EP58: Lisa Hendrickson-Jack on the Menstrual Cycle as a Vital Sign, Fertility, and Holistic Reproductive Health
What Lisa Shares: Her journey to understanding female fertility more fully after receiving incorrect information in school How to determine when you’re actually fertile The biology of the menstrual cycle and how different birth controls alter this The importance of male fertility in conception and how to boost male fertility What You’ll Hear: The recent expansion of scientific literature to more fully include the female body Learning about the biology and physiology of the female body and basing health decisions on science The hormonal cycle is intertwined with the rest of your biology Embracing your body through the lens of pleasure rather than fear Developing personal agency around your fertility decisions The difference between the rhythm method and fertility awareness The importance of familiarizing yourself with cervical mucus, basal body temperature, and cervical positioning The difference between pre-ovulatory and post-ovulatory mucus When practiced *properly,* the efficacy of fertility awareness is up to 99.4% The importance of learning and practicing the method, especially when coming off the pill Understanding the importance of male fertility for natural conception Average count and mobility of sperm has declined in the last century, and ways to improve sperm health Why you might lose your period and the importance of balancing health in order to bring it back Why the menstrual cycle is an important vital sign about your health How vaginal steaming might interact with fertility awareness The long-term health implications of hormonal birth control Being familiar enough with your cycle to notice when more systemic issues are at play How stress affects your menstrual cycle How relating to your body in this way can empower you
