EPISODE 69 | THE FIFTH VITAL SIGN | Lisa Hendrickson-Jack

March 17, 2019 Hillary Talbott

Master Your Cycle & Optimize Your Fertility

Description:

Lisa Hendrickson-Jack is a certified Fertility Awareness Educator, Holistic Reproductive Health Practitioner, and author of The Fifth Vital Sign. She joins the show today to speak with Hillary about using Fertility Awareness as a primary method of birth control, ovulation as a health marker, important things to know about hormonal birth control, and an evidence-based approach as to how to set ourselves up for success when it comes to our menstrual cycle and fertility tracking. They discuss the realities of the public education system regarding this topic, hear more about her Fertility Friday Podcast, and ways in which women can connect more with their cycle and fertility.

Takeaways:

[7:11] Lisa herself didn’t discover fertility awareness until about age 18 or 19, and even after that, there has been very little that has progressed in terms of teaching about menstruation and fertility in the public education system.

[9:12] Woman are often made to feel as though the menstrual cycle is something dirty or a nuisance that must be stopped or contained. Their concerns are dismissed and side effects which can be very serious and painful are diminished.

[12:26] Our ovulation is a marker of our health. In the same way that we have come to learn more about men’s health and their fertility being intertwined, Lisa and Hillary hope the same for the near future regarding ovulation and women’s health.

[15:58] Menstruation is a vital sign of what our body needs, how it is doing and is connected to many layers of health.

[24:54] The hormonal birth control pill stops ovulation to some degree, which dramatically reduces the natural production of our bodies estrogen and progesterone, and affects our free testosterone.

[27:02] Although how it plays out is different in everyone, all women who take hormonal birth control do experience effects in their hormones and organs.

[28:54] It is important for women to be upfront and aware of the side effects of the hormone birth control pill. Depression is a big one, along with mood swings.

[29:41] Research shows that hormonal birth control is associated with a temporary delay in the return of normal fertility. The shot is the worst offender, with other methods falling in after.

[33:56] Some women may hear about the side effects of hormonal birth control and decide it’s not for them, while others decide they will still use it but modify the use. Whatever choice that works best for you is the right one, but it’s important to be informed and aware.

[37:16] Birth control stops your normal cycle and replaces it with a fake one, but it doesn’t address or fix the real root of irregular menstrual cycles.

[45:12] Since birth control shrinks the ovaries, there is an established delay between when we come off birth control and when our body is normalized and fertile.

[52:35] There are many options for tracking our menstrual cycle and fertility. Because there is only about one week out of the month we can get pregnant, knowing this fact alone can be a total game changer.

[60:30] Devices such as wearable thermometers can be very helpful, but nothing trumps fertility awareness and training from a professional instructor. Much like learning to drive a car, it is a one-time investment that can lead to years of knowledge and empowerment.

References:

The Fifth Vital Sign: Master Your Cycles & Optimize Your Fertility, by Lisa Hendrickson-Jack

Fertility Friday Podcast

Continue Your Journey:

@ladypotions4u on Twitter

@ladypotions4u on Instagram

Disclaimer *

You must not rely on the information in this podcast as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you have any specific questions about any medical matter you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition you should seek immediate medical attention. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website or in this podcast.

EPISODE 51 | NATURAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS THAT WON'T WRECK YOUR FERTILITY PT2

November 26, 2018 Hillary Talbott

Description:

Hillary first opens the show with an amazing keynote from her mentor, the late Ray Rubio from the Integrative Fertility Symposium last year. Ray shares a story about Dr. Shen, and why often times the simplest answer right under our nose is the one that will give us our answers. Then, she welcomes back her friend Katrina to share Part 2 of their top picks for yummy (and effective!) green and clean beauty products.

Takeaways:

[4:10] Hillary plays a clip of a Keynote from the Integrative Fertility Symposium where her mentor, Ray Rubio, discusses the beauty of using common sense as a practitioner, and a story regarding his mentor Dr. Shen and the fashion icon Chanel.
[14:53] Hillary and Katrina discuss more of Katrina’s top picks!

Dry Shampoo (Katrina recommends putting it in our hair before bed instead of in the morning)

● Kaia Naturals

● Captain Blankenship

Shampoo

● Innersense

● Avalon Organics

Conditioner

● Acure Conditioner

Body Wash

● Aleavia

● Saje Soap Bars

● Meow Meow Tweet

Deodorant

● Agent Nateur

● Meow Meow Tweet

● Kaia Naturals

● Meow Meow Pit Primer

● Once a week do an armpit detox with bentonite clay and apple cider vinegar mask to pull out all of the old aluminum. Leave it on for about 10 minutes.

Beauty Boxes

● Beauty Hero

● Art of Organics

● The Detox Market

References:

Fertile Minds on iTunes

@ladypotions4u

Ep #049: “Part 1 of Natural Beauty Products Worth Your Money That Won’t Wreck Your Fertility”

Integrative Fertility Symposium

Parents on Demand App

Disclaimer * You must not rely on the information in this podcast as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you have any specific questions about any medical matter you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition you should seek immediate medical attention. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website or in this podcast.

EPISODE 49 | NATURAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS THAT WON'T WRECK YOUR FERTILITY PT1

November 24, 2018 Hillary Talbott

Natural Beauty Products that are Worth Your Hard Earned Pennies & Won’t Interfere with your Fertility

Description:

Today, Hillary and her friend Katrina talk about beauty products and how they could be interfering with your fertility. They list the top ten chemical and ingredient offenders (out of 1,300!) to look out for and avoid, give recommendations on natural beauty product and product lines, and share some practical ways to make small shifts away from slathering ourselves daily in a chemical cocktail. More women are becoming savvy as consumers, and aware of how much of an effect what we put on our body has in with what happens inside of it.

Takeaways:

[1:37] The United States Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (abbreviated as FFDCA, FDCA, or FD&C), has not been changed since 1938. Europe and Canada have higher regulatory standards, and hopefully, the United States will catch up in the close future.

[9:30] Top 10 ingredients we don’t want in our personal care products:

Sunscreen Chemicals. Common Names are Benzophenone, PABA, Avobenzone, Homosalate, and Methoxycinnamate.
Parabens. Parabens are widely used preservatives that prevent the growth of bacteria, mold, and yeast in cosmetic products. Read more on parabens.
Synthetic Colors. FD&C or D&C represent artificial colors. F (food) and D&C (drug and cosmetics). These letters precede a color and number (e.g., D&C Red 27 or FD&C Blue 1).
Synthetic Fragrance.
Phthalates. The main phthalates in cosmetics and personal care products are dibutyl phthalate in nail polish, diethyl phthalate in perfumes and lotions, and dimethyl phthalate in hairspray.
Triclosan. Triclosan is a widely used antimicrobial chemical found in toothpastes, antibacterial soaps, and deodorants.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) / Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). This surfactant can be found in more than 90 percent of personal care and cleaning products (think foaming products).
Formaldehyde. Formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives are used in many cosmetic products to help prevent bacteria growth.
Toluene. A petrochemical derived from petroleum or coal tar sources and it can be found in nail polish, nail treatments, and hair color /bleaching products.
Aluminum. Used in antiperspirants. Read more on aluminum.

[18:21] Now on to… what to actually use? Hillary’s friend Katrina Hall shares her evolution into natural beauty, and some of the top natural products she finds to be the ones she can trust the most with great results.

[22:55] Katrina’s gateway product was an oil cleanser from the Crude Personal line, and she still uses it to take off her makeup.

Cleanser

● Marie Veronique Gel Cleanser

● Probiotic Skin Cleanser

Sunscreen

● HYNT

● Suntegrity

● Marie Veronique

Foundation

● Sappho Essentials Foundation

● Crunchi

Setting Powder

● 100% Pure Bamboo Blur Powder

Bronzer/ Contour

● RMS

● Lily LoLo

Brows

● Ecobrow

● Plume

Eyeshadow

● Lily LoLo

Mascara

● Tarte Amazonian Clay

● Harvest

● Fitglow Lash Serum

Eyeliner

● ZuZu Luxe

Lip Gloss

● Sign up for the newsletter & receive 15% off @ Fitglow Lip Serum

Chapstick

● Zi Zai

Lip Sticks

● Axiology

Lip Liners

● Gabriel Cosmetics

● ZuZu Luxe

References:

Fertile Minds on LibSyn

Fertile Minds on iTunes

@ladypotions4u

Think Dirty

EWG’s Healthy Living App

Parents on Demand App

Crude

thedetoxmarket.com

Continue Your Journey:

@ladypotions4u on Twitter

@ladypotions4u on Instagram

Disclaimer *

EPISODE 47 | BACH FLOWER REMEDIES FOR THE EMOTIONS THAT COME WITH FERTILITY CHALLENGES | Erin Gray, LMT, LMHT

November 22, 2018 Hillary Talbott

Bach Flower Remedies for the Emotions that Come with Fertility Challenges with Erin Gray.

Description:

Hillary’s esteemed colleague and friend Erin Gray, LCMHC, returns to dive deep into fertility challenges and the emotions that come with them. Erin has used and studied Bach Flower remedies for some time now, and she shares her experience with these super-safe homeopathic beneficial supplements. They also talk about the highlights of the 38 different remedies, the way Bach Remedies bring emotional balance into the situation, specific remedies as they play into detailed emotions, and Erin’s recommendation for bringing them into your life.

Takeaways:

[2:10] Bach Flower Remedies work on specific issues, and are unique in the way that they can support emotional balance. This makes them great for most cases of someone going through IVF.

[3:27] Every medical system has its own way of categorizing supplements. In traditional Chinese medicine, we have the Eight Pillars or the Five Elements. Ayurvedic medicine has it’s Dosha’s and the Bach Flowers have their own two categories. One is by the personality type and ongoing characteristics and the other is a certain mood that relates to the moment and the fleeting marker of the experience.

[4:40] There are 38 different tinctured remedies, categorized into 7 different families. They have a subtle taste and usually go in water or under the tongue.

[8:12] Rescue Remedy won’t take away your personality or fix a life situation but it will help to bring a sense of balance and coping into the situation.

[9:21] One of the biggest things Erin sees when working with fertility clients is fear and anxiety. When you have general anxiety or anxiety of an unknown, she suggests using Aspen. If you experiencing a specific fear and are clear about what it’s about, Mimulus is a good one. If you are overly worried about a loved one, Red Chestnut can come to the rescue.

[11:45] Beech can help us open up our minds, and bring in more patience and peace. Rock Water is useful to go easier on yourself and is one of Erin’s most used remedies. The overly controlling personality type could benefit from Vine. When you are having trouble making decisions or confused about your own judgment, go with Cerato. If you are faced with multiple choices and not sure which one you want to choose, Scleranthus can help you figure out which path to go down. Gorse is also a big one for women in the IVF process, as it can help to connect with the true intention, and in turn, restore a sense of hope.

[16:06] Although the remedies are gentle, if not used properly they can neutralize and do nothing or do the complete opposite and cause the emotion to appear even stronger.

[21:03] Of all the Bach Remedies, the one recommended for difficulty in life transition and conceiving is Walnut. Impatiens is a good one to help manage impatience, loneliness, and frustration. This can be very beneficial during the waiting time in IVF and can be cycled in and out to be taken when you are in the throes of the intense emotions.

[26:03] If you find yourself struggling with being present, or in a dissociative state, Clematis is very helpful in getting grounded and back into reality. Honeysuckle is a good one for past regrets, living too much in the past or a sense of nostalgia that interferes with your present moment. White Chestnut can help in getting your mind to settle down and relax, rather than replaying situations over and over and trying to predict every move in the future.

[29:21] Pine is a good one for forgiveness, and letting go of any guilt or shame you may be holding on for yourself. Star of Bethlehem is a beautiful remedy to help with grief, loss, and trauma and Crab Apple can help shift from body shame or a sense of betrayal in your body into a sense of acceptance and peace.

[33:19] If you can’t forgive someone else, and hold resentment and anger towards them, try bringing in some Willow. When you have a burning hatred (think Mean Girl), feel jealousy and mistrust, use Holly.

[35:29] You can look up Bach practitioners in your area that can do assessments and custom blends for you. Oftentimes people need more than one remedy, but just be sure not to mix them all at once.

EPISODE 23 | WHAT YOUR BASAL BODY TEMPERATURE (BBT) CAN & CAN'T TELL YOU ABOUT YOUR FERTILITY

March 25, 2018 Hillary Talbott

Description: Today’s episode is going to uncover what your basal body temperatures can and can’t tell you about your fertility. There is a ton of information regarding this topic, so by the time you are done listening to today’s episode, I want you to feel confident and motivated about tracking your BBT and working with your practitioner on what it means for you. We will talk about why you should take your temperature, how to do it and then track it correctly, how to use the different methods to your advantage, and the benefits that come from tracking it.

Takeaway:

[2:14] When it comes to tracking BBTs or what is known as Basal Body Temperatures, I’ve had two main teachers — Jane Littleton and Kirsten Karchmer from Of Conceivable. Both are a wealth of information when it comes to using and INTERPRETING this technique. Fertility charting is an excellent way to gate what exactly is happening all month long, hormonally, in your body.

[2:57] Many times when a patient comes to my office they have done BBT in the past and are fed up either with the stress it causes or they have no idea how to read it. This leads to them wanting to dismiss doing it all, or maybe they have had an MD of some sort tell them that it’s pointless and they should move on to something like IUI or IVF if they want results. I’m here to tell you that’s not always the case.

[4:12] When a woman walks into my office with 3-6 months of charts either on paper or in an app I know in all likelihood she has just sped up her chances of conceiving with Chinese Medicine. This is also a way I know how and when to fine tune her herbs, recommend lifestyle and diet adjustments and even when there is a greater chance of miscarriage after a positive pregnancy test. This gives many women increased peace of mind that they able to keep an eye on the miracle that is unfolding within them without any invasive treatments. The other positive reason I recommend charting your temps is that it can be greatly empowering to understand what is having an effect on your body, like alcohol, caffeine, or even certain foods.

[8:17] Calendar rhythm method: Consists of using past menstrual cycles to estimate the time of your ovulation. When used on its own, this is the least reliable method of birth control. It should be avoided if your menstrual cycles are shorter than 26 days or longer than 32 days.

[8:42] Temperature method. You track your BBT for several cycles by using a very sensitive basal thermometer to take your temperature before you get out of bed each morning. Due to hormonal surges, your BBT goes up right after ovulation.

[9:10] Cervical mucus method. You track the color, thickness, and texture of your cervical mucus to monitor your fertility. Your cervical mucus becomes thinner, slippery, and stretchy when you ovulate. Tracking your cervical mucus will require some practice.

[10:14] I cover how to take your BBT:

Take your daily temperature first thing upon awakening, before any other activity (going to the bathroom, talking on the phone, etc). The exception is 16 seconds of focused breathing referenced in episode 22.
If using a digital thermometer, wait about 30 seconds until it beeps. Keep the receipt and return if you think the battery is faulty.If using glass, leave it in 5 minutes.
You can take your temperature orally or vaginally, but always make it from the same place. Pick one and stay with it.
Try to take it at the very same time each day right when you wake up.
Make sure you get a minimum of 3 hours consecutive sleep before you take the temperature.
If you use a glass thermometer, shake it down the day before.
If you wake up at 5 and then plan to get up at 7, take your temperature at 5, when you wake up. Most digital thermometers will keep the temperature on it until the next use.

[14:38] When charting your temperature, you can use paper or an app. Some that I like are Fertility Friend, Conceivable, and Glow. If the temperature falls between two numbers on a glass thermometer, always take the lowest. Make dots on the appropriate temperature and connect the dots with straight lines. Note events such as stress, or illness in the miscellaneous row. Temperatures taken late should be noted in the ‘time taken’ row.

[16:36] We cover what BBT tracking can and cannot do. It cannot tell you about your partner’s fertility, nor is it great at predicting ovulation.

[17:50] Don’t freak out if you don’t get every single day. As a practitioner. I am looking for the average in the follicular and the average in the luteal phase. It takes about one season (3 months) of working with someone to make a 50% increase in their chances of fertility.

[19:57] We cover the bleeding, follicular, ovulation and luteal phases and what I look at within each one.

[25:18] If temps are at 98.2 in the luteal phase, your miscarriage chances will drop from 30 percent to 5 percent the following cycle.

[29:16] I go over some patterns that we see in BBT and the phases, and how I as a practitioner use this information to work with the patient.

[34:12] One reason someone wouldn’t want to track their BBT is when they are taking progesterone supplements, as it affects the temperatures and if it stresses you out completely my suggestion is to meditate directly after. And if that’s still too much for you or you travel a lot or you aren’t able to wake around the same time most days due to life constraints I encourage you to check out the AVA Woman.

MENTIONED LINKS:

Link to sign up for free 29-day meditation challenge

affiliate link for $30 discount on Ava Temp tracker

Avawomen.com/avaworld/ava-data-means/

Jade Ashtanga retreats- join me this summer and receive one complimentary coaching session prior

manifest your dream life with davidji retreat- $150 discount coupon code dreamlife2018

Treatment of Infertility with Chinese Medicine, by Jane Lyttleton

Guide to Cervical Mucus episode 23

@ladypotions4u on Twitter

@ladypotions4u on Instagram

EPISODE 18 | Fertility Lab Tests Explained in Plain English

January 21, 2018 Hillary Talbott

Description: Today we will be diving into lab values, and specifically what it means to have a complete fertility workup. I cover what it means when we say a fertility workup, what they test for and why, what is “normal” to empower yourself in a non-judgmental way so you and your support system can figure out a plan of corrective action. We also discuss a semen analysis and the total, whole picture of the markers you would be looking at there. This episode is a great way to dive in with understanding what tests should be done based on your age and how long you have been trying, along with who in your healthcare network would be able to help you run the tests.

Takeaways

[1:17] When we say a complete fertility workup, we also mean having a male workup — your partner — as well.

[7:14] The first step is a comprehensive wellness panel or CBC with add-ons. Second is the semen analysis and third is the complete fertility workup for a woman.

Female Hormonal Testing

[11:06] Most often the tests will be blood tests, however, some will be urine, diagnostic, and imaging.

[11:39] I break down what a CBC, lipid and metabolic panels are, what they test for, and how to read the different markers.

[14:41] Hypoglycemia is a somewhat common culprit when looking at disruptions in reproduction. Thyroid health is extremely important as well. The TSH and T4 and T3 Uptake are the most looked-at markers in the panel.

[19:57] Vitamin D has a variety of effects on the body, including GI health, skin health, mood, and immunity.

[25:02] The semen analysis; you want to look at the whole picture of total motile sperm, and calculate it using volume, concentration, and motility.

[33:18] High levels of prolactin may affect the ability to ovulate and the regularity of a woman’s menstrual cycle.

[44:51] I explain the PCOS diet and why this way of eating may be beneficial.

PCOS Risk Panel

References:

Fertile Minds on LibSyn

Fertile Minds on iTunes

American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine

Episona