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

This episode analyzes a scientific study on how a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet affects sex hormones in premenopausal women, exploring the importance of dietary fat for hormonal balance and menstrual health.

This episode features an interview with Dr.

This episode explores the critical role of vitamin A, specifically retinoic acid, in sperm production and overall fertility, based on a narrative review of animal and human studies.

This episode discusses the long-overdue recognition by ACOG of severe IUD insertion pain, based on interviews with women sharing their excruciating experiences.

This episode explores the menstrual cycle as an overlooked vital sign in psychiatry, discussing research connecting menstrual phases to symptom exacerbation in conditions like depression, anxiety, and PMDD.

This episode explores birth experiences and trauma, emphasizing the importance of knowledge, empowerment, and preparation for navigating birth settings and care provider expectations.

This episode examines whether fertility awareness methods are too complicated for women, discussing efficacy, challenges for users and providers, and insights from research on unintended pregnancy and conception.

This episode revisits the concept of the menstrual cycle as a vital sign, particularly in adolescent girls, drawing from the host's book and research to frame fertility awareness as a tool for understanding health.

This episode examines the legitimacy of withdrawal as a birth control method, discussing a recent study and common perceptions surrounding its use.

This episode explores the common but often unaddressed issue of painful sex and vaginismus with Dr.

This episode discusses a recent research paper exploring whether the menstrual cycle should be considered a vital sign in psychiatry, examining its impact on physical health, emotions, and psychiatric disorders in women.

This episode analyzes a research study comparing mood, cognitive performance, and appetite changes in women with and without PMDD during different menstrual cycle phases, discussing findings and methodological strengths and weaknesses.

This episode explores the staggering delays in endometriosis diagnosis, discussing a study showing it takes 8-12 years on average and examining issues like lack of provider awareness and symptom dismissal.

This episode analyzes a 2023 UK study on contraceptive method use at conception among abortion patients, exploring whether women are increasingly ditching birth control for fertility awareness methods.

This episode explores how scientific research has historically focused on male physiology and examines the gaps and improvements needed in studies specifically about women's health.

This episode explores AMH (anti-müllerian hormone) and its role in fertility, addressing misconceptions and providing research-based insights for women trying to conceive and practitioners.

This episode features an interview with Lily Nichols discussing nutritional strategies to optimize fertility, including blood sugar balance, macronutrient and micronutrient importance, and PCOS as a case study.

This episode features an interview with Lauren Mallers discussing fertility awareness, common misconceptions about ovulation, and the role of charting apps in identifying fertile days.

This episode explores the potential link between sperm DNA damage and early pregnancy loss, continuing a discussion on sperm quality from a previous episode.

This episode features an interview with Michelle Snyder, a nutrition scientist and fertility educator, discussing her journey from severe period pain to using fertility awareness methods, her educational background, and insights on reproductive health.

This episode features an interview with Dr.

This episode explores research on whether ovulation affects women's self-perceived attractiveness and grooming behaviors, examining evolutionary biology perspectives on hormonal influences.

This episode explores why people may still experience bloating and digestive issues despite following elimination diets, featuring insights from Hannah Aylward on root causes and diet limitations.

This episode explores why people may still experience bloating and digestive issues despite following a strict diet, featuring insights from Hannah Aylward on root causes and the limitations of elimination diets.

This episode explores the connection between oral health and fertility through an interview with functional dentist Dr.

This episode features an interview with Dr.

This episode explores the impact of environmental toxins on fertility, discussing both personal reduction strategies and systemic factors beyond individual control.

This episode analyzes a research study on how social media conversations about PCOS are impacting women's health education and the medical profession.

This episode features an interview with Jenna Reich discussing atypical endometriosis symptoms and the challenges of diagnosis and treatment for non-textbook cases.

This episode explores how midwife Kate Chantry integrates fertility awareness into her practice, covering topics like postpartum charting and natural birth control methods.

This episode explores how natural beauty products may be greenwashed and discusses hidden toxins in skincare with guest Courtney Joy Goetz from Primally Pure.

This episode discusses a research study on how iodine deficiency can delay conception and impact fertility, highlighting iodine's importance for reproductive function.

This episode discusses a groundbreaking study that found microplastics in human ovarian follicular fluid for the first time, exploring its implications for female fertility and overall health.

This episode analyzes a research study investigating the connection between sleep disturbances and the menstrual cycle, specifically focusing on how PMS may disrupt sleep patterns.

This episode critically examines how WHO sperm guidelines were derived and their potential to create false security in male fertility assessment for couples trying to conceive.

This episode features an interview with Dr.

This episode promotes a fertility awareness training program for women's health practitioners, emphasizing the growing mainstream interest in cycle charting and the need for advanced skills to support clients with complex cycles.

This episode examines whether female healthcare practitioners are more knowledgeable and supportive of fertility awareness methods based on a research study involving predominantly female participants.

This episode features an interview with Sarah Hill about her book 'The Period Brain', exploring the science behind why women often feel unwell during half of their menstrual cycle and critiquing how gender differences are overlooked in research.

This episode explores research linking sperm quality to life expectancy in men, examining whether it could serve as a vital sign similar to the menstrual cycle for women.

This episode explores how ADHD symptoms in women may fluctuate with the menstrual cycle, based on research discussed in the Fertility Friday podcast's FAM research series.

This episode examines a research paper analyzing birth control misinformation on TikTok and discusses how social media is challenging traditional medical authority over contraceptive information.

The host reflects on the podcast's 11th anniversary and 600+ episodes, then introduces a list of the top 10 fertility insights from 2025 based on research and discussions.

This episode features Dr.

This episode examines research on whether organ meat boosts male fertility while discussing how to critically analyze scientific studies and recognize researcher bias.

This episode analyzes a research study on whether skipping breakfast qualifies as intermittent fasting and examines its effects on calorie intake and eating patterns.

Lisa Hendrickson-Jack discusses a re-examination of historical menstrual cycle data from the 1940s-50s, highlighting its importance for understanding natural fluctuations in perimenopause and its application in fertility awareness practices for health professionals.

Lisa Hendrickson-Jack explores the lack of hormonal contraceptive options for men, questioning why advances have stalled compared to women's 60-year history.

This episode explores the benefits of red light therapy for fertility and menstrual health, featuring an interview with Tracy Donegan, a midwife and light therapist.

This episode examines a controversial study on how the birth control pill affects clitoral vascularization and sexual behavior in women, discussing its findings and the backlash it received.

This episode promotes a mentorship program for women's health professionals to interpret complex menstrual cycle charts and guide clients through hormonal challenges, featuring an interview on spiritual approaches to menstrual issues.

Promotion of a fertility awareness mentorship program and introduction to an interview with Toni Weschler about the 30th anniversary edition of Taking Charge of Your Fertility.

The episode discusses the growing mainstream interest in fertility awareness and encourages women's health practitioners to upskill in cycle charting and analysis.

Interview with Monica Cox sharing her infertility journey and work as a holistic functional fertility coach.

This episode explores why doctors may not recommend fertility awareness-based methods and how women can navigate medical skepticism.

Host Lisa Hendrickson-Jack discusses research politics and challenges with Dr.

This episode debunks common myths about hormonal contraception by reviewing a 2025 paper, aiming to educate women's health professionals on evidence-based practices.

This episode features a practitioner sharing her journey from losing her period for three years to achieving a healthy cycle, with insights for women's health professionals.

This episode features an interview with a FAM practitioner who shares her personal birth experience and how it led her to become a fertility awareness method practitioner.

An interview with a dietitian and FAM practitioner in training about her experience learning fertility awareness charting while postpartum and working.