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

Houston we have a problem! The current sperm guidelines don't provide us with optimal values for natural conception. Instead, they provide a low bar below which further medical support is most likely required. Tune in for the full story! Follow this link to view the full show notes page! This episode is sponsored by Lisa's new book Real Food for Fertility , co-authored with Lily Nichols! Grab your...

Intermittent fasting is a trending nutrition strategy—but many women unknowingly compromise their hormonal health by skipping breakfast. In this episode, Lisa explores how breakfast impacts ovulation, energy levels, progesterone production, and overall cycle health. Drawing on research highlighted in Real Food for Fertility, she discusses why a strategic eating window—with sufficient calories and...

Discover research-backed nutritional strategies to optimize fertility with Lily Nichols, RDN. Explore protein intake, blood sugar balance, and how to support women with PCOS through real food interventions. Follow this link to view the full show notes page! This episode is sponsored by Lisa's new book, Real Food for Fertility , co-authored with Lily Nichols! Grab your copy here !  🎧Would you pref...

Do we really need fat to balance hormones? In this episode, Lisa reviews a long‑term dietary intervention study that unintentionally revealed just how strongly dietary fat intake influences estrogen, progesterone, ovulation, and overall menstrual cycle health. Follow this link to view the full show notes page! This episode is sponsored by Lisa's new book, Real Food for Fertility , co-authored with...

Discover the top 10 fertility awareness takeaways of 2025, including new research, the critical role of cycle literacy in women's healthcare, and why ovulation isn't optional. Follow this link to view the full show notes page! This episode is sponsored by Lisa's new book,  Real Food for Fertility , co-authored with Lily Nichols! Grab your copy here !  🎧Would you prefer to listen to the audiobook...

Can hormonal birth control shrink vulvar tissues and impair sexual function? In this FAMM Research Series episode, Lisa Hendrickson-Jack reviews one of the most controversial studies on the long-term effects of combined oral contraceptives and the vaginal ring on clitoral size, vulvar blood flow, and sexual satisfaction. Follow this link to view the full show notes page! This episode is sponsored...

How does ovulation impact a woman's self-perception and sexual behavior? In this episode, Lisa explores a fascinating new study that reveals the cyclical shifts in women's self-rated attractiveness, sexual desire, and grooming behaviors — and the stark contrast for women on hormonal contraceptives. Follow this link to view the full show notes page! This episode is sponsored by Lisa's new book, Rea...

Pelvic pain and vaginismus are more common than you think. In this episode, Dr. Janelle Frederick breaks down the myths, stigma, and real solutions for painful sex. Follow this link to view the full show notes page! This episode is sponsored by Lisa's new book, Real Food for Fertility , co-authored with Lily Nichols! Grab your copy here !  🎧Would you prefer to listen to the audiobook version of R...

Even if you're eating a "perfect" diet, chronic bloating and digestive symptoms can persist — and for many of your clients, they do. In this eye-opening conversation, Lisa is joined by certified holistic health coach Hannah Aylward to unpack the deeper gut imbalances that elimination diets can miss. From hidden dysbiosis and low stomach acid to bile flow and histamine overload, you'll learn why fo...

Even if you're eating a "perfect" diet, chronic bloating and digestive symptoms can persist — and for many of your clients, they do. In this eye-opening conversation, Lisa is joined by certified holistic health coach Hannah Aylward to unpack the deeper gut imbalances that elimination diets can miss. From hidden dysbiosis and low stomach acid to bile flow and histamine overload, you'll learn why fo...

Is fertility awareness too complex for clients to use effectively? In this special FAMM Research Series episode, Lisa explores the nuances of user behavior, intention, and method efficacy—and what it means for health professionals supporting clients with fertility awareness-based methods (FABMs). Follow this link to view the full show notes page! This episode is sponsored by Lisa's new book, Real...

Fertility awareness methods (FAM) offer midwives a powerful, evidence-based framework to support cycle literacy, natural family planning, and postpartum care. In this episode, Lisa interviews Kate Chantry, a licensed midwife of 14 years, who shares how she integrates FAM tools and teachings from the Fertility Awareness Mastery Mentorship (FAMM) into her rural Wisconsin midwifery practice. Follow t...

Are organ meats the missing link in male fertility? In this episode of the FAMM Research Series, Lisa breaks down a surprising study on red meat intake and reproductive parameters in young men — revealing a major disconnect between the data and the published abstract. Learn what the study actually found about organ meat consumption, sperm quality, and researcher bias in nutrition science. Follow t...

In this FAMM Research Series episode, Lisa examines a new UK-based study suggesting an increase in unintended pregnancies linked to fertility awareness methods. But is that really the whole story? Tune in for a critical breakdown of the data, the real reasons women are turning away from hormonal contraception, and what it all means for practitioners working in reproductive health. This episode is...

What happens when science is designed for men? Lisa explores the entrenched sex bias in biomedical research and its impact on women's health in this solo FAMM Research Series episode. Follow this link to view the full show notes page! This episode is sponsored by Lisa's new book Real Food for Fertility , co-authored with Lily Nichols! Grab your copy here !  Would you prefer to listen to the audiob...

Discover what AMH really tells us about fertility, ovarian reserve, and egg quality. Lisa breaks down the latest research and debunks persistent AMH myths in this clinical deep dive for practitioners. Follow this link to view the full show notes page! This episode is sponsored by Lisa's new book  Real Food for Fertility , co-authored with Lily Nichols! Grab your copy here !  Would you prefer to li...

In this FAMM Research Series episode, Lisa explores groundbreaking research on the role of retinoic acid—the active form of vitamin A—in spermatogenesis, testosterone production, and overall male fertility. Discover why vitamin A may act as the biological "on/off" switch for sperm production, and how nutrient-dense foods like liver could play a pivotal role in male preconception care. Follow this...

In this groundbreaking episode, Dr. Sarah Hill explores the misunderstood "dark half" of the menstrual cycle, revealing how progesterone shapes mood, metabolism, immunity, and women's overall health. Follow this link to view the full show notes page! This episode is sponsored by Lisa's new book Real Food for Fertility , co-authored with Lily Nichols! Grab your copy here !  Would you prefer to list...

What happens when hormonal birth control criticism on TikTok is labeled "misinformation"? Lisa explores the rise of social media health narratives and the implications for fertility awareness educators. Follow this link to view the full show notes page! This episode is sponsored by Lisa's new book Real Food for Fertility , co-authored with Lily Nichols! Grab your copy here !  Would you prefer to l...

ACOG's 2025 consensus finally validates IUD insertion pain. Lisa breaks down what this means for practitioners and how to advocate for evidence-based pain management in cervical procedures. Follow this link to view the full show notes page! This episode is sponsored by Lisa's new book Real Food for Fertility , co-authored with Lily Nichols! Grab your copy here !  Would you prefer to listen to the...

Discover how oral health impacts fertility in this groundbreaking conversation with functional dentist Dr. Katie Lee. Learn the surprising link between the oral microbiome, systemic inflammation, and reproductive health! Follow this link to view the full show notes page! This episode is sponsored by Lisa's new book Real Food for Fertility , co-authored with Lily Nichols! Grab your copy here !  Wou...

In this solo episode, Lisa explores the clinical differences between PMS and PMDD and breaks down a recent study that tested mood, cognition, and food intake across the menstrual cycle. She highlights major limitations in the study's hormonal testing methods and challenges the psychiatric framing of PMDD as a purely serotonin-based disorder. If you work with clients experiencing debilitating preme...

Psychiatrist Dr. Katie Marwick joins Lisa to discuss the overlooked role of the menstrual cycle in psychiatry. Together, they explore why cyclical hormone changes can exacerbate symptoms of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and other psychiatric conditions — and how acknowledging the menstrual cycle as a vital sign could transform mental health care for women. Follow  this link to view the fu...

Are microplastics silently sabotaging your fertility? Discover how these invisible toxins are ending up in your ovaries—and what the research says about protecting your reproductive health. Lisa and Courtney Joy Goetz share expert tips for choosing truly clean skincare to support hormonal health and fertility. This episode is sponsored by Lisa's new book Real Food for Fertility , co-authored with...

Toxin exposure and fertility are front and center in this practitioner‑level conversation with environmental health educator Lara Adler. We unpack where exposures actually come from, what's realistically within personal control, and how to prioritize high‑impact reductions without fear or perfectionism. Follow this link to view the full show notes page! This episode is sponsored by Lisa's new book...