Podcasts about fertility care

We're told birth control is safe and effective and side effects should be temporary, but what happens when that's not our experience? How can we know what's a side effect from birth control vs unrelated? Doctors often evaluate physical side effects like bleeding or cramping, but mental and emotional side effects are just as important to our quality of life! Today Caitlin and Grace chat about the mental and emotional side effects she and others have experienced on birth control. NOTE: This episode is appropriate for most audiences, but does reference libido. Guest Biography:Grace is no stranger to the Woven Well podcast! A native of Murfreesboro, TN, Grace studied public relations at Union University. Now she is serving as an Admissions Director. Grace enjoys spending time with her husband Quinn, traveling, and playing pickleball! Other episodes you might enjoy:Ep. 141: Healing after Birth Control - Grace's StoryEp. 160: What every college student should know about women's health with GraceEp. 159: Nagging uncertainty about birth control revealed undiagnosed health issues, Courtney's storySend us a textSupport the showOther great ways to connect with Woven Natural Fertility Care: Learn the Creighton Model System with us! Register here! Get our monthly newsletter: Get the updates! Chat about issues of fertility + faith: Substack Follow us on Instagram: @wovenfertility Watch our episodes on YouTube: @wovenfertility Love the content? The biggest gift you could give is to click a 5 star review and write why it was so meaningful! This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. Neither Woven nor its staff, nor any contributor to this podcast, makes any represe...

To celebrate International Nurses Day, I'm sitting down with the unsung heroes of fertility treatment, the dedicated nursing team from Concept Fertility Centre who become your lifeline throughout the journey. Join me in conversation with Michaela Hegarty (Nurse Manager - Coordination), Corry Moore (Nurse and Donor Coordinator), and Chantelle Trower (Nurse Coordinator) as they share insights from the frontlines of reproductive care. These extraordinary professionals are often the first voice you hear on the phone, the steady hand holding the ultrasound wand, and the compassionate presence guiding you through medication protocols. With decades of combined experience and hearts as skilled as their hands, they reveal what happens behind the clinic doors, from the emotional rollercoaster they ride alongside patients to the small victories they celebrate that most never see. Whether you're currently in treatment, considering your options, or simply curious about the people who make fertility care possible, this conversation offers a rare glimpse into the nursing perspective of reproductive medicine. This episode is proudly supported by Concept Fertility Centre

When thinking about women's health, it can feel overwhelming to know where to start. Tori Black is a Hair & Tissue Mineral Analysis tech who helps her clients focus on the foundational aspects of our body's building blocks, which affect every system of our bodies. In this episode, she talks about what HTMA is, how it can help prioritize where to begin, and what it can reveal. GUEST BIO: Tori is a registered nurse, Mercier Therapist, and fertility coach with a passion for helping couples struggling with unexplained infertility find answers and proven strategies to improve their chances of conception. In her practice she uses health foundations, HTMA testing, and a big dose of Jesus to support her clients.  She's also a wife, mom of two, lover of iced coffee, and Alabama girl. Note: This episode is appropriate for all audiences. Show Notes: Fruitfulfertilityco.comIs the Copper IUD the best non-hormonal birth control for me, with Rick Fischer? Why you need to consider fertility awareness with Caitlin Estes (Tori Black's podcast)Ep. 64: Unexplained InfertilitySend us a textSupport the showOther great ways to connect with Woven Natural Fertility Care: Learn the Creighton Model System with us! Register here! Get our monthly newsletter: Get the updates! Chat about issues of fertility + faith: Substack Follow us on Instagram: @wovenfertility Watch our episodes on YouTube: @wovenfertility Love the content? The biggest gift you could give is to click a 5 star review and write why it was so meaningful! This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. Neither Woven nor its staff, nor any contributor to this podcast, makes any represe...

In this episode of the Them Before Us podcast, Dr. Jennifer Mercier shares her inspiring journey through women's health and fertility. As the creator of Mercier Therapy, a natural method that helps women conceive, she offers a meaningful look into alternatives to IVF. Drawing from her own experience with endometriosis and infertility, Dr. Mercier opens up about the emotional and ethical concerns surrounding the fertility industry, including what happens to frozen embryos. She also highlights the importance of protecting both women's well-being and children's rights. You will also get a preview of her upcoming documentary Conceiving Miracles and hear her honest reflections on parenting through life's challenges with faith and strength.Bio: Jennifer Mercier, ND, PhD, Midwife, has been in private practice for over two decades, specializing in women's health, fertility, and hormone balance. A pioneer in integrative reproductive care, she is the creator of Mercier Therapy, a deep pelvic visceral technique that has helped countless women conceive naturally and prepare for successful IVF. Dr. Mercier is also a passionate educator, training healthcare professionals in Mercier Therapy for nearly 20 years. She is the author of Conceive and the filmmaker behind the documentaries Fertility: The Shared Journey With Mercier Therapy and the upcoming Conceiving Miracles. With a commitment to advancing personalized medicine, she continues to serve women as a hormone and fertility specialist.Check out more from Dr. Mercier at:https://www.expectamiracle.life/https://www.merciertherapy.com/https://www.mercierwhf.com/And her book on Amazon "Conceive: The Mercier Approach"

Loren struggled to conceive and was told IVF was her best hope. Thankfully, that wasn't the case. But it took a lot of courage -- and investigation -- on her part to find out exactly what she and her husband needed. Today, she joins us to share her story with our listeners in order to provide hope and encouragement along the way. NOTE: This episode is appropriate for all audiences, but does reference IVF, infertility, and pregnancy loss. Show links:Ep. 64: Unexplained InfertilityEp. 96: Theological Considerations with IVFEp. 122: IVF Alternatives for friendsEp. 147: Emotional Healing after IVFSend us a textSupport the showOther great ways to connect with Woven Natural Fertility Care: Learn the Creighton Model System with us! Register here! Get our monthly newsletter: Get the updates! Chat about issues of fertility + faith: Substack Follow us on Instagram: @wovenfertility Watch our episodes on YouTube: @wovenfertility Love the content? The biggest gift you could give is to click a 5 star review and write why it was so meaningful! This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. Neither Woven nor its staff, nor any contributor to this podcast, makes any represe...

This week on the podcast, we sit down with the brilliant Dr. Janelle Luk—fertility expert, Ivy League-trained physician, and co-founder of Generation Next Fertility. Though classically trained, Dr. Luk takes a deeply personalized approach to fertility care. She shares how she helps patients make deeply personal decisions—like using donor conception, freezing eggs or embryos, or even stepping back for a break—by truly listening to their stories. Together, we explore how honoring patient autonomy can sometimes mean going against the expected medical path to create a future that truly fits the individual or couple. This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating fertility or supporting others on that journey.

Dr. Amy Hogan has been in the women's health field for many years and strives to optimize and preserve female fertility through a holistic approach and restorative, NaProTechnology focused care. She joins us on the podcast to share her recommendations for the TOP supplements she recommends for women's health. She doesn't just give us names, she explains why they are so critical to balancing hormones, optimal quality of life, and more -- and shares some fascinating research studies along the way! If you're looking to narrow down the number of supplements you need to take for women's health needs, this episode is for you! GUEST BIO: Dr. Hogan was born and raised in rural Kansas. She earned a bachelor's degree in Nutrition Science from Kansas State University. Dr. Hogan graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 2003 with special honors in endocrinology. She completed residency at Via Christi Family Medicine in Wichita, KS. During that time she also became a Creighton Model FertilityCare Medical Consultant. After 15 years of medical experience, she founded One Body Family and Fertility Clinic, LLC.NOTE: Episode is appropriate for all audiences. Show Notes: Prostaglandin Study PubMed article referencedOther episodes you may enjoy!:Ep.16: PMS 101Ep.39: Should I be taking Supplements?Ep. 134: Realistic cycle syncing for every woman, with Megan FallerSend us a textSupport the showOther great ways to connect with Woven Natural Fertility Care: Learn the Creighton Model System with us! Register here! Get our monthly newsletter: Get the updates! Chat about issues of fertility + faith: Substack Follow us on Instagram: @wovenfertility Watch our episodes on YouTube: @wovenfertility Love the content? The biggest gift you could give is to click a 5 star review and write why it was so meaningful! This podcast is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. Always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider regarding a medical condition. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. Neither Woven nor its staff, nor any contributor to this podcast, makes any represe...

Treatments available at public fertility clinics Eligibility criteria for accessing care at a public fertility clinic Age limits attached to access to public fertility services Holistic care for individuals accessing fertility services Host: Dr Terri Foran | Total Time: 28 mins Expert: A/Prof Kate Stern, Fertility Specialist, Gynaecologist and Reproductive Endocrinologist and A/Prof Wan Tinn Teh, Gynaecologist and Fertility Specialist Register for our fortnightly FREE WEBCASTSEvery second Tuesday | 7:00pm-9:00pm AEDT Click here to register for the next oneSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Male fertility represents an often overlooked yet critical component of the reproductive health journey. Our next guest, Matt Alley, is transforming this space as COO of Posterity Health, a pioneering virtual-first center of excellence dedicated to male fertility. With extensive operational leadership experience at Amazon, Alto Pharmacy, and HelloFresh, Matt brings a patient-centered approach to this underserved healthcare sector. Drawing from his own fertility journey, Matt is passionate about improving outcomes for couples through early male intervention, which can increase IVF success rates by over 2x. Join us as Matt shares how Posterity Health's innovative model combines reproductive urologists and advanced practice providers to deliver specialized care nationwide, challenging traditional fertility paradigms and pioneering the next wave of reproductive healthcare. Let's go!Episode Highlights:Matt's personal fertility journey discovering he was azoospermic in 2020 influenced his passion for male reproductive health.Posterity Health uses 80% telehealth services to extend the reach of reproductive urologists—a scarce resource with only 200-250 specialists nationwide.Treating male fertility factors can improve IVF outcomes by 2.3x, making fertility treatment dollars more effective.30-40% of their male patients haven't seen a doctor since age 18, highlighting a significant gap in men's healthcare engagement.Posterity Health maintains an 82 NPS score by using text-based communication and consistent provider relationships to build patient trust.About our Guest: Matt Alley is a seasoned Chief Operating Officer with extensive experience driving operational excellence within high-growth companies, including industry leaders like HelloFresh, Truepill, and Amazon. Matt's strategic vision has successfully transformed business systems and processes, delivering efficiency, scalability, and growth across fulfillment and healthcare operations. Currently, as COO of Posterity Health, Matt leads initiatives in male reproductive healthcare, including developing a unique Advanced Practice Provider program that maximizes patient care efficiency. Known for his ability to foster cross-functional collaboration, Matt has managed large teams and significant budgets and has played a pivotal role in securing funding to support corporate growth and innovation. His background includes dual master's degrees and leadership in automation design, strategic partnerships, and supply chain management.Links Supporting This Episode: Posterity Health Website: CLICK HEREMatt Alley LinkedIn page: CLICK HEREPosterity Health LinkedIn: CLICK HEREMike Biselli LinkedIn page: CLICK HEREMike Biselli Twitter page: CLICK HEREVisit our website: CLICK HERESubscribe to newsletter: CLICK HEREGuest nomination form: CLICK HERE

Zora Health is Asia’s leading fertility, reproductive, and family health platform, dedicated to empowering individuals to embrace life with options and without limitations. Founded by Anna Vanessa Haotanto, Zora Health was born out of a deeply personal journey that resonated with thousands - breaking taboos around fertility, egg-freezing, and family planning in modern society. Its comprehensive ecosystem combines cutting-edge digital tools, clinical expertise, and lifestyle resources to support every stage of life, from family planning and hormonal health to parenting and menopause. On The Right Business, Hongbin Jeong speaks to Anna Vanessa Haotanto, CEO, Zora Health to share more. Presented by: Hongbin Jeong Produced and Edited by: Alexandra Parada (alexparada@sph.com.sg) Want to get featured on our show? Drop me an email today!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this enlightening episode of the Conscious Fertility Podcast, Lorne Brown sits down with Tracy Donegan, a midwife and health coach, to explore the powerful intersection of light therapy and mindfulness in enhancing fertility. Tracy shares her personal journey through unexplained infertility and premature ovarian failure, and how these experiences shaped her holistic approach to reproductive health. Together, they discuss the impact of stress on fertility, the significance of preconception care, and the transformative potential of photobiomodulation. Tune in for valuable insights and practical strategies to support your fertility journey.Key Topics:Mind-Body Link: Chronic stress impacts fertility; mindfulness is essential for emotional balance.Preconception Care: Holistic approaches are vital for optimal reproductive health.Photobiomodulation: Light therapy enhances fertility and overall well-being.Empowerment: Knowledge about reproductive health fosters informed decisions.Holistic Support: Combining traditional and alternative therapies creates personalized fertility plans.About Tracy Donegan:​​Tracy Donegan is a Midwife and dedicated advocate for women's reproductive health with over 15 years of experience. As a midwife and author of 6 books and founder of two apps, she has been instrumental in educating and empowering women through her comprehensive and holistic approach to reproductive health and parenting. Tracy has personal experience of the heartbreak of unexplained fertility and POF as well as the joy of eventually becoming a parent. With a Masters in Mindfulness Studies, Tracy combines her extensive knowledge of reproductive health with mindfulness practices to support women (and partners) throughout fertility challenges. She is deeply committed to women's empowerment throughout their journey to parenthood and beyond. Recently, Tracy has expanded her focus to include Photobiomodulation, emphasizing its benefits for reproductive health, fertility, and overall well-being. Tracy lives in Texas with her husband and two sons.Where To Find Tracy Donegan- Website: https://tracydonegan.org/ -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fertilemindapp/-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fertilemindprogram/: - FERTILITY MIND APP: https://www.fertilemind.app/Use coupon Acubalance for 30 days free access-GENTLE BIRTH APP: https://gentlebirth.app/How to connect to Lorne Brown online and in person (Vancouver, BC)Acubalance.ca book virtual or in person conscious work sessions with Dr. Lorne Brown Lornebrown.comConscious hacks and tools to optimize your fertility by Dr. Lorne Brown:https://acubalance.ca/conscious-work/Download a free copy of the Acubalance Fertility Diet & Recipes and a copy of the ebook 5 Ways to Maximize...

This episode's Community Champion Sponsor is Ossur. To learn more about their ‘Responsible for Tomorrow' Sustainability Campaign, and how you can get involved: CLICK HEREEpisode Overview: Technology is helping revolutionize the most intimate healthcare journeys, and Irene Alvarado is at the forefront of reimagining fertility treatment. As founder and CEO of Berry Fertility, she's transforming a complex and deeply personal medical experience through human-centered technology. Drawing from her personal fertility journey and engineering expertise at Google, Irene is building a comprehensive platform that empowers patients and clinicians alike. While together, Irene shares how she and her team are leveraging AI and intuitive design to be a supportive companion through one of life's most challenging medical processes. Additionally, Irene also discusses how her team's mission goes beyond software- it's about reducing complexity, providing personalized support, and making fertility treatments more accessible and manageable for everyone involved. Join us as we explore how innovative and human-centered technology can fundamentally reshape fertility treatments. Let's go! Episode Highlights:Converted personal fertility treatment challenges into Berry Fertility, pioneering a patient-centered technological solutionEngineered an all-in-one fertility management app that consolidates fragmented healthcare tools for patients and clinicsDeployed AI-powered chat tools to revolutionize clinic support and address critical workforce shortagesUncovered emerging industry trends expanding fertility service accessibility and reducing treatment costsLaunched a free consumer app providing comprehensive fertility treatment resources and global patient supportAbout our Guest: Irene Alvarado is the founder and CEO of Berry Fertility, the fertility management app for IVF, IUI, embryo transfer, and egg freezing. As CEO, Irene oversees the company's overarching vision, product, and brand. She is also co-founder at Early Works, a product studio incubating vertically niche, applied AI software startups. Irene founded Berry Fertility after going through a fertility treatment herself. Irene was previously a software engineer at Google, GitHub/Microsoft, and a geospatial startup at Samsung Accelerator. She helped create and launch digital products that reached millions of users, like the first massively used AI-powered coding assistant powered by large language models. Irene has a M.S. from Carnegie Mellon University in Human Computer Interaction and a B.S. in Computer Science from Columbia University. She was previously an adjunct professor at New York University.Links Supporting This Episode:Berry Fertility Website: CLICK HEREIrene Alvarado LinkedIn: CLICK HEREBerry Fertility LinkedIn: CLICK HEREMike Biselli LinkedIn page: CLICK HEREMike Biselli Twitter page: CLICK HEREVisit our website: CLICK HERESubscribe to newsletter:

The journey to parenthood is deeply personal, and for 1 in 6 who struggle with infertility it can be a complex and challenging path. Dr. Edward Nguyen, a reproductive endocrinologist and minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon (MIGS) at Fertility Centers of Illinois, combines advanced expertise in fertility care with innovative surgical techniques to offer a truly comprehensive approach to helping patients achieve their dreams of starting a family.In this episode of the Time to Talk Fertility podcast, Dr. Nguyen shares how his dual specialty enhances patient outcomes, offering unique insights into the cutting-edge techniques he employs to support individuals and couples on their path to parenthood. Whether you're exploring fertility options or curious about the intersection of reproductive endocrinology and surgery, this conversation promises valuable takeaways.

Avec Anne Tessier, instructice FertilityCare Livres conseillées : "Concevoir un enfant " Mame " Se passer de la pilule, c'est possible ! " Bénédicte Lucereau " Troubles hormonaux " Gwénaêlle Abéguilé " Faîtes votre glucose révolution " Jessie inchanspé

What if the biggest hurdle to starting a family – the financial cost – could be eased by a breakthrough insurance model? In this eye-opening episode, The Leadership in Insurance Podcast welcomes Ines Cheaib, the COO at Gaia, a company reshaping fertility care with a purpose-driven, outcome-based insurance solution.

In episode #334 of The Hormone Puzzle Podcast, our guest Carolynn Dube, talks about Advocating for Fertility Care in the Workplace. More about Carolynn: Carolynn Dubé is the Executive Director of Fertility Matters Canada (FMC), a leading charity for fertility and family-building support in Canada. She has a Bachelor's in Human Kinetics from St. Francis Xavier University and a Master's in Sport and Exercise Science from the University of New Brunswick. Since 2015, Carolynn has transformed FMC, making it the trusted voice for Canadian fertility patients and leading advocacy at federal, provincial, employer, and insurance levels. Her personal experience as a fertility patient adds a valuable perspective. In 2023, she represented Canada on the APEC Smart Families Working Group, contributing to demographic resilience policy development. Carolynn resides in Moncton, New Brunswick, with her husband and three sons, all born through IVF. Thank you for listening! This episode is made possible by Puzzle Brew's Fertility Tea: https://hormonepuzzlesociety.com/fertility-tea Follow Carolynn on Instagram: @‌fertility_canada Follow Dr. Kela on Instagram: @‌kela_healthcoach Get your FREE Fertility Meal Plan: https://hormonepuzzlesociety.com/ FTC Affiliate Disclaimer: The disclosure that follows is intended to fully comply with the Federal Trade Commission's policy of the United States that requires to be transparent about any and all affiliate relations the Company may have on this show. You should assume that some of the product mentions and discount codes given are "affiliate links", a link with a special tracking code This means that if you use one of these codes and purchase the item, the Company may receive an affiliate commission. This is a legitimate way to monetize and pay for the operation of the Website, podcast, and operations and the Company gladly reveals its affiliate relationships to you. The price of the item is the same whether it is an affiliate link or not. Regardless, the Company only recommends products or services the Company believes will add value to its users. The Hormone Puzzle Society and Dr. Kela will receive up to 30% affiliate commission depending on the product that is sponsored on the show. For sponsorship opportunities, email HPS Media at media@hormonepuzzlesociety.com

Today's guest, Asima Ahmad, is a double board-certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility and obstetrics and gynecology. She is also the co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Carrot Fertility, which believes in Fertility Care for All. On this episode, Ali and Asima talk about how Asima diagnosed herself with PCOS in her 20s; how her aunt had navigated multiple stillbirths; what it feels like being a fertility doctor and patient at the same time; and how, when Asima suffered her own pregnancy loss, she began to understand miscarriage on an even deeper level. She talks about the road that lead to her four children, and what she is doing now at Carrot to help increase access to fertility care. Find out more at https://www.get-carrot.com/TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE:PCOS; infertility; pregnancy loss; miscarriage; miscarriage awareness; IVF; IVF cycles; IVF treatment; fertility care for all EPISODE SPONSORS:WORK OF ARTAli's Children's Book about IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technologyhttps://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksDo not miss Ali's children's book about IVF! It's been getting rave reviews. “Work of ART” is the story of an IVF kiddo the day he learns he is a “work of ART” (born via IVF and ART). For young readers 4-8. Hardcover. Written by Ali Prato; Illustrated by Federico Bonifacini.Personalized and non-personalized versions are available. Order yours now at https://www.infertileafgroup.com/booksFor bulk orders of 10 or more books at 20% off, go to https://www.infertileafgroup.com/bulk-order-requestFERTILITY RALLYIG: @fertilityrallywww.fertilityrally.comNo one should go through infertility alone. Join the Worst Club with the Best Members at fertilityrally.com. We offer 5 to 6 support groups per week, three private Facebook groups, tons of curated IRL and virtual events, and an entire community of more than 500 women available to support you, no matter where you are in your journey.Join today at link in bio on IG @fertilityrally or at www.fertilityrally.com/membershipSAVE $40 on an annual membership with code RALLY2024RECEPTIVA DXhttps://receptivadx.com/ReceptivaDx is the singular test capable of identifying endometriosis,progesterone resistance, and endometritis in one comprehensive analysis. These conditions are often the hidden culprits behind unexplained infertility, directly impacting the success rates of IVF treatments. Ask for the Receptvia DX test today, and use code INFERTILEAF24 for $75 off.S'MOOS'moo's best-selling hormone balance powder is formulated with 7 essential vitamins, minerals, and herbs that are all highly recommended for Hormone Balance, Fertility, and PCOS. S'moo was created by fellow PCOS Cyster, and has helped thousands of women manage their PCOS naturally.Go to thesmooco.com and enjoy a generous 20% off site-wide using code 'InfertileAF20' at checkout.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/infertile-af/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The future of IVF will focus on making clinics more patient-friendly and accessible, especially for those who can't afford it or live far away. In this episode, Dr. Eduardo Hariton discusses how his dual training in medicine and business has shaped his innovative approach to enhancing patient engagement, efficiency, and cost reduction in fertility care through technology like AI. He also addresses challenges in IVF accessibility, patient education, task automation, and outcome measurement for improved patient-centric care. Tune in and learn how innovative approaches and technology can transform healthcare delivery, particularly in fertility care! Resources: Connect and follow Dr. Eduardo Hariton on LinkedIn. Follow US Fertility on LinkedIn. Discover US Fertility's Website! About Memora Health: Memora Health, the leading intelligent care enablement platform, helps clinicians focus on top-of-license practice while proactively engaging patients along complex care journeys. Memora partners with leading health systems, health plans, and digital health companies to transform the care delivery process for care teams and patients. The company's platform digitizes and automates high-touch clinical workflows, supercharging care teams by intelligently triaging patient-reported concerns and data to appropriate care team members and providing patients with proactive, two-way communication and support.

Love to hear from you; “Send us a Text Message”Initially I asked Dr. Teresa Hilgers of the world renowned Saint Paul VI Institute to come on our show to address the effect of contraceptives, especially oral contraceptives, on women's overall health. She did that and much more. It is our hope that you will take the time to listen or watch the interview and share it with friends and family. In addition your Parish Priest will find it helpful when addressing fertility issues with young couples, especially those preparing for marriage or dealing with infertility. I invite you to join the conversation as we address the important topic of natural fertility care with Dr. Teresa Hilgers and explore the revolutionary innovations of the St. Paul VI Institute. Learn firsthand about the creation and global impact of the Creighton Model and NaPro Technology, developed by her father, Dr. Thomas Hilgers, along with his dedicated team. Discover how these groundbreaking methods support women in achieving or delaying pregnancy, while addressing a variety of gynecological issues in harmony with their natural cycles.Dr. Teresa Hilgers also shares her expert insights on the ethical and medical implications of using birth control pills for health purposes beyond contraception. We discuss the significant side effects and the failure of these pills to address underlying health issues, offering an alternative perspective grounded in ethical medicine and aligned with the Catholic Church's teachings. You'll also gain a deeper understanding of natural family planning as a viable and effective alternative for delaying pregnancy and the value of understanding fertility cycles as a couple.Explore the critical importance of fertility education, the risks and benefits of birth control, and the need for proactive diagnosis of conditions like endometriosis. Dr. Teresa provides valuable resources for finding NaPro doctors and outlines the global reach of their practice. Embrace the spirit of curiosity and questioning in science as we conclude with an enlightening discussion on the essence of scientific inquiry and the importance of humility in the medical field. This episode is a treasure trove of knowledge for anyone seeking ethical and effective reproductive health solutions.In closing a reminder that this show is available on any podcast or music app or the video podcast accessed on X or our website: JP2Renew.orgAdditional resources: Dr. Thomas Hilgers joins Jack, some past episodes: #179 Woman's Reproductive Health with Dr. Thomas Hilgers, Director of the Saint Paul VI Institute#101: “Good News” in Women's Reproductive Health, Dr. Hilgers is with us!!Fertility Care.orgSaint Paul VI Institute   (Please support the Institutes research and training!) Saint John Paul the Great Society of Procreative Surgeons Support the Show.

On this episode of The Idea Maze, we're joined by Wendy Tsu, CEO of Branch Care. Wendy leads us through her journey from a tech-savvy upbringing in the Bay Area to founding a company aiming to democratize fertility care across the US. Wendy shares her learnings from observing one of the best serial entrepreneurs launch multiple businesses within Alleycorp as well as her own personal mantras that guide her journey today. 

Tammy's mission with Carrot is to make fertility care accessible and affordable, especially in the workplace. In just six years, Carrot has transformed the fertility healthcare landscape, nearly doubling its customer base to over 800 by the end of 2022. This growth highlights the rising demand for fertility healthcare and its resilience despite economic challenges.

In this episode Dr. Mark Trolice speaks with Stacy Stevenson, the CEO and president of Family Equality, a national LGBTQ foundation, along with Robert Terenzio, who is a Reproductive Healthcare Attorney on the infertility challenges facing the LGBTQ community. Find the #StartwithSART Fertility Experts series wherever you get your podcasts. Looking for advice on building a family? Ask the experts and #StartwithSART. For more information about the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, visit our website at https://www.sart.org Have a topic you'd like to hear? Tell Us!  

In this episode of the Trying to Be Positive we welcome holistic nutritionist and health coach Bianca Osbourne. Explore the critical roles of balanced blood sugar, gut health, and lifestyle habits on fertility and overall health. Learn practical tips for maintaining a balanced diet & stress management. Discover Bianca's courses, the Blood Sugar Blueprint and the Fertile Flow, along with her one-on-one coaching options for personalized health guidance. Listen in to uncover how mindful changes and the right nutrients can significantly enhance your wellbeing and fertility. Anne's Instagram @energytreeanne Bianca Osbourne @bianca.osbourne

See the full show notes: https://www.draimee.org/understanding-fertility-and-the-tushy-method-hosted-by-anne-matthews In this episode hosted by Anne Matthews, a fertility-focused acupuncturist from Energy Tree in Toronto, Canada, Anne discusses fertility issues with Dr. Aimee. Anne reveals how she became a fan of Dr. Aimee's holistic and patient-centric approach rooted in the TUSHY method, which stands for Testing: Tubes, Uterus, Sperm, Hormones, and Your genetics. They delve into the inadequacies of common fertility treatments, the importance of comprehensive diagnostic tests, and the role of acupuncture. They also discuss the implications of factors such as polyps, DNA fragmentation in sperm, and the significance of quality embryo grading. Dr. Aimee emphasizes the importance of personalized patient care, thorough diagnoses, and being emotionally and physically prepared for pregnancy, reflecting on her own motivations for specializing in fertility treatments. The conversation also covers the roles of psychological support, supplementation, and the evolving landscape of egg freezing and IVF. Read the show notes on Dr. Aimee's website: You can find Trying to Be Positive On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TryingToBePositiveAnneMatthews On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0UXkqQ6jQc0rqAQWSVKIBK Do you have questions about IVF? Join Dr. Aimee for The IVF Class at The Egg Whisperer School. The next live class call is on Monday, June 17, 2024 at 4pm PST, where Dr. Aimee will explain IVF and there will be time to ask her your questions live on Zoom. Subscribe to my YouTube channel for more fertility tips!Subscribe to the newsletter to get updates Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh is one of America's most well known fertility doctors. Her success rate at baby-making is what gives future parents hope when all hope is lost. She pioneered the TUSHY Method and BALLS Method to decrease your time to pregnancy. Learn more about the TUSHY Method and find a wealth of fertility resources at www.draimee.org.   00:00 Introduction to the Episode and Host 00:44 The Impact of Relatable Fertility Advice 01:48 Exploring the TUSHY Method for Fertility Testing 03:28 The Importance of Sperm Analysis in Fertility 05:05 Addressing Common Fertility Issues and Solutions 07:36 Navigating Unexplained Infertility and IVF Insights 10:00 Preparing for IVF: Supplements, Testing, and Emotional Readiness 24:33 The Role of Acupuncture in Fertility Treatment 26:56 Personal Motivations and Philosophies in Fertility Care 28:48 Egg Freezing and the Future of Fertility

In this episode, we're sharing an interview originally hosted by Lisa Schumann of Building Your Family. In it, they cover Dr. Aimee's innovative diagnostic methods, including the TUSHY Method for women and the BALLS Method for men. Dr. Aimee shares her journey into fertility treatment, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive diagnosis to avoid unnecessary costs and heartbreaks, and discusses her vision for a more informed path to parenthood.    The conversation covers various topics, including the importance of considering the desired family size when planning for parenthood, fertility preservation, and proactive measures for enhancing egg and sperm quality through lifestyle adjustments and supplements.    Dr. Aimee also highlights the significance of open options for family planning, such as egg freezing, and the impact of relationships on fertility treatments. The episode aims to educate listeners on the complexities of fertility challenges and the innovative methods available to address them. Do you have questions about IVF?Click here to join Dr. Aimee for The IVF Class. The next live class call is on Monday, May 20, 2024 at 4pm PST, where Dr. Aimee will explain IVF and there will be time to ask her your questions live on Zoom.   Read the full show notes at Dr. Aimee's website.   You can find Lisa Schuman and Building Your Family podcast here.   Click to find The Egg Whisperer Show podcast on your favorite podcasting app.   Watch videos of Dr. Aimee answer Ask the Egg Whisperer Questions on YouTube.  Sign up for The Egg Whisperer newsletter to get updates   Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh is one of America's most well known fertility doctors. Her success rate at baby-making is what gives future parents hope when all hope is lost. She pioneered the TUSHY Method and BALLS Method to decrease your time to pregnancy. Learn more about the TUSHY Method and find a wealth of fertility resources at www.draimee.org. 00:00 Welcome to Building Your Family Podcast 00:38 Introducing Dr. Aimee: The Fertility Innovator 01:03 The Revolutionary TUSHY Method Explained 04:32 A Deep Dive into Fertility Diagnostics and Treatments 08:31 Exploring the BALLS Method for Male Fertility 11:48 The Egg Whisperer DIET: A Comprehensive IVF Approach 12:07 Navigating Legal and Emotional Aspects of Fertility Treatments 14:30 Supplements and Lifestyle: Enhancing Fertility Naturally 21:30 Addressing Common Fertility Challenges and Solutions 27:35 Empowering Patients with Knowledge and Support 29:37 Egg Whisperer School: Expanding Fertility Education 31:04 Closing Thoughts and How to Find Dr. Aimee  

Large numbers of people are affected by infertility in their lifetime. According to a new report published today by the World Health Organization, around 17.5% of the adult population – roughly 1 in 6 worldwide – experience infertility, showing the urgent need to increase access to affordable, high-quality fertility care for those in need.The new estimates show limited variation in the prevalence of infertility between regions. The rates are comparable for high-, middle- and low-income countries, indicating that this is a major health challenge globally. Lifetime prevalence was 17.8% in high-income countries and 16.5% in low- and middle-income countries.Joining this episode to share their mission to solve some of the problems couples are facing, is the dynamic duo of Andreia Trigo (CEO) and husband Frank Khan Sullivan (CTO) of Enhanced Fertility. Their platform is bringing a new level of data-driven accessibility to patients from the comfort of their homes. Andreia's shares how current inadequate systems impacted her own fertility journey, an emotional story that sets the stage for the collaborative program they are providing to deliver better outcomes for couples across the globe.Founders' stories are often intertwined with personal knowledge of the problem they are looking to solve. From the get-go learning about Andreia's own experiences, this discussion offers a range of insights into the trials and tribulations that couples are facing through their fertility journeys. Frank shares how their North Star is referred to as Net Baby Score, a measured commitment to help millions of people procreate their families, an incredible mission that is sure to leave you informed and inspired.

More on these topics is at www.asrm.org Tell us your thoughts on the show by e-mailing asrm@asrm.org Please subscribe and rate the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or wherever you get your podcasts. ASRM Today Series Podcasts are supported in part by the ASRM Corporate Member Council.

Dr. Natalie Crawford discusses the concept of personalized fertility care. The number one question we get from the audience is questions about your cycle and how to make it better. This is what your care team should be doing. Not every cycle will be perfect. But somebody should analyze what happened and make a suggestion for next steps. Listen to this episode to learn ways to advocate for yourself and get the best care possible on your fertility journey. Natalie answers your questions in FFS-For Fertility's Sake Do you recommend Ovasitol for patients with PCOS? What prevents a baby from sticking to the uterine wall? Can I exercise the week after my embryo transfer? What is the typical IVF protocol for someone with PCOS? We have moved Fertility In The News to the weekly newsletter in order to keep the podcast more evergreen. If you want to sign up go to nataliecrawfordmd.com/newsletter to sign up! Don't forget to ask your questions on Instagram for next week's For Fertility's Sake segment when you see the question box on Natalie's page @nataliecrawfordmd. You can also ask a question by calling in and leaving a voicemail. Call 657–229–3672 and ask your fertility question today!      Thanks to our amazing sponsors! Check out these deals just for you: Quince- Go to Quince.com/aaw for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns Ritual-Go to ritual.com/AAW to start Ritual or add Essential For Women 18+ to your subscription today. Rocket Money - Cancel your unwanted subscriptions by going to RocketMoney/com/AAW Apostrophe- Get your first visit for only five dollars at Apostrophe.com/AAW or use the code AAW at checkout. Prose- Go to prose.com/aaw and take your FREE in-depth hair consultation and get 50% off your first subscription order PLUS 15% off and free shipping every subscription order after that! If you haven't already, please rate, review, and follow the podcast to be notified of new episodes every Sunday. Plus, be sure to follow along on Instagram @nataliecrawfordmd, check out Natalie's YouTube channel Natalie Crawford MD, and if you're interested in becoming a patient, check out Fora Fertility. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Cristin Slater and Betsy Campbell from RESOLVE (The National Infertility Association that helps to ensure equal access to all family building options) discuss: barriers to infertility care; opportunities to get infertility care; and recent trends of advances in fertility care access. Find the #StartwithSART Fertility Experts series wherever you get your podcasts. Looking for advice on building a family? Ask the experts and #StartwithSART. For more information about the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, visit our website at https://www.sart.org Have a topic you'd like to hear? Tell Us!

On today's episode of The Wholesome Fertility Podcast, Dr. Briguglio, a fertility health expert, shares her passion for empowering patients and addressing the challenges of unexplained infertility and overreliance on IVF. She emphasizes the importance of comprehensive testing and addressing root causes to improve fertility health. Dr. Briguglio also discusses the interconnectedness of physical and mental health and the significance of individualized testing in the initial consultation. Additionally, she highlights the importance of iron and ferritin levels and addresses the challenges of vegan diets and cholesterol.   In this conversation, Dr. Samantha Briguglio discusses the role of cholesterol and inflammation in health. She emphasizes that cholesterol is not the villain it is often portrayed to be and that it is needed for hormone production. Dr. Briguglio advocates for a balanced approach to diet and lifestyle, focusing on sleep, diet, and movement. She encourages individuals to find their own natural path to healing and emphasizes the importance of empowering people with information.   Takeaways Comprehensive testing and addressing root causes are crucial for improving fertility health. The physical and mental aspects of health are interconnected, and addressing both is important for fertility. Individualized testing and a holistic approach are key in the initial consultation. Iron and ferritin levels play a significant role in fertility health, and vegan diets may present challenges in obtaining necessary nutrients. Cholesterol is not the villain it is often portrayed to be and is needed for hormone production. Nourishing the liver and eating enough fiber can support healthy cholesterol levels. A balanced approach to diet and lifestyle, focusing on sleep, diet, and movement, is crucial for overall health. Empowering individuals with information allows them to make informed choices about their health.     Dr. Samantha Briguglio is a licensed Naturopathic Medical Doctor and the founder of Walk the Natural Path Hormone Health and Fertility Care.   Dr. Briguglio has a passion for helping women achieve their wellness and/or fertility goals, and she treats – and teaches – her patients from a mindset of natural healing that treats the root cause of their symptoms.   Website: www.walkthenaturalpath.com   Instagram @walkthenaturalpath   Facebook: www.facebook.com/walkthenaturalpath   For more information about Michelle, visit www.michelleoravitz.com   The Wholesome FertilityFacebook group is where you can find free resources and support: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2149554308396504/   Instagram: @thewholesomelotusfertility   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewholesomelotus/     Transcript:   Chapters   00:00 Introduction and Passion for Fertility Health 04:09 Passion for Empowering Patients 07:07 Challenges with Unexplained Infertility and Overreliance on IVF 11:03 Importance of Comprehensive Testing and Addressing Root Causes 16:35 Interconnectedness of Physical and Mental Health 24:06 Importance of Iron and Ferritin Levels 25:56 Challenges with Vegan Diets and Cholesterol 26:52 The Role of Cholesterol and Inflammation 30:05 Nourishing the Liver and Eating Fiber 35:03 The Importance of Sleep, Diet, and Movement 37:34 Finding Balance in Diet and Lifestyle 43:20 Empowering People with Information 45:30 The Inspiration Behind Walk the Natural Path   Michelle (00:00) Welcome to the podcast, Dr. Brigulio, right? Brigulio is how you pronounce it, or Sammy, right? Awesome. Dr. B, awesome. So first of all, I love your Instagram. I'm going to say that. You guys got to check out her Instagram. It's going to be in the episode notes. I kind of want to lead with that because she has fabulous content, really rich with information and tips.   Samantha Briguglio (00:05) Yes, you did that nicely. Or Dr. Bean. It's easier.   Michelle (00:25) for fertility care and health. And before we get started, I would introduce yourself and also share how you got so passionate in specifically fertility health.   Samantha Briguglio (00:39) Yeah, well, thank you so much. It's really fun to have a platform like Instagram to share all this stuff with and help educate people. But hi, I'm Dr. B. Virgulio, Samantha Virgulio. I actually just got married. So legally, my name, I just changed my name. Thank you so much. It's been really, really fun. But I am keeping Dr. B for business purposes. So you can always remind me, remember that.   Michelle (00:54) Congratulations.   Samantha Briguglio (01:09) I'm Dr. B, so you don't have to worry about any changes. But how I got infertility, I feel like it's kind of a long story, but I'll try to keep it as short as possible because this also has to do with how I got into natural medicine, which actually stemmed from when I was a child. I was pretty sick as a kid. And I was pretty sick.   Long story short, my mom really fought for me and found natural medicine. And I went from being on like oxygen treatments like two to three times a day. Yeah, it was pretty crazy to being a total normal kid who played a bunch of sports and just loved running around and just basically natural medicine changed the trajectory of my life. And so I became super passionate about it. Went to college, was kind of like, eh, I don't wanna go to med school. That looks really hard.   Michelle (01:38) Oh wow.   Samantha Briguglio (02:00) trying to find other avenues, but I always got brought back to natural medicine. I was like, this is just where I'm supposed to be. Actually wanted to go into pediatrics originally and ended up not doing that because I wasn't able to get enough training, like hands on, like one-on-one with kiddos. And I just felt like that was really irresponsible. It's like all of a sudden started a practice where I was working with kids and I didn't feel like ready or trained enough to do that. And...   In my last year of school, I actually found a fertility course. It was like an extra like, I don't know, $600 on top of all the other loans I was taking out. So I was like, oh, this looks fun and interesting. I fell in love. Like I just fell in love. I actually, the person who wrote the course is Dr. Jacqueline Chassie at the time. She just changed her last name. I guess it's a few years now. Seamonton, I think it is. If anyone wants to find her, her courses are great.   Michelle (02:44) Wow.   Samantha Briguglio (02:56) but Hello Fertility is her Instagram actually. But she is an amazing teacher and I went on to join her year-long mentorship in fertility after I graduated, which obviously kind of like changed the course of my life and career. And I just felt so in love with it. Part, I was actually really good at it, right? Like sometimes like you're just good at something or not. And I was like, I don't want to be a jack of all trades anymore. And I just felt like I...   Michelle (03:01) Mm-hmm.   Samantha Briguglio (03:25) my intuition just went very hand in hand with the fertility practices, treatment, and just diving into that and learning more. I loved it, I enjoyed it. And then later on, I'm talking to my mother and my grandmother, and I'm telling them how I'm so drawn to this, and I find out my mom went through her own journey with miscarriages and loss, and then my grandmother, took her 10 years to conceive, I'm like, no wonder I'm drawn to this. I'm supposed to help all these people. My family had this struggle, so like.   Michelle (03:51) Wow.   Samantha Briguglio (03:55) Now I get to help and get back. So kind of a long story. I try to give the most important pieces, but there it is.   Michelle (03:59) That's incredible.   Amazing. No, it's interesting because my mom had secondary infertility with me. tried for a while.   So she had a really hard time. She also thought she was going to lose me at different times, like lost a ton of weight. So it's kind of interesting that you say that. And it's pretty wild because it does kind of hit home.   I don't know, I do believe that subconsciously we can almost feel something in ourselves. There's just certain things that call to us and we just feel like this is it. This is what we're supposed to do. And I totally understand what you're saying. It really, really resonates with me. So that's cool.   Samantha Briguglio (04:38) Yeah, right, you just keep getting pushed down a path where eventually you're like, okay, I'm surrendering, this is what I'm supposed to do. Like that's basically what happened to me.   Michelle (04:48) Amazing. Well, you're so good at it and I can feel the passion. I really can. That's one of the things that I love Instagram. I have to say, I mean, with social media, it's like a blessing and a curse, right? But there's so many amazing things about social media because you're able to connect with people in a different way and get to know people. And people are able to share stories and information. You can get tons of information on Instagram, especially it's really big in the fertility world.   So I feel like there's just so much content, but you can really feel a person's passion and also just drive to learn and provide quality information. And I find that with your account, it's actually one of my favorite accounts, I'll be honest, because it teaches me and this is where I love it. I'm like, when I feel like I'm getting, as a practitioner, I'm learning so much, I'm like, I got to have them on the podcast. I got to pick their brain.   Samantha Briguglio (05:42) You're so sweet. Thank you. I feel like, yeah, no one's ever told me I run short on passion, that's for sure.   Michelle (05:42) For my guests and for me.   Well, it works for you and it works amazing. And so we were talking actually in the pre-talk about certain things that we feel really passionate about. And as practitioner, I find, and I know that you're great because we talked about it, that usually your passion, it's like the P, right? The P, because P for passion and P for pissed off. It's very fine line between the two because   Samantha Briguglio (06:15) R-heh!   Michelle (06:19) The things that we're passionate about, we've also been pissed off about. Meaning, for me, it's like I'm being told that you can't do something. I've always had that even in my life. I'm like, no, screw you. I can do it. Don't tell me I can't. I feel that passion with my patients. When people tell them they can't, and then I see that they can, and I'm like, I can't   why are you telling them they cannot do it? I don't like that. It pisses me off, but I feel very passionate about empowering. So you feel like that too. We talked about a couple of things. So I'll let you have the mic.   Samantha Briguglio (06:57) Yeah, yeah, we talked about two main things, right? I think the first one was the unexplained infertility. That diagnosis drives me nuts. Because I probably said a couple bold things about it on Instagram before, and one of them that I felt like it was lazy medicine. And I feel like that seems harsh, but it's kind of the reality of it, right? Because I'm like, you're being lazy. You're not doing any more tests, you're not trying to figure out like what could be this underlying cause, you're just saying like, oh, the things that are obvious are all good. So we don't know there's it's unexplained. And so that drives me nuts.   Michelle (07:35) It feels like you're putting it back on the patient. That's what it feels like. It feels like, oh, well, we don't know. So here you go.   Samantha Briguglio (07:41) Yeah, 100%. And then, you know, leading to the other thing that we kind of talked about is that then it's like, okay, well, we don't know, so IVF is your only answer. That drives me nuts. I think IVF is amazing. I think it has a time and a place. I think it has helped a lot of families, especially with, you know, certain diagnosis, especially anatomical ones, but like to be like you have unexplained, let's do IVF, or, you know, we haven't even pulled your progesterone yet, but we don't know what else is wrong. So like, let's just go to IVF. Like it just...   Yeah, talk about getting heated and passionate, which just drives me insane, because I feel like it's unfair and you're not doing your duty to your patients and it's at the end of the day, kind of lazy. Yeah.   Michelle (08:22) Yeah. And I'll tell you, um, I feel like there's this common misconception. I feel like that it's almost, I almost want to say it's due to marketing because we have been conditioned to believe that if we pay an arm and a leg for something, it's a guarantee that we're going to get the best of the best. And I think that that's what it is. People think that it's a guarantee to go through the IVF process. And I've actually found, and again, same as you, I completely agree.   Samantha Briguglio (08:39) Yeah.   Michelle (08:52) that IVF's incredible. It's an amazing thing to have. It's amazing. The technology's beyond. I remember going and doing acupuncture for a transfer, and every time I go, I'm beside myself on the incredible opportunity that so many couples have. So 100%, yes, for that. However, in some cases, I've actually found that my patients have had many failed IVFs.   retrievals and transfers. And then they went on and did better getting pregnant naturally at an older age in their forties. So like that kind of, it challenges that whole idea or mindset that it's a guarantee and it's like the only option for some people. So I'd love to get your thoughts on that.   Samantha Briguglio (09:40) Oh yeah, I've had many patients that have tried multiple IVF things like three to four even, and come back and get pregnant naturally. IUI same thing, a lot of IUIs and then they'll get pregnant naturally. And they're like, I don't really get it. I'm like, it's because we had to treat the root cause. Like one of them that really stands out in my mind is that they had actually got health issues and everyone was like, their hormones looked actually pretty decent. Even their A quality wasn't bad, but their gut was like not okay. Like   not okay at all. Like diarrhea episodes daily, which is that's, that's not a healthy gut. And I was like, Oh my gosh, what? And so we treated and we treated for a little bit and they started to heal and started to feel better. And then all of a sudden, like a couple months later, like boom, pregnant and healthy pregnancy. And I just tell, like, it's just a testament to like, the reproductive system can be fine. But if something like your thyroid or your   Michelle (10:10) Mm-hmm.   Oh wow.   Samantha Briguglio (10:40) your other systems that we have that make our whole body, right, is impacted. That can cause issues. Your body sometimes doesn't want to, you know, carry another life if everything isn't okay.   Michelle (10:54) Yeah, totally. And so you mentioned actually a really important one, gut health. Western medicine is amazing in what they're amazing. You know, everybody has their own toolbox and like things or specialties. And so that's not something that's typically looked at or like, you know, tested. They'll do like, they'll look at like ultrasound, they'll look at like   Samantha Briguglio (11:09) Mm-hmm.   Michelle (11:14) the tubes, they'll look at like the anatomical, they'll do the blood work, the hormones.   And obviously, when they come to you, it's a whole other detail of testing. So let's talk about some of the things that are often missed in conventional medicine that you look at that they may not know about.   Samantha Briguglio (11:36) Yeah, I'll definitely talk to that. I do also wanna say like some things are also best in combination. So I love natural medicine and I think it can do amazing things, but a lot of times also like a combination of like conventional and natural is also really amazing. I've won, like for example, endometriosis patient that it's been really beneficial for them to have both, right? They have like the laparoscopic surgery done and now we're working on inflammation and reducing all these other things, but.   Michelle (12:02) Right.   Samantha Briguglio (12:05) they're feeling so much better. So like I said, I can get heated about some things, but I also am very appreciative of all forms of medicine. It's just like, we all, we just have to stay in our lane and also know that it's okay if there's, if someone's taking from all different types. If anything, that's good, right?   Michelle (12:14) Yeah.   Yes. I always say like a team, a well-rounded team with all their different strengths.   Samantha Briguglio (12:32) Exactly. So I just wanted to say that too. But when it comes to things that I look at that are going to be different, I mean, who I feel like the list can be kind of long, actually. I mean, I asked from everything like, what are your bowel habits or your bowel movements to your, you know, what's your gum health like, do your gums bleed a lot to, you know, do you have headaches, musculoskeletal pain, we focus a ton on stress. And it's not like the type where it's like, oh, you're stressed, like, just don't stress, right? No, we like figure out like,   root cause of that stress. And if that root cause needs to be explored more, it's like, okay, do we bring another person onto this team? Obviously we focus on a ton of diet and lifestyle habits. I just ask about them. And then we talk about what we can improve versus what we don't need to improve. Thyroid health, like I said, the list can kind of go on and on, but it can be from anywhere from like your daily habits to environmental exposure, you know, a job at the workplace. I actually see a lot of blue collar men.   Michelle (13:14) Yeah.   Samantha Briguglio (13:32) I find that to be very common, either blue collar or very like high stress jobs are a lot of men that I see for like sperm count and quality. And you know, like I said, I feel like the list could go on and on. There's always kind of something and I kind of say there's like the most obvious things, which to me are like diet and lifestyle, gut health, like thyroid health. And then there's like the small things like anti sperm antibodies and you know, like an immune flare or   Michelle (13:48) Yeah.   Samantha Briguglio (14:00) you know, skin conditions or, you know, maybe some of the things that seem a little less obvious, like reproductive microbiome. Uh, and there's kind of almost tests for all of this now. It's just also, it can't be really expensive. So like I said, I like to start with like the really big layering things, make sure those are good before I move on to the smaller things.   Michelle (14:12) Mm-hmm.   Yeah, I mean, there's so many things that I definitely want to talk about with what you just said. Like one of the things, you know, it's interesting how people are saying, oh, just stop being stressed. Sometimes you're stressed because your body's stressed. Like if your body or your gut's off, it's going to impact your mind. Well, in Chinese medicine, we learn about how everything's so interconnected. So like how your body feels if your body's not getting the nutrients it needs, it's going to feel stressed. I mean, have you ever felt hangry? You know that like impacts.   Samantha Briguglio (14:41) Yeah.   Michelle (14:50) immediately or if you're not getting enough sleep, if you're not getting good sleep, that's going to impact your stress levels. So it's so intricately connected. And when you have that calm, or even your gut health is better, your mind starts to feel better as well.   Samantha Briguglio (15:06) Yeah, I love that analogy of have you ever felt a hangry? I think that's so perfect. I haven't heard it, but that's so good. Like, yeah. Like sometimes if you're not, no, you don't even know sometimes you're not even not feeling good, but it could be manifesting as an emotional response or something. I know I was feeling a little extra stressed out and I myself did a gut health test on myself and I was like, whoa. Like honestly, I would expect more physical symptoms, but I think mine were manifesting a little bit different. And I'm like, wow.   Michelle (15:14) It's like perfect example, right?   Right. Well, that is such a good point that you bring up because I think that, like for example, my patients who are sensitive to gluten, they end up feeling really well after removing gluten, but not for the reasons they think. Like they say, if I eat bread, I'm fine. I don't feel bloated or anything like that. But with food sensitivities, it doesn't necessarily have to show up as digestive discomfort.   Samantha Briguglio (15:49) Yeah.   100%.   Michelle (16:01) And I think that that's like, you know, so that's like one example of how things can impact you, you don't even realize that you could have something and that has nothing to, like, you're not going to feel it directly as that. It could show up as headaches or low energy. It could be so many things.   Samantha Briguglio (16:17) Yeah, brain fog, anxiety, joint pain. Joint pain's a big one that everyone just brushes off as like musculoskeletal issue. And I'm like, no, that's like an inflammation issue, right? Like, why are you? Like, so yeah, no, I, for sure.   Michelle (16:24) Right.   Oh yeah. Yeah, for sure. So how do you figure out like where you start with the testing? Like when you first see people, I mean, I'm sure it has to do with a lot of what they'll tell you.   Samantha Briguglio (16:42) Yeah, so, you know, initially, depending if I have like a single visit or I see a fertility for two. So I see, you know, people individually, but I see the couple together, which also I think super important. I feel like one person always seems to get ignored. Like there's never like, let's treat both. It's like, oh, there's a abnormal semen analysis. Let's treat the guy. And then like the female side's forgotten. Or, oh, so this person has endometriosis. Let's make sure we focus on that. And then to see the male sides.   Michelle (16:53) Yeah, that is.   Samantha Briguglio (17:10) forgotten. So it's like, I really like the fact that fertility for two. Honestly, it's mostly for affordability that I do the fertility for one just because if we can try to do something, but I always think, you know, treating both is the best. But when it goes, sorry, back to your question. So when I see people as either 60 or 90 minute visit, depending if it's one or two, and we ask   I mean, I ask a lot of questions. First, I just kind of give them the floor. I'm like, share your story with me. Like, tell me, right? I think intuition's so important. And a lot of times, like couples end up telling me what I need to hear in that first part, because they're just, they don't even know it's like this most important thing, but I'm like, whoa, like that was huge. Like, okay, writing that down. Then I ask a lot of questions that like, will branch off of what they share with me. And then we dive into, you know, family history, their own history.   Michelle (17:53) Yeah.   Samantha Briguglio (18:05) you know, general review of systems, which basically means checking in with every, from like head to toe, every single system of the body. And we have them answer questions like, are you bloated? Yes or no, right? On the female side of things, definitely diving into the menstrual cycle, like a full dive in. Usually it takes us like, sometimes 15 to 20 minutes just to talk about the cycle, which probably seems like a lot, but like, no, I ask a lot. I ask like questions from like, what size are your clots to   Michelle (18:27) Yeah.   Samantha Briguglio (18:34) how many tampons do you fill to tell me about all of your symptoms and like the timeline that you have them within your cycle. So we really take a deep dive into that. Um, and then, you know, from there I kind of compile, like all their symptoms, come up with the ideas for the labs that I want to draw. And then based off symptoms and labs, we form a treatment plan. Um, based off all of that.   Michelle (19:00) Are there some common labs that you usually, almost for everybody use, or one test that you typically feel like everybody should take? I know it's kind of like a one-size-fits-all, but...   Samantha Briguglio (19:12) Yeah, you know, no, for sure. Right? Yeah. Like, I know what you're trying to say. You're like, I know it's individualized, but what are labs that are for everyone? Yeah. So yes, and I tell a lot of people that right, because I'm like, you can go get all these basic labs, but I might be asking for you to get other labs based off what you tell me. So just be prepared to go twice. So a lot of time, they just have people wait to come get labs. So they're not going back and forth. Because that takes time. And I'm like, I'm like the person that like, I just want to do all at once.   Michelle (19:18) Yes.   Yeah.   Samantha Briguglio (19:41) Um, but there's going to be the classic, the day three of your cycle. So third day of bleeding and then seven days after a predicted ovulation labs, the day three ones are going to be like the estradiol, the FSH, the LH, the seven days after ovulation would be progesterone. Um, usually with like the day three lab, I also order, um, like a CBC, a CMP. So that's like your, your blood counts looking at red blood cells, white blood cells, the CMP is kind of looking at kidney, kidney liver.   Michelle (19:41) Yeah.   Samantha Briguglio (20:09) and then like lipid panel looking at like cholesterol. So just like those basics are always really nice. I do, I used to wait to order insulin, but now I'm just starting to do it more for everyone just because there's just been, like it's really hard to guesstimate who's gonna be having elevated insulin because I've ordered it on some people that I'm like, I just feel like I need to order it. And then it comes back super high. I'm like, okay, they are not a typical candidate for insulin.   Michelle (20:21) Mm-hmm.   Mm-hmm.   Samantha Briguglio (20:36) But like I ordered it and they have like an insulin of 24, which is like way over my range of what I like to see it in, right? So I kind of started doing that one a lot. Obviously a thyroid focusing on like the TSH, free T4, free T3, thyroid antibodies. And then another one I actually also really like, vitamin D, cause that can be in relation to like miscarriage and loss. So just making sure that's elevated in general.   Michelle (20:37) Bye.   Yes.   Samantha Briguglio (21:06) I do an AMH if they haven't gotten one done. That one, obviously I wouldn't get for guides too, but so far all the other ones that I've listed can also be for men. And then another one that I think I would do for a lot of people would also be ferritin. So ferritin is a lot lower in a lot of people now. It's the storage form of iron. It's something that...   Michelle (21:24) Mm-hmm.   Mm-hmm.   Samantha Briguglio (21:32) the more research I've done, the more I'm seeing that, they always talk about iron being too low and can cause like a bunch of issues in pregnancy and then also to try to conceive, but people forget that ferritin is a storage form and if it's lower, usually that means that we are actually low, we're giving all our storage to like the active form. And so we wanna make sure that's elevated enough and there's a lot that can go into that, but that's been another one that I've been   Michelle (21:56) Mm-hmm.   Samantha Briguglio (22:01) doing a lot of research on lately and most people, it comes back super low. So it's just kind of where I just started doing it. I used to only do it. Yeah, they ignore all the time. And it's something that I would only do for those who had like a heavy menstrual cycle or history of endometriosis or like a gut health issue where they had problems of absorption. But now I'm just like starting to do it more often for everyone because.   Michelle (22:06) Oh, interesting. It's actually something that a lot of people ignore. They like totally overlook.   Samantha Briguglio (22:24) Again, it's like most, a lot of people are having it super low. So I'm like, okay. And with ferritin though, then you have to go into, sorry, I'm like totally like going on a rant here, but I'm like, I have to finish it out. Yeah. Well, but I'm like with ferritin it's nice too, because first you can treat it with like iron and like vitamin C, right? Like see if that's, that's the culprit. And then you test it and if it's gone up, usually that is the issue, but it can also be due to like   Michelle (22:34) Oh no, I do the same thing. That's how I always think. I go everywhere.   Samantha Briguglio (22:52) Like low ferritin can be due to chronic inflammation or an underlying like disease or like virus or bacteria in your system that you need to figure out to treat. And so sometimes I'll just do the iron first and then we can go to the other piece if we, if it's not working, cause that means that there's definitely something else going on.   Michelle (22:57) Mm-hmm.   Yeah, I mean, interesting, you know, talking about iron. What I find interesting about it, and I remember like listening to a podcast and they talked about how it's better to have things like beef liver, like through foods, because it has a well-rounded combination of nutrients that helps iron absorb better versus when you're just taking iron and sometimes the body doesn't know what to do with it. And it just kind of, it almost gets toxic, the amount of iron because it's not.   Samantha Briguglio (23:40) Yes, yes, it's totally can.   Michelle (23:42) Yeah, so let's talk about that because I think it's really important to talk about because people might be like, oh, you know, if that's what it is, let me just take iron. But like, that's not always the solution.   Samantha Briguglio (23:53) No, you're totally right. I mean, obviously like a beef liver on eating more meat cooking with a cast iron pan There's the good old fat. There's the good old fashion iron fish like there's so many different things you can do um some people Usually I give iron to people who have a hard time incorporating like meat or have a hard time cooking like it's very individualized Right, like it's you kind of have to meet the patient where they're at um, but things that I will recommend for iron and   Michelle (24:00) Right, yeah.   Yeah.   Samantha Briguglio (24:20) Just clarification, this is not medical advice. This is just things I like to do in my practice. But I like to do actually, there's a lot of studies on dosing iron every other day actually is helpful for absorption, pairing it with vitamin C. So that either means like eating an orange or getting a supplement that has vitamin C in it or taking vitamin C with the iron. That's gonna, and those things make a big difference, right? So they sound little.   Michelle (24:24) Yeah, yes.   Samantha Briguglio (24:49) A lot of people worry about constipation with iron and that's where they're like, oh, that can be an issue too. So if you just eat it, it'll be better. Eating it's always gonna be better. I'll never take away from that. But just cause we're also on the side of supplementation, there's different forms of iron. And I like an iron bisglycinate form that's actually absorbed a little bit easier and usually doesn't cause constipation. I say usually because I had to get a constipation one time. I was shocked, but it did.   Michelle (25:14) Mm hmm.   Okay. Yeah.   Samantha Briguglio (25:17) And so that's where I'm like, let's just really focus on like cooking with the cast iron and iron fish and like the, let's have, let's eat meat, right? Like, let's try, I mean, the leafy greens, people talk about that all the time. They can be helpful, but they're not digested. They're just, they don't, they're not in our body. Yeah. It's not the same.   Michelle (25:26) Yeah.   It's not the same.   And then on the other hand too, like, I mean, I have like one patient that...   Her doctor said, stay away from eggs, stay away from red meat, because your cholesterol is high. So I wanted to talk to you about that, because I know that there's like this school of thought that just avoid all the things that have cholesterol and you'll be good. Or why is the cholesterol in there in the first place? Could it be covering up an underlying inflammation? Because in Ayurvedic medicine, they talk about like, vata pitta kafa, I don't know if you're familiar with like the different elements.   Samantha Briguglio (26:04) Oh yeah, oh yeah.   Michelle (26:06) Yeah, yeah. So when something gets really inflamed, they say kafa, which is a little bit more of that moist, heavy substance, comes over to protect. So the same thing with amyloid, with Alzheimer's possibly. Is it because, does it come in to protect something? It's like this coating, same thing with cholesterol. So does that come in to coat the walls because there's inflammation?   Samantha Briguglio (26:33) So I feel like I have to answer a couple other things before I answer that question. One of the things is I don't think cholesterol is the villain that it used to be. So there's a lot of studies that say like, more cholesterol is better than not enough cholesterol. And cholesterol is needed to build, it's a building block for our hormones and things like that.   Michelle (26:47) Mmm.   Samantha Briguglio (26:52) cholesterol is needed. People villainize it so much, but even the bad versus the good, the HDL is the good, the LDL is the bad, we still need LDL cholesterol. These things our body needs. One of the theories, and it's a more recent one, but it's still a few years old now, is that it's not actually the amount of cholesterol that's an issue. It's more related to if there is inflammation or not.   If you're saying, on one end you're like, is the cholesterol being there as like a protective thing for inflammation? Or is cholesterol being that elevated not as terrible as we think it is, but we need to make sure that like the inflammation is monitored and reduced? That's always like a big question. And then another one is like looking at ratios. Like cholesterol ratios are actually the most important thing, right? So,   Okay, we could have elevated, you know, LDL or total cholesterol and triglycerides. But what if we have like an HDL that's like in the eighties or 85 or something? That's to me, if we have a cholesterol that's even like, you know, it seems to be extremely over the limit, but we have this really strong HDL, like maybe it's not as big of an issue as we think it is. Right.   Michelle (28:10) Mm-hmm.   Samantha Briguglio (28:16) Also a lot of times instead of eating things that have less cholesterol, I usually just encourage eating more fiber. So fiber actually binds with cholesterol and then we just poop it out. So like instead of like limiting all these things, I'm like maybe you're just not eating enough fiber. Maybe it's the other thing. Maybe it's not that you're eating too much of something. Maybe it's a lot. Maybe it could be either a combo or maybe it's you're not eating enough fiber, which most people don't. Right? Because fibers and like veggies and things like that.   Michelle (28:23) Mm-hmm.   Mm-hmm.   Mm-hmm.   Samantha Briguglio (28:44) So it's like maybe we just need more fiber, nourish the liver a little bit more, and then our cholesterol issue goes away. So sometimes it's kind of a combo. Sometimes yes, it might be accompanied by the inflammation. Maybe is it the chicken or the egg, right? Is it the inflammation that's causing cholesterol or is it cholesterol that's causing more inflammation? At the end of the day, I feel like we truly don't know that answer 100% yet, because different studies keep coming out on it, but.   Michelle (28:44) Right.   Bye.   Bye.   Samantha Briguglio (29:10) Overall, I would say my biggest thing and my biggest recommendations to treating cholesterol are actually by nourishing the liver and eating enough fiber. Obviously, if they have a really bad, high fatty diet with like really bad fats, like unsaturated fats, then that's an earth saturated fat. I'm like, wait a minute. What I said was wrong.   Michelle (29:19) Yeah.   Saturated fence, yeah. You know what it is? We talk too much about this all the time and it's just our brain's like, uh?   Samantha Briguglio (29:39) Yeah, I totally my brain was like, whoopsies, at least I caught it quickly. Whew. Um, you know, basically we do want to limit that limit that, right? But like eliminating the good fats, like avocado and eggs and stuff. Like that's, that's not what we want to do. That was a big rant, but there we go.   Michelle (29:43) You did.   Yeah.   No, I mean, I will say like, you know, when people say I can't have eggs, I can't have the yellow of eggs. I'm such a great food. But then of course, I'm always afraid to say, don't do what your doctor said. Like I will never say that. It's just, you know, so I wanted to get your opinion on it because you hear just so many different opinions on everything that it gets very confusing. And then sometimes the mainstream opinion isn't updated.   Samantha Briguglio (30:09) Right.   Right. No, they say it takes 10 years in medicine from an article coming out to making actual changes. And then by the time that happens, there's a new article that comes out.   Michelle (30:24) I'm finding that like, yeah.   Yes. then of course, you don't want to, again, step on other people's toes and you're like, well, I kind of remember hearing a study that says the opposite of this, you know, and I'm not talking about this specifically, I'm just saying in general. So sometimes, you just get so many different perspectives. But then of course, as a practitioner, you have to be very careful as to what you're   Samantha Briguglio (30:45) Yeah.   Michelle (30:54) suggesting and you don't want to go cross basically somebody's other treatment plan with their practitioner, that kind of thing. So I'm sure you know exactly what I'm talking about.   Samantha Briguglio (31:06) Totally. Yeah. And you know, I also just give patients options. I'm like, we can try this and let's monitor. Let's like do this way for a couple of months and then get your labs drawn and then do this way for a couple of months and get your labs. Like we can, you know, if their cholesterol isn't like in scary high levels, then I'm like, it's like we have room here. There's room. I'm like, how long do you think your cholesterol has been like this? Like we don't have to like change things tomorrow. Like we can just start slowly working on it. Like I said, if it's not in a dangerous place, but   Michelle (31:12) Yes.   Mm-hmm.   Yeah.   Samantha Briguglio (31:35) Usually it's not. And so I think the fiber thing is honestly the most underrated thing there is. And then, yeah, and then eliminating the bad fats versus and keeping the good fats. Because the good fats are what keep your HDL high and they're helpful for that really good ratio. So we don't wanna eliminate the good stuff, we wanna eliminate the bad stuff.   Michelle (31:37) Yeah.   That's a good point, yeah.   Right. So the good stuff meaning avocados, salmon, you know, like good. Yeah.   Samantha Briguglio (32:06) eggs, nuts, you know. Yeah, that's, yeah, exactly.   Michelle (32:12) very important information. So, foods, I think that that's a huge thing because a lot of, we just don't, we're not conditioned to eat healthy. I just feel like there's a, you know, this quick fix and a lot of processed foods and people don't have the time or the energy to cook.   But that's one thing that I've at least seen that has been a little bit more difficult is really implementing a new way of living because it's so intricately connected to our behavior and it impacts inflammation, it impacts fertility like in so many ways. And then also like certain food additives that can impact gut microbiome, like thickeners,   Samantha Briguglio (32:48) Yeah.   I know and now there's like this thing that where it's like natural and holistic medicine is like kind of trending Like let's just like call it what it is, right? Which is cool because when I first started I would tell people what I do and they have no idea Like no one knew what I was gonna do Yes, it's more mainstream, which is awesome   Michelle (33:02) Mm-hmm.   Yes, we're becoming mainstream.   Yeah.   Samantha Briguglio (33:16) But now it's like also been taken to the extreme. So I'm like, oh goodness, now we're like flying on this other side where it's like, oh God, like everyone's eliminating everything and like, it's just been crazy. And so now people come to me and they think I'm like chill. They're like, that's it? I'm like, yeah. And I'm gonna.   Michelle (33:33) Wait, so tell me, tell me, what do you say typically? What are your big things that people should pay attention to and what kind of things should they be a little more lax on?   Samantha Briguglio (33:44) Yeah, so like the thing I'm most strict about is sleep. I will always be like sleep over everything, sleep rules. Sleep is like, you will not, if you wake up early to sleep, your workout, your workout's not gonna be as effective than it would have been if you just like slept a little bit longer and then maybe try to get like a shorter workout in, right? Like it's, things like that, I will always stand by sleep first, always, always. Second, honestly, diet and movement.   Michelle (33:50) Yeah.   Samantha Briguglio (34:15) They're kind of linked for me now. It always used to be diet first, then movement, but now there's just so many, like there's so many people going through a lot of like stress and like mental health struggles that, yes, I can help with, but I feel like movement just helps set the tone for so many people's day where it like allows them, they move, it like allows them to like follow up with more healthy habits. So it's like this weird, you know what I'm saying?   Michelle (34:39) Oh, yeah, it's somatic. I mean, yes, because we were talking about how your emotions are very much tied to your body. That's why somatic therapy is so powerful. Probably another step over talk therapy, which is why things like yoga really impact the mind because when you're moving, you're sort of processing emotions and emotional states.   Samantha Briguglio (34:50) Mm-hmm.   Yeah.   Michelle (35:07) in a different way. And it also helps you cognitively. I mean, there's just, so movements like very underrated.   Samantha Briguglio (35:13) Yeah, well, and they, cause they only, people, I feel like we're only looking at it from like a, what does movement do to your body versus what diet does do to your body, right? And, but we're forgetting like the, oh, if I move and I feel good and I'm happier throughout the day, I'm more likely to like pick the healthier choices and eat the healthier foods than, and get restful sleep and all these other things. So honestly, they're kind of tied for me. Sometimes movement ranges up. I don't know, you know.   Michelle (35:33) True.   Yeah. But I also say if you're getting good sleep, you're going to be less likely to grab that sugary snack. Yeah.   Samantha Briguglio (35:50) That's exactly so this is where it's kind of like all of it matters a lot, but that's why sleep is like number one for me um But sleep so like obviously the diet and the movement piece But when it comes to diet, I feel like a lot of people are really strict now There are so many bad foods. Yes, there are so many seed oils and all of that But I feel like now people are going on the other side of getting really stressed out about what they're eating how much they're eating   Michelle (35:56) Yeah.   Samantha Briguglio (36:15) you know, making sure they're getting all their nutrients in. Now I'm like, oh God, we've like over-corrected for a lot of people now that are in this wellness space. I'm like, okay, we need to like chill out a little bit. Like not everyone needs to eliminate gluten and dairy. If it bothers you, eliminate it. If you have an issue with it, eliminate it. If you're allergic to it, eliminate it. But like, if you eat it and you feel fine, like let's just not cut out another food, right? You know.   Michelle (36:15) Mm-hmm.   Mm-hmm.   Samantha Briguglio (36:42) A lot of practitioners believe that like no one should eat that and dairy is super inflammatory. And I'm like, well, yeah, but like quality matters always. If you're getting a good organic dairy, that would be helpful for some people.   Michelle (36:49) It's true. Yeah. Same thing with organic weed because it's not sprayed with glyphosate. I think that that's a big thing too. I mean, I'll be honest, I mean, it's just the world we're living in right now. It's a little bit of an uphill battle, but I agree with you that it can almost manifest, and I've talked about this before, it can almost manifest very similar to an eating disorder.   Samantha Briguglio (37:02) Okay.   Yes.   Michelle (37:15) I mean, because people get so upset and it really impacts them how they're eating. So it's a fine line of having a balanced perspective on food.   Samantha Briguglio (37:27) Yeah, yeah, it's orthorexia that it's literally actually has a technical name now and that means you're so stressed about eating healthy You either like just won't eat at all Which is actually not good for women. They'll say like for men It's actually better to fast than eat the unhealthy thing But for a lot of women it's better to like actually eat the unhealthy thing than to fast for too long fasting still. Okay but that's sorry, that's a whole nother conversation, but um Yeah, so I go from the approach of 80-20 rule   Michelle (37:33) Mm-hmm.   Yes.   Yes.   Samantha Briguglio (37:57) and making it sustainable. So I'll tell my patients like all the time, I'm like, you're not a perfect person. You can't be perfect all the time. And if you're gonna stress about being perfect all the time, that's a whole nother thing we have to deal with. So instead, let's give you freedom to live your life. I go out, I go out and eat french fries, like all the time, I love french fries. Like I guarantee those are not always fried in like olive oil or whatever. They're definitely fried in probably like a seed oil or canola, like I know that, but I love them.   Michelle (38:17) Me too. It's good. Yeah.   Mm-hmm. Yeah.   Samantha Briguglio (38:26) But the rest of the time, you know, I get my movement in, I'm drinking tons of water, I'm sleeping like nightly, like I take care of my mental and emotional health, like I'm doing all these other things that, so when I eat the French fries, it's not that big of a deal. I'm like, yeah. And so that's where I want people to feel free now.   Michelle (38:37) Mm-hmm.   Right, I get, no, I get what you're saying.   Samantha Briguglio (38:50) They can be as careful as they want as long as it doesn't cause like chronic stress. Like if avoiding all of that stuff actually helps you and relieve stress, great. But for majority of people I've seen, it really causes a lot more stress. So I become very picky about a couple of things and then I kind of just say, I'll help you with the other stuff, right? Like eliminating sugar, that's a big one. That one to me is a bigger deal than like the dairy and the gluten, right? So for me, I'll be like, okay, let's eliminate   Michelle (39:12) Mm-hmm.   Samantha Briguglio (39:19) Let's reduce sugar, but I'll give them ways to reduce it. How do we make our own healthy Reese's cup at home? That's not gonna be bad. You can have a couple Reese's cup, honestly a day if you're making them out of organic dark chocolate and organic peanut butter that has only, the only thing is in it is peanuts. I'm not always worried about that then. And they'll be like, oh, okay, I'll make those. I love to cook or I love to bake, great.   Michelle (39:27) Mm-hmm.   Samantha Briguglio (39:49) I'm like, awesome. So like, boom, like that's already helping their sugar habits, right? Talking about pairing foods, like instead of taking away, taking away, taking away, more like add in, right? Like if they really like their smoothie in the morning that has all this stuff in it, they say smoothie is not that great and it's not good on the stomach and all of these things. I know in Chinese medicine, it's actually probably not good at all because they say you wanna start with like warm, right? Like they're like, let's, we want.   Michelle (40:14) But you know, it's funny that you say that because I do tell people the 80-20 rule as well, but I do that with raw. So like if they love their smoothie, fine, but just make it like 20% and that's your 20%. You know, or if you're like, if you're having smoothies and then a ton of salads and then all this raw stuff, fine, then that starts to add up. But I say the same thing.   leave it out for a little bit so that it's not freezing like frozen. Just kind of like let's do this balanced.   Samantha Briguglio (40:44) Yeah, and sometimes I'll be like make it a little bit thicker. So like let's maybe add some oats or some chia seeds or some more veggies to it to add some fiber and then like maybe eat it with a spoon instead. So that's getting those like chewing mechanisms going. We're really just starting our digestive system a little bit more than just drinking something. But you can compromise. Yeah, you can compromise and just add things in. You don't have to like completely take away everything. And I think a lot of people.   Michelle (41:03) Right. That's a good point. You want those enzymes.   Yeah.   Samantha Briguglio (41:13) or shocked by that, surprised by it, but they like also kind of love it because it's like, whoa, this is actually doable.   Michelle (41:19) It feels good. It feels safer, first of all. It doesn't feel as pressure filled. And it also is, like I know from a mindset, from a subconscious mind thing, because I studied hypnotherapy, I feel like behavior and like our, what is it that stops us from changing habits? You know, like we all have habits and we repeat,   Samantha Briguglio (41:23) Mm-hmm.   Michelle (41:44) And one of the biggest almost like laws is that you cannot create a vacuum. And that's why it never works to just stop anything. So you have to just substitute. So I love that you said that like intuitively you're almost like realizing that about the mind. If you're giving the mind a substitute or instead of this, then have that, but it's kind of similar and then it's much easier to start a new habit that way.   Samantha Briguglio (41:50) Mm-hmm.   Yep.   Yeah, and you just have to give people kind of a chance instead of saying like, do this, do that. You're just like, okay, let's add, or let's, yeah, like you said, substitute. So, very, I'm also very passionate about that, as you can see.   Michelle (42:22) Hmm. I love that.   Yes. Yeah. Well, I mean, you know, these things are important for people to Because once you have this information, you have a lot more empowerment. And I feel like people just don't have that information. everybody deserves to know that. I love this conversation. I mean, I can keep talking to you for hours, but obviously we have like a limit on time.   But I definitely love picking your brain on these things. And I think that you have a really nice balance on how you look at it. So for people who do want to work with you or like learn more about you, how can they find you?   Samantha Briguglio (42:52) Thanks.   Yeah, well, we kind of talked about Instagram earlier. That's a very easy way. Walk the natural path on Instagram. I do have a website. It's also walk the natural path. So anything with that, your odds are you're gonna find me somewhere. So you can reach out, yeah, in DMs. Sometimes I'm a little bit slower. So sometimes I recommend filling out like a new patient form or booking a consultation call with me so you can chat a little bit about like your case and then what I can do to help or if I feel like we're a good fit.   Michelle (43:16) I love it.   So you help people virtually too. I just want to mention that, not just locally. Awesome.   Samantha Briguglio (43:35) Yeah. Yep. Virtually too. Yes.   Michelle (43:40) Also, so what was the inspiration to walk the natural path? Because I see you actually walking many natural paths and hiking, and I think that's so cool because you do a lot of like nature walks.   Samantha Briguglio (43:52) Yes, oh my gosh, such a passion of mine. I honestly like I used to do like one a week for sure I need to get back to it. Since the wedding has been a little crazy. But walk the natural path actually came from the idea of creating an Instagram to help promote natural medicine before it kind of dove into this like mainstream thing, right? And   I don't know, the name just like came to me, which was actually pretty crazy because I feel like I'm not the most creative person. So for that to happen, I was like, oh, this is it. And then it just kind of took off. And then when I switched the Instagram over to my business, it just, I think it just stuck and it was close to my heart. And my name is Dr. Samantha Berguglia, which is very, very long. And I was like, a lot of people just go by like.   Like my bestie is like Dr. Sienna Miller. I'm like, that's so cute, that's short. And that's kind of like what her business is. And she has a different title now, but I just, I decided to go with it and it stuck. And like you said, it's part of who I am. I walked nature trails all the time.   Michelle (44:51) us.   Because I see you walking nature trails, which by the way, that's a whole other topic. But I think that doing that is also really good for our health.   Samantha Briguglio (45:05) Yeah, in our hearts and yes, but I guess really what it's about though is it's saying like I'm walking the natural path to like healing Like at the end of the day, it's like always walking This natural path and natural though can mean anything to anybody, right? So not to get on a whole nother convo, but just to wrap it up it can mean You know the like the actual natural medicine that everyone really thinks about but it's the natural path for you So that could also be like combining   Michelle (45:13) Yeah.   Yeah.   Samantha Briguglio (45:35) conventional IVF plus natural medicine. That can be your natural path. So it's what feels natural to you. It's kind of supposed to be interpreted, but yeah.   Michelle (45:47) I love it. Well, that's a great note to end with. And this is an awesome conversation. I'm so glad we finally met. I know we were like DMing each other back and forth on Instagram for a while and following each other. And then I was like, I got to get her on the podcast. I really like the stuff that she's putting out. So thank you so much for coming on here, Dr. B.   Samantha Briguglio (46:07) Aw, thanks for having me. This has been wonderful.  

Welcome back to episode 55 of the Nourished with PCOS Podcast! If you are thinking about getting pregnant but have been told that you need to lose weight, or you're just interested in fertility with PCOS then you are in for a treat.Joining Sam for this episode is Nicola Salmon—a fat positive fertility advocate who uses her platform and expertise to challenge the weight bias and stigmas that exist within the fertility industry and empower those who are often marginalized to take control of their reproductive health with confidence and self-assurance.In this episode, we discuss the bias and stigma in the medical community towards those in larger bodies, especially when it comes to fertility and PCOS. Nicola shares her personal experience with PCOS and what it was like to be prescribed weight loss as a treatment when she was trying to conceive. We speak about  the misguided focus on weight with PCOS, and Nicola dismantles the myths surrounding weight loss and health outcomes.Sam and Nicola also discuss:Systemic issues related to weight bias and PCOS fertility careThoughts on BMI requirements for fertility treatmentHow healthcare may look different at higher weightsWeight and gestational diabetesNicola's advice if you're thinking about trying to conceiveNicola offers practical advice for advocating for oneself in healthcare settings and encourages a shift toward a more holistic and inclusive approach. So prepare to learn more, and feel inspired and empowered as we explore the importance of compassionate care and the need to change the healthcare narrative when it comes to fertility, weight, and PCOS.Because everyone deserves nurturing, respectful, and personalized care.To read more about Nicola and connect with her, visit the show notes on our website. Download your FREE intuitive eating workbook!Ready to have more food freedom with PCOS? Download this free workbook to help you apply the intuitive eating framework to PCOS management and symptoms.Follow Sam on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/pcos.nutritionist/

This week Amber & Annabel are joined by founder of Fertility Mapper, Kayleigh Hartigan. Fertility Mapper is your go-to place for verified, honest clinic reviews, as well as an NHS eligibility calculator. Kayleigh joins the girls to talk about why fertility isn't healthcare, the importance of honest reviews, and setting a new standard of transparency in fertility care.With another 'Am I Ovary Acting' answered, it's not an episode to miss.You can get in touch at: aioapodcast@gmail.com.@fertilitymapperhttps://fertilitymapper.com/Support the showSupport the showFollow us at: @amberizzo | @annabelgurnett

Digital solutions to health care management have exploded since COVID 19, increasing efficiency, effectiveness and delivering choice to many people. In this episode, Partner, Gayle Curry speaks to the founder of the health tech app, Amilis, Sarita Stefani, about what motivates the founder of a women's health tech company, what women want from healthcare services, what the journey of a women's health tech founder is like and what advice would they give to others starting out.

Julia Paget (Founder & CEO, The IVF Guide) discusses how her company is changing fertility care by operating as a global hub of independent clinical embryologists and fertility nurses providing remote services for clinics and patients.

The Alabama Supreme Court ruled last month that a frozen embryo can be considered a child under state law.

In a controversial decision, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are entitled to the same legal protections as children. This bombshell ruling has sent shockwaves through the healthcare community. I'll break down the legal arguments, unpack the implications for IVF clinics and families, and discuss the chilling potential impact on reproductive healthcare across the US. With Roe v. Wade overturned and legal "personhood" being granted to embryos, the future of fertility treatments hangs in the balance.Go to https://fightforfamilies.resolve.org/ to learn how to take action and fight for families.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lets look at two ways we can use research to support us in navigating fertility care as a fat personGrab the Fat Fertility Bundle here before Sun 18th Feb 2024 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Truth About Diet, Weight & Fertility  While there are many factors that affect fertility, diet is one of the few things that we can modify. Various nutritious dietary patterns have been linked to improved natural conception and fertility treatment outcomes, and none of those diets restricts gluten, soy, dairy, or specific food groups. For those who are trying to conceive, or who are pregnant, postpartum, breastfeeding or managing conditions such as PCOS and endometriosis, dietary and lifestyle changes may help support healthy outcomes. But what does the research show about weight and fertility outcomes?  Tune into this episode to learn about: ·       Why nutrition for fertility matters ·       Research on weight and fertility outcomes ·       BMI cutoffs for egg retrieval procedures requiring anesthesia ·       Research on dietary patterns and fertility outcomes ·       Fertility and disordered eating ·       Benefits of a weight-inclusive approach ·       Why working with a dietitian with experience in fertility is important ·       Rachelle's 1:1 services and online course Full shownotes, transcript and resources at: https://soundbitesrd.com/256                  

Discover how Dr. Lynn Westphal,  CMO of Kindbody, and Stanford University luminary, is transforming fertility care through innovation and empathy. Our revealing conversation uncovers the groundbreaking Kindbody Institute, where Dr. Westphal's expertise empowers gynecologists with the skills to tackle the increasing demand for reproductive specialists. The pioneering training program promises not just to fill a vital gap in healthcare but also offers patients a future where their wait for fertility assistance is dramatically shortened.Step into the world of holistic fertility care where it's not just about the medical treatments, but a journey that nurtures both mind and body. The "Kindbody Way" champions a supportive, multidisciplinary approach that places immense value on emotional well-being, including therapeutic practices like acupuncture and the wisdom of natural medicine. Tailoring treatment plans to individual needs, Dr. Westphal and I address the critical importance of comprehensive care standards and timely fertility evaluations, fostering a harmonious alliance between reproductive health specialists and the wider healthcare network.Embark on a personalized path to fertility that recognizes the uniqueness of your health journey. Here, we highlight practical steps, from managing lifestyle factors to embracing stress reduction techniques, and the significance of informed choices in everyday life. Our episode guides you through the resources at your disposal, such as our Fertility Quiz and expert-driven Fertility Assessment Calls, ensuring you're equipped with not only knowledge but also an unwavering support system. Join the conversation that seeks to empower you through every heartbeat of your fertility journey.Connect with Kindbody:Instagram - @Kindbodyhttps://kindbody.com/team/dr-lynn-westphal/https://kindbody.com/employer-benefits/https://www.reproductivefacts.org/?_gl=1*5gai1f*_ga*MTA2MjY4MDAyMC4xNzA0MzE4Nzcx*_ga_T403PGFCFZ*MTcwNDMxODc3MS4xLjAuMTcwNDMxODc3MS42MC4wLjA.&_ga=2.149250294.1122736683.1704318771-1062680020.1704318771https://resolve.org/Take the fertility quiz: https://www.healthyouniversity.co/fertility-quizSchedule a Fertile Health Assessment: https://www.healthyouniversity.co/programsFollow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.susan.fox/

On this episode of ASRM Today, Katherine Hornberger stops by to talk about some of the complexities that can come with genetic counseling in areas such as carrier screenings and more. More on these topics is at www.asrm.org Tell us your thoughts on the show by e-mailing asrm@asrm.org Please subscribe and rate the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or wherever you get your podcasts. ASRM Today Series Podcasts are supported in part by the ASRM Corporate Member Council.

In today's episode, HeHe is joined by Dr. Samanthan Briguglio, a naturopathic doctor, to discuss how our caffeine consumption may be negatively impacting our hormones, what that does to our bodily systems and how we can effectively curb bad habits that have formed over the years! HeHe even shares about the bad coffee habits she struggles with and what steps she is taking to better support her hormonal health!      Bio: Samantha Briguglio started Walk the Natural Path Women's Health and Fertility Care because of her passion for helping women achieve their wellness and/or fertility goals! As an ND, she is licensed to treat – and teach – patients from a mindset of natural healing that treats the root cause of symptoms! Dr. B focuses in hormonal balancing and fertility support.    Join The Birth Lounge!   Connect with Dr. B Work with Dr. B   HeHe's favorite magnesium lotion, use code HEHE10 for 10% off 

On this episode of Policy Matters the ASRM Government Affairs Office brings us up to date on the past year of policy news and advocacy. More on these topics is at www.asrm.org Tell us your thoughts on the show by e-mailing asrm@asrm.org Please subscribe and rate the show on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or wherever you get your podcasts. ASRM Today Series Podcasts are supported in part by the ASRM Corporate Member Council.

How do you engage patients in conception counseling and fertility care? Credit available for this activity expires: 10/20/24 Earn Credit / Learning Objectives & Disclosures: https://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/997544?ecd=bdc_podcast_libsyn_mscpedu

Traci Keen, CEO of Mate Fertility. While not featured on her LinkedIn profile, Traci's background and education is in graphic design and fine arts. When she realized she had a knack for numbers and could wield a mean spreadsheet, she moved into finance and has been improving and growing businesses ever since. Mate Fertility is a clinic dedicated to increasing access to care for the 1 in 6 who have infertility. We wanted to chat with Traci to understand what changes the fertility industry needs in order to efficiently and effectively build families, when 1 in 6 people have infertility today.

In this episode of Functional Fertility, Dr. Kalea Wattles and guest Dr. Sterling Maximo discuss the intricacies of fertility and preconception care. Dr. Maximo offers guidance for those contemplating pregnancy, emphasizing the significance of the "preconception window" and the importance of focusing on determinants of health during this period. The conversation delves into the role of inflammation in ovulation, highlighting its dual nature - while essential for ovulation, excessive inflammation can impair fertility. Dr. Maximo underscores the importance of discerning when inflammation becomes detrimental and shares her methods to mitigate chronic inflammation. The episode concludes with Dr. Maximo introducing the concept of hypnobirthing, its benefits for both the birthing individual and their partner, and its potential applications beyond childbirth.

Scheduling to record with this guest was a bit of a journey of its own, but the end result was totally worth it!  Registered Nurse, nutritional therapist, and former fertility patient Katy Bradbury understands the fertility journey as thoroughly as anyone can. But her own difficult experience had a genuine bright side: it led her into her career in fertility-centered nutrition. As nutrition often isn't included in fertility advice or treatment in many places (looking at YOU, USA), this episode can be particularly useful for those who want to optimize their health and physical condition to support a healthy pregnancy. Fertility treatment in the UK is, as Katy says, a bit of a “postcode lottery” meaning that where you live can determine the level of treatment you receive, and there's not a national level of service. Some people may wait a year or longer to start, which can be really tough when age is such a factor. Fortunately, improving nutrition can start (and ideally should start) well in advance of that first round of IVF or before treatment begins.  Here are some tips to keep in mind! Those first 1000 days — conception to age 2 — are so important to a child's development and health. It's best to work with all partners to fully understand the issues and be proactive about health and nutrition. Get ready to work on your gut! Gut health is so important and often so ignored. “Bespoke” nutritional guidance is best: bodies, lifestyles, tastes, etc. are all different. A fertility nutritionist can help you learn the foods that work best for you.  Ready to learn more? Listen up! More about Katy Bradbury: Katy is founding member of the Fertility Nutrition Centre, a clinical advisor at Fab Fertile, a content provider for women's health platform Xena, and a clinical supervisor for nutritional therapy students at the University of West London. You can find her at Katy Bradbury.com and be sure to check out the robust back catalog of episodes from her podcast Fertility and the First 1000 Days. To hear more from Anne and Ruby, find all their episodes at thewholepineapple.com. Resources: Fertility Nutrition Centre: fertilitynutritioncentre.org Xena: xena.life Katy's website: katybradbury.com Fertility and the First 1000 Days podcast: katybradbury.com/podcast

Nicola is the leading voice for fat folks seeking fertility support, bringing a unique fat-positive perspective to her work as a fertility coach and author of the groundbreaking book "Fat and Fertile”.She is a prominent figure in the world of fat activism, using her platform and expertise to challenge the weight bias and stigmas that exist within the fertility industry and empower those who are often marginalized to take control of their reproductive health with confidence and self-assurance. With her expert guidance and compassionate support, Nicola is changing the way people approach fertility.In this episode, we talk about how anti-fat bias informs fertility care, how ozempic affects fertility, and Nicola's tips for getting pregnant.Our First Episode with Nicola Salmon - Fat Positive Fertilityhttps://nicolasalmon.co.ukIf you're looking for a simpler, effective investment for your health, try AG1, and get 5 free AG1 Travel Packs and a FREE 1 year supply of Vitamin D with your first purchase. Go to drinkAG1.com/FORK. That's drinkAG1.com/FORK. Check it out.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Julie Bindeman graduated from the George Washington University and is the co-owner of the practice Integrative Therapy of Greater Washington, a private psychotherapy practice located in Rockville, Maryland. As a result of her own reproductive story, she pursued post-graduate training in the field of Reproductive Psychology, where she actively writes, lectures, and presents on the topic. She has been on several committees for the Mental Health Professional Group of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine including serving as Chair of the Continuing Education Committee and a past chair for the Social Media committee, and a member of the Antiracism Task Force. Dr. Bindeman is a member of a variety of organizations that are focused on Maternal Mental Health. She was appointed by the Governor of Maryland to serve on the Maternal Mental Health Task Force representing psychologists in the state. In 2014, Dr. Bindeman was honored to receive both the Woman Who Dared Award conferred to her by the National Council of Jewish Women and the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Maryland Psychological Association. In 2021, she was honored to receive Division 31 of the American Psychological Association's Karl Heiser Award for advocacy. She authored a chapter in the book, “Psychological and Medical Perspectives on Fertility Care and Sexual Health” (Elsevier, 2021) as well as the book, “Prenatal and Preimplantation Diagnosis: The Burden of Choice” (Springer, 2015). Dr. Bindeman is the editor of a forthcoming book that will be published by Springer about Abortion. Dr. Bindeman is a Certified Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapist and received her training in 2017 from EMDR of Greater Washington. She retrained with the Institute for Creative Mindfulness and is an approved consultant who did her training under Dr. Mara Tesler-Stein. Dr. Bindeman became an approved consultant under Dr. Tesler-Stein as well. She knows EMDR to be a powerful modality that creates real and lasting change within people. Listen as Dr. Bindeman discuss with Ellen and Jenn: • Navigating the new laws and encouraging adequate discussion of abortion in surrogacy. • Considering with Intended Parents and Gestational Carriers the differences between first, second, and third trimester abortion scenarios. • The importance of location in the US. • Whether an abnormal ultrasound might not be disclosed depending on a care provider's views. • Embryo disposition options in the new environment. • Being recruited to write a book on religion and abortion. Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903. Check out The Surrogacy Consultant here: https://thesurrogacyconsultant.com Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ Learn more about our surrogacy agencies: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch Learn more about Ellen's law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/

Dr. Oluyemisi Famuyiwa is the founder of Montgomery Fertility Center and Associate Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at George Washington University School of Medicine.Dr. Famuyiwa is an advocate for personalized holistic fertility care. She has been recognized with numerous awards including the Castle Connolly Top Doctor award since 2012 and was most recently nominated as one of the Women Who Move Maryland. She has been recognized by Castle Connolly as one of the Exceptional Women in Medicine every year since 2019.She recently launched the most diverse Egg Bank, servicing families from all backgrounds.Dr Famuyiwa is also a staunch advocate for fertility preservation especially for busy professionals and cancer patients.She has numerous publications in peer review journals and regularly gives presentations on the topic for fertility treatment.https://linktr.ee/Dr.Yemi_FamuyiwaMore from the EntreMD Brand:// COMMUNITY: EntreMD Private Group on FacebookJoin a group of physicians who have decided to build profitable businesses, so they have the freedom to live life and practice medicine on their terms.https://www.facebook.com/groups/entremd// FOLLOWFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/drunachukwuInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/drunachukwuYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@DrUnachukwuTikTok -  https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.unaLinkedIn - www.linkedIn.com/in/druna// WORK WITH MEEntreMD Business School - https://www.entremd.com/business