FFP 642 | Do Perimenopausal Women Really Have Low Estrogen?

Lisa breaks down new research showing perimenopausal estrogen doesn't just decline — nearly half of women in a 1,300-person study saw a significant rise before their final period, linked to symptoms like heavy bleeding, breast tenderness, and headaches. She unpacks what's driving this pattern and why cycle charting is a key tool for understanding and supporting women through this transition. 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 Real Food for Fertility instead? 🎧 Listen here! 💥This episode is also sponsored by FAMM, the Fertility Awareness Mastery MentorshipTM program! Apply now to join our next class! We start on September 10th! 📚Have you grabbed your copy of the Fertility Awareness Mastery Charting Workbook? It is the first fully customizable paper charting workbook of its kind, available in both Fahrenheit and Celsius editions. Click here to grab your copy today 📚 If you haven't grabbed your copy of The Fifth Vital Sign, grab it here! 🎧Would you rather listen to the audiobook version of The Fifth Vital Sign? 🎧 Listen here!

A new study of nearly 98,000 women trying to conceive found that 41% couldn't identify their fertile window — even among those with "regular" cycles. Lisa breaks down what the data reveals about cycle knowledge gaps, and why this matters for anyone trying to conceive or supporting clients who are. 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 Real Food for Fertility instead? 🎧 Listen here! 💥This episode is also sponsored by FAMM, the Fertility Awareness Mastery MentorshipTM program! Apply now to join our next class! We start on September 10th! 📚Have you grabbed your copy of the Fertility Awareness Mastery Charting Workbook? It is the first fully customizable paper charting workbook of its kind, available in both Fahrenheit and Celsius editions. Click here to grab your copy today 📚 If you haven't grabbed your copy of The Fifth Vital Sign, grab it here! 🎧Would you rather listen to the audiobook version of The Fifth Vital Sign? 🎧 Listen here!

Fertility educator Rachael-Beth Moss shares her journey from painful, unexplained periods to charting her cycle, addressing pregnancy loss, and conceiving naturally at 40 and 42. 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 Real Food for Fertility instead? 🎧 Listen here! 💥This episode is also sponsored by FAMM, the Fertility Awareness Mastery MentorshipTM program! Apply now to join our next class! We start on September 10th! 📚Have you grabbed your copy of the Fertility Awareness Mastery Charting Workbook? It is the first fully customizable paper charting workbook of its kind, available in both Fahrenheit and Celsius editions. Click here to grab your copy today 📚 If you haven't grabbed your copy of The Fifth Vital Sign, grab it here! 🎧Would you rather listen to the audiobook version of The Fifth Vital Sign? 🎧 Listen here!

Carla Lagunas shares her personal journey through hormonal birth control, including her experience with Depo-Provera and prolonged amenorrhea, and how it led her to fertility awareness education. She discusses language barriers in accessing fertility awareness resources and her path toward opening a practice in Costa Rica. 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 Real Food for Fertility instead? 🎧 Listen here! 💥This episode is also sponsored by FAMM, the Fertility Awareness Mastery MentorshipTM program! Apply now to join our next class! We start on September 10th! 📚Have you grabbed your copy of the Fertility Awareness Mastery Charting Workbook? It is the first fully customizable paper charting workbook of its kind, available in both Fahrenheit and Celsius editions. Click here to grab your copy today 📚 If you haven't grabbed your copy of The Fifth Vital Sign, grab it here! 🎧Would you rather listen to the audiobook version of The Fifth Vital Sign? 🎧 Listen here!

Lisa breaks down a research paper on sperm DNA fragmentation and its link to recurrent first-trimester miscarriage. The study found that most men classified as "normal" under the WHO 2021 semen analysis criteria still had elevated DNA fragmentation, and that double-stranded DNA damage specifically was tied to miscarriage risk. Lisa explains why standard semen analysis may miss this issue, why ICSI doesn't necessarily solve it, and why couples facing unexplained or recurrent loss may benefit from pushing for deeper sperm testing. 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 Real Food for Fertility instead? 🎧 Listen here! This episode is also sponsored by FAMM, the Fertility Awareness Mastery MentorshipTM program! Apply now to join the waiting list for our next class! Have you grabbed your copy of the Fertility Awareness Mastery Charting Workbook? It is the first fully customizable paper charting workbook of its kind, available in both Fahrenheit and Celsius editions. Click here to grab your copy today! 📚 If you haven't grabbed your copy of The Fifth Vital Sign, grab it here! Would you rather listen to the audiobook version of The Fifth Vital Sign? 🎧 Listen here!

Lisa breaks down the WHO's 2021 update to its semen analysis guidelines — the first revision since 2010. She explains how these reference values are calculated, why the new numbers changed only marginally from 2010, and what this means for interpreting a semen analysis. Lisa also contrasts the WHO's "normal" thresholds with research on optimal ranges for natural conception. 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 Real Food for Fertility instead? 🎧 Listen here! This episode is also sponsored by FAMM, the Fertility Awareness Mastery MentorshipTM program! Apply now to join the waiting list for our next class! Have you grabbed your copy of the Fertility Awareness Mastery Charting Workbook? It is the first fully customizable paper charting workbook of its kind, available in both Fahrenheit and Celsius editions. Click here to grab your copy today! 📚 If you haven't grabbed your copy of The Fifth Vital Sign, grab it here! Would you rather listen to the audiobook version of The Fifth Vital Sign? 🎧 Listen here!

Lisa reviews the 2023 international PCOS guidelines that preceded the recent PCOS-to-PMOS name change. She covers key updates including AMH testing as an ultrasound alternative, revised hyperandrogenism criteria, mental health screening recommendations, and a shift toward weight-inclusive care. Lisa also highlights a notable gap in the guidelines: the lack of attention to lean PCOS and its impact on diagnosis. 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 Real Food for Fertility instead? 🎧 Listen here! This episode is also sponsored by FAMM, the Fertility Awareness Mastery MentorshipTM program! Apply now to join the waiting list for our next class! Have you grabbed your copy of the Fertility Awareness Mastery Charting Workbook? It is the first fully customizable paper charting workbook of its kind, available in both Fahrenheit and Celsius editions. Click here to grab your copy today! 📚 If you haven't grabbed your copy of The Fifth Vital Sign, grab it here! Would you rather listen to the audiobook version of The Fifth Vital Sign? 🎧 Listen here!

New research links persistent organic pollutants to lower ovarian reserve — even when AMH looks normal. Lisa breaks down the study's findings on legacy chemicals, the "cocktail effect," and what this may mean across generations. 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 Real Food for Fertility instead? 🎧 Listen here! This episode is also sponsored by FAMM, the Fertility Awareness Mastery MentorshipTM program! Apply now to join the waiting list for our next class! Have you grabbed your copy of the Fertility Awareness Mastery Charting Workbook? It is the first fully customizable paper charting workbook of its kind, available in both Fahrenheit and Celsius editions. Click here to grab your copy today! 📚 If you haven't grabbed your copy of The Fifth Vital Sign, grab it here! Would you rather listen to the audiobook version of The Fifth Vital Sign? 🎧 Listen here!

In this episode, Lisa breaks down findings from a recent review paper on how endocrine disrupting chemicals like BPA, phthalates, PFAS, and PCBs may be linked to menstrual cycle changes, hormone levels, and fertility outcomes. She explores why female fertility remains understudied compared to male fertility, what the research shows about chemical exposure and subfertility, and why swapping to "BPA-free" products isn't the fix it's marketed to be. Lisa offers a practical, non-alarmist approach to reducing chemical exposure over time — useful both for individuals trying to conceive and for practitioners supporting fertility clients. 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 Real Food for Fertility instead? 🎧 Listen here! This episode is also sponsored by FAMM, the Fertility Awareness Mastery MentorshipTM program! Apply now to join the waiting list for our next class! Have you grabbed your copy of the Fertility Awareness Mastery Charting Workbook? It is the first fully customizable paper charting workbook of its kind, available in both Fahrenheit and Celsius editions. Click here to grab your copy today! 📚 If you haven't grabbed your copy of The Fifth Vital Sign, grab it here! Would you rather listen to the audiobook version of The Fifth Vital Sign? 🎧 Listen here!

Lisa examines a recent review paper on iron deficiency in women, covering the role of heavy menstrual bleeding, updated ferritin reference ranges, and why non-anemic iron deficiency still carries meaningful health risks. She also addresses iron deficiency in pregnancy, the case for preconception nutrition focused on iron-rich foods, and racial disparities in iron deficiency anemia prevalence among Black women. 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 Real Food for Fertility instead? 🎧 Listen here! This episode is also sponsored by FAMM, the Fertility Awareness Mastery MentorshipTM program! Apply now to join the waiting list for our next class! Have you grabbed your copy of the Fertility Awareness Mastery Charting Workbook? It is the first fully customizable paper charting workbook of its kind, available in both Fahrenheit and Celsius editions. Click here to grab your copy today! 📚 If you haven't grabbed your copy of The Fifth Vital Sign, grab it here! Would you rather listen to the audiobook version of The Fifth Vital Sign? 🎧 Listen here!