’s design in the healing process

Timestamps

[00:00] – Introduction + why functional lab testing matters
[02:00] – Postpartum depletion and early symptoms
[05:00] – “Something feels off”: learning to trust your body
[07:00] – Functional labs vs. conventional labs
[10:00] – Why “normal” labs don’t mean optimal health
[13:00] – Nutrient deficiencies and hormone imbalance
[16:00] – Restoring nourishment + getting your cycle back
[19:00] – Gut health and deeper healing work
[22:00] – Advocating for yourself in your fertility journey
[25:00] – Trusting God’s design and next steps

Links & Resources

• Download our free guide: A Catholic Woman's Guide to Unexplained Infertility: The 5 Labs You Need To Get Pregnant⁠

• Apply to work with our fertility team

Connect With Me

• Instagram: catholic.fertility.dietitian
• Website: www.savorli.co

If this episode spoke to you, I’d love for you to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a friend who might need this encouragement on her fertility journey. 💛

Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a practitioner-client relationship. Please consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, medications, or healthcare plan.

Episode Summary

If you’re a Catholic woman trying to conceive, dealing with missing periods, or feeling stuck in the world of “unexplained infertility,” this episode is for you. In this very first episode of The Catholic Fertility Podcast, I open up about my personal journey—what it looked like to go over 10 years without a cycle and how I eventually conceived both of my children naturally.

I’m walking you through what actually restores fertility—not quick fixes, but rebuilding your foundation, nourishing your body, and learning to trust God’s timing in the process. We’ll talk about the real root causes behind hormone imbalances, how stress and nutrition play a role, and what it means to approach fertility in a way that aligns with your faith.

What I Cover in This Episode

• My story: going over a decade without a menstrual cycle
• The connection between stress, undernourishment, and hormone health
• Why foundational healing matters more than quick fixes
• Birth control and why it doesn’t restore natural cycles
• Misdiagnosis vs. identifying the true root cause of amenorrhea
• Healing your relationship with food and your body
• The role of faith in your fertility journey
• Cycle tracking and understanding your hormones
• What it looked like to conceive naturally after years of struggle

Timeline Highlights

[00:00] – Welcome + introduction to the podcast
[00:30] – My story: 10 years without a cycle
[02:21] – Dieting, body image, and early patterns
[03:48] – College years + chronic stress
[07:27] – Medical approaches vs. foundational healing
[08:25] – Nutrition, sleep, and creating safety in the body
[10:13] – Healing in the right order
[11:04] – Birth control explained
[11:34] – PCOS vs. true root causes of missing periods
[12:02] – Faith and being led toward healing
[13:27] – Getting my cycle back
[14:24] – Learning through cycle tracking
[16:01] – Trying to conceive
[16:57] – Pregnancy story
[18:21] – A faith-aligned approach to fertility
[18:49] – Encouragement for your journey
[19:47] – Resources
[20:17] – Closing thoughts

Links & Resources

• Intuitively Full Lucia’s book on healing, food, and faith

• A Catholic Woman's Guide to Unexplained Infertility: The 5 Labs You Need To Get Pregnant

• Apply to work with our team 1:1

Connect With Me

Instagram: @catholic.fertility.dietitian

Website: www.savorli.co

If this episode spoke to you, I’d love for you to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with a friend who might need this encouragement on her fertility journey. 💛

Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a practitioner-client relationship. Please consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, medications, or healthcare plan.

The Catholic Fertility Podcast is for Catholic women who want to support their hormones, restore cycle health, and conceive naturally while honoring the faith and the design of their body.

Hosted by Lucia Harmeling, MS, RDN, LD—functional dietitian, women’s health expert, and mom of two—this podcast explores the root causes behind hormone imbalance, irregular cycles, PMS, infertility, and miscarriage.

Episodes launching May 1, 2026!

Disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not establish a practitioner-client relationship. Please consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, supplements, medications, or healthcare plan.