The Whole Pineapple

Cue the mood lighting, Marvin Gaye, and high thread count sheets. Let's talk about sex!

On today's short snack we're covering some juicy stuff you've always wanted to know about sex, but (maybe) are afraid to ask your fertility doc. Like should you actually stay horizontal after sex to increase chances of pregnancy? Does a clitoral orgasm have any bearing on fertility rates? How often should you have sex if you're trying to get pregnant? And can you get pregnant while you're menstruating?

Also, did you know Ruby coined a sex position in Taking Charge of your Fertility??

Let's get it on!

Have you had COVID-19? At this point in the pandemic, the chances are quite high. So what does the virus mean for your reproductive health?

On today's short snack, we welcome back Dr. Marah Hehemann – who is a fellowship trained surgeon, researcher, educator and patient advocate specializing in the fields of urology, reproductive health, and sexual health – to talk about the direct impacts of COVID-19 on sperm health.

How does covid impact the testicles and penis? How does a high fever impact sperm? Is there an association between Covid-19 and erectile dysfunction?

Get all our questions answered on this bite-sized episode.

Ps. Before you even have a chance to wonder, YES, the COVID-19 vaccine is absolutely safe for testicular health and sperm production.

We spend a lot of time on the Whole Pineapple talking about eggs, ovaries, and tubes. And for good reason! But today, we're giving some attention to another vital ingredient in the reproduction recipe: sperm.

Despite our habit of looking to the egg side to locate issues, sperm is often a major factor in infertility (50% of the time, in fact!). So we're taking you on a trip into the urologist's office with Dr. Marah Hehemann. Marah is a fellowship trained surgeon, researcher, educator and patient advocate specializing in the fields of urology, reproductive health, and sexual health. Not only is she incredibly credentialed, she is also very attuned to high-sensitivity topics and supporting patient-centered conversations.

So, what can you expect from a urology visit? What can a semen analysis tell you? Is there actually a correlation between sperm count and virility? What should you eat to optimize penile and sperm health? What should you do if you're experiencing erectile dysfunction? There's a load to talk about.

Amanda Ellis and her husband had made the decision not to have any more biological children. As luck would have it, another option fell into their laps.

On this week's short snack, we're sharing an incredible listener story about one of the many ways to build a family. If you've thought about third party reproduction, or you simply want to hear a heartwarming story about a special set of sisters, you won't want to miss this treat of an episode.

If you're currently doing fertility injections, or are considering it, you may have some anxiety about giving yourself shots. Feeling nervous about needles is normal.

So on today's short snack, we're delighted to have another Mindful Moment with friend of the pod, Jamie Mammenga, who is here to share some tools to help ease the stress. She also guides us on a meditation to help reduce fear. Whatever is holding you back, this episode will help you let go of your fear, and leave you feeling refreshed and empowered.

Imagine this: you're standing in the Italian countryside when a tanker truck goes by. You catch a whiff of something odiferous, but it can't be… or could it be? Is that truck full of pee?

It turns out we can thank some happy accidents, chance encounters, hamsters, and the urine from hundreds of Catholic nuns for our modern fertility medicine. Why and how? In today's episode, we're looking back in time for the stories behind the pharmaceuticals.

Who discovered hormones? How was Clomid first synthesized? When and how were injectables introduced? And do we really share the same steroid receptors as sea sponges, jellyfish & worms? (Hint: Yes, yes we do). If you're curious where your medicine comes from, buckle up for a wild ride!

References:

Letrozole for Female Infertility - PMC (nih.gov)

The strange story of a fertility drug made with the Pope's blessing and gallons of nun urine — Quartz (qz.com)

Microsoft Word - s015approval.doc (fda.gov)

Follistim - Food and Drug Administration

The strange story of a fertility drug made with the Pope's blessing and gallons of nun urine - Quartz

Microsoft Word - 2_9.docx (nih.gov)

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(17)31697-7/fulltext

https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/S2661318219500026

https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(12)02308-4/fulltext

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4769851/

https://www.rbmojournal.com/article/S1472-6483(10)60937-6/pdf

On today's short snack, we're going past ovulation into the luteal phase of your cycle. Which means it's time to talk about progesterone! Progesterone is the hormone that signals your uterus to turn into a nice comfy place for an embryo to implant.

Supplemental progesterone can be an important part of fertility treatment. It's also one of the most common, confusing, and controversial topics of conversation in the fertility world. So, how do you know if you should take it? What's the goldilocks timing? And are there side effects?

Anne even has one of her special songs to explain things.

There are toxic hazards all around us – in plastics, in candles, even in pajamas. But fear not! There are simple and effective tweaks we can make to reduce chemicals in our day-to-day lives.

On today's short snack, Dr. Natalia Grob – who is an expert on endocrine disrupting chemicals – is back, and going room-to-room in the house to talk about what we should ditch to make our environments healthier.

For more with Dr. Grob:

https://www.conceptionsrepro.com/dr-natalia-grob.html

IG: @nataliagrob_md

Do you have to throw away all your pans, your plastic containers, your bubble wrap?

Maybe life is just meant to be sticky…. Since non-stick pans and surfaces are generally not great for preparing or storing food.

There used to be lead in lipstick? REALLY?? In this episode, learn what substances may be affecting your health and the health of your family. And learn steps you can take to make your environment healthier.

Dr. Natalia Grob is an expert on endocrine disrupting chemicals, the effects of environmental toxins on fertility and overall health, and how we can all make healthier consumer choices.

Dr. Grob is double board-certified in obstetrics/gynecology and reproductive endocrinology and infertility. She uses evidence-based medicine to enhance your fertility naturally with diet and lifestyle recommendations. She believes in patient empowerment and wants to help provide you with the information you need to make the best decision for your family.

Mama to three boys, outdoor adventures keep her grounded. She currently lives in Denver, Colorado and practices with Conceptions Reproductive Associates of Colorado.

Contact Info:

https://www.conceptionsrepro.com/dr-natalia-grob.html

IG: @nataliagrob_md

Resources:

https://www.millionmarker.com/

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/index.htm

https://thinkdirtyapp.com/

https://www.ewg.org/

https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php

https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

Ovulation is just one part of the fertility puzzle, but it's a really important one. So what is ovulation, exactly, and how can we track it?

On today's short snack, Ruby and Anne are going back to basics and talking about hormones, ovaries, and menstrual cycles. And then, the question you've all been asking: what's the deal with ovulation predictor kits, and are they worth using? Anne and Ruby are here to bring you the unvarnished truth. And, if you need even more reason to tune it, Anne's got one of her special songs that explains it all…