173: How exercise can optimize fertility and pregnancy prep with Dr. Hannah Ryles

In today's episode, I sit down with OB-GYN Dr. Hannah Ryles to explore how exercise and movement can powerfully boost fertility for both men and women. We dive into tailored exercise guidelines for preconception, spotlighting the differences for healthy weight versus those managing metabolic or inflammatory conditions, and unpack the benefits of cycle-syncing workouts. Dr. Ryles also shares insights on how men can support their fertility through movement, while highlighting what to avoid. Above all, we discuss how exercise, mindfulness, and stress management can transform reproductive health into a nurturing, empowering journey, even during IVF. Episode Highlights: Discover how Dr. Hannah Ryles, a University of Chicago OB-GYN and advisor for Expect Fitness, is redefining what movement means for women in every stage of their reproductive journey. Learn how her early years in Japan shaped her unique perspective on exercise and why her medical training revealed striking differences in how active women experience pregnancy, labor, and recovery. Unpacking the myth that exercise has to mean "hard workouts" while also exploring how joyful, everyday movement can transform not just fitness, but fertility. Dr. Ryles shares her expert take on how to move intentionally during preconception, what activity levels best support women with conditions like PCOS or endometriosis, and how tuning into your body (and cycle) can guide your energy and intensity. You'll also hear how movement can calm inflammation, support hormonal balance, and even play a role in IVF success, plus what men need to know about exercise and fertility (and what to avoid). Finally, a powerful client story reminds us that fertility thrives on balance Dr. Ryles leaves listeners with a vital message about movement and fertility If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below. PLUS FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE FOR BITE SIZED TTC TIPS! Related Episode Links: Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here Click here for a collection of Nora's best self paced programs to get & stay pregnant For full show notes and guest related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/173  Grab Your FREE Resources: Just starting your TTC journey? Download my Eat To Get Pregnant Guide  Having trouble getting and staying pregnant? Download my Top 3 Things To Do When You're Not Getting Pregnant Wondering what supplements to take to help you conceive? Download my Fertility Foundations Supplement Guide Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.

Low AMH and "diminished ovarian reserve" can feel like a fertility dead end, but they're not the full story. In this episode, you'll learn what those numbers actually mean, how much they really say about your chances of getting pregnant (naturally or with treatment), and the most powerful levers you still have control over so you can move forward feeling informed, hopeful, and in the driver's seat of your journey. Episode Highlights: Why "low ovarian reserve" is often misunderstood, and what your egg numbers actually look like across your reproductive lifespan, without the fear‑based spin. The real role of AMH: how it was designed to be used in fertility medicine, what it can and can't tell you about your ability to conceive, and why it's not the final verdict on your fertility. Myth‑busting low AMH: how some people still conceive naturally with low numbers, and which key factors matter just as much (if not more) than that single lab result. Your path forward: how to think through natural conception vs IVF/IUI when you have low reserve, and why there isn't one "right" choice, only the right strategy for you. Science‑backed strategies to support egg and sperm health when every cycle counts, including often‑overlooked lifestyle levers that can shift the odds in your favor. A sneak peek at how the Fertility Treatment Prep Program and 1:1 coaching can help you turn this data into an actual game plan If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below. PLUS FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE FOR BITE SIZED TTC TIPS! Related Links: Need 1:1 support? Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here Looking to do it on your own? Click here for a collection of Nora's best self paced programs to help you get & stay pregnant Client success stories who naturally conceived with low AMH Ep 148: Naturally pregnant at 37 after healing chronic BV, gut inflammation and hormone imbalance + Damaris's Story Ep 105: How she got pregnant naturally after 8 years & an AMH of 0.18 Ep 118: What to do when you've been told you can't get pregnant + Kira's story For full show notes and related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/172 Grab Your FREE Resources: Just starting your TTC journey? Download my Eat To Get Pregnant Guide  Having trouble getting and staying pregnant? Download my Top 3 Things To Do When You're Not Getting Pregnant Wondering what supplements to take to help you conceive? Download my Fertility Foundations Supplement Guide Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.  

Happy New Year, my friends, and welcome to Season 5 of the Ultimate Pregnancy Prep Podcast and to 2026. This year is all about intention, strategy, and evidence-based steps to help you finally move the needle on your fertility. In today's episode, I'm walking you through my top 3 things to do if you've been trying to get pregnant without success, and my top 3 things to do if you're just getting started or planning to start trying in the next few months. We'll talk about the gut–fertility connection, the reality of the ongoing sperm crisis, functional hormone testing, and the key foundations you can put in place now to support a healthy conception later. Recent research continues to highlight the gut microbiome, inflammation, and environmental exposures as central players in fertility outcomes, which means there is so much you can do to support your body this year. If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below. PLUS FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE FOR BITE SIZED TTC TIPS! Related Episode Links: Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here Get access to The Get Pregnant Program here, Nora's 12-week signature, self guided online program  Get access to The Fertility Bloodlabs Blueprint Guide here Click here for a collection of Nora's best self paced programs to get & stay pregnant For full show notes and related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/171 Grab Your FREE Resources: Just starting your TTC journey? Download my Eat To Get Pregnant Guide  Having trouble getting and staying pregnant? Download my Top 3 Things To Do When You're Not Getting Pregnant Wondering what supplements to take to help you conceive? Download my Fertility Foundations Supplement Guide Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.  

High FSH: three little letters that can send you spiraling when you're trying to get pregnant. Maybe you've been told your FSH is "too high," your eggs are "too old," or that an egg donor is your only chance at having a baby, but this episode is here to shift that narrative and help you see that number in a completely different light. We'll unpack what high FSH really means, how it fits into your bigger fertility picture, and explore some powerful ways to work with your body in your later reproductive years so you can feel informed, hopeful, and back in the driver's seat of your journey to conception. Episode Highlights:  What FSH is, how it signals your ovaries to grow follicles, and how it rises and falls across a normal menstrual cycle.​ How many follicles you start with in the womb, what's typically left by puberty, and how that pool changes in your 20s, 30s, and 40s.​ Why FSH tends to climb as ovarian reserve declines and how that relates to egg quality and endometrial receptivity.​ The problem with using a single FSH number to push women toward egg donor and why two women with the same value can have very different outcomes.​ How stress, adrenal health, blood‑sugar balance, and inflammation impact FSH signaling and overall hormone harmony.​ Functional tools to support FSH and ovarian health in later reproductive years How a whole‑body, functional approach can help preserve cycles, support egg quality, and keep your body receptive to natural conception, even with high FSH If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below. PLUS FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE FOR BITE SIZED TTC TIPS! Related Episode Links: Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here Click here for a collection of Nora's best self paced programs to get & stay pregnant For full show notes and related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/170  Grab Your FREE Resources: Just starting your TTC journey? Download my Eat To Get Pregnant Guide  Having trouble getting and staying pregnant? Download my Top 3 Things To Do When You're Not Getting Pregnant Wondering what supplements to take to help you conceive? Download my Fertility Foundations Supplement Guide Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.  

Today I interview Anne‑Claire Le Bihan, a former midwife and naturopath, and now practicing spirit baby communicator, who guides you beyond "doing more" and into a softer, magnetic way of being that opens space for baby to arrive. You'll hear how dreams, signs, and your own inner knowing can become a clear dialogue before conception, why mindset and energy shift fertility from contraction to receptivity, and how loss can initiate a sacred training for the mother you're becoming.. If you're curious about what your spirit baby might be trying to tell you, and how to align with divine timing, this episode offers practical practices, deep reassurance, and a new lens on your path to motherhood. Episode Highlights: Naturopathy meets energy work and spirit baby communication to reframe "unexplained" infertility, and reveal what your future baby wants you to know.​ Anne-Claire's prophetic dream, pregnancy, and loss led her from midwifery into the unseen world of spirit babies, and why that shift could change your path, too. Sneak peek: The Empowering Fertility Summit 2026 - 21 experts sharing body–mind–energy–spirit strategies you'll never hear in a standard clinic.​ How mindset and your energy field can move you from contraction to receptivity, blending insights from science and spirituality.​ What spirit babies are, how they reach out preconception, and simple ways to listen, through dreams, signs, and your inner knowing.​​ Trade the hustle for magnetism: shift from "doing more" to a softer state that makes space for baby to arrive.​ Embrace divine timing and the lessons along the way, why many say their baby arrived at the only possible moment.​​ A loving reframe: your fertility path is sacred training for the mother your baby needs, even when loss is part of the story If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below. PLUS FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE FOR BITE SIZED TTC TIPS! Related Episode Links: Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here The Empower Fertility Summit --> Register Here  For full show notes and guest related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/169  Need Nora's Support To Get Pregnant? Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here Click here for a collection of Nora's best self paced programs to get & stay pregnant Grab Your FREE Resources: Just starting your TTC journey? Download my Eat To Get Pregnant Guide  Having trouble getting and staying pregnant? Download my Top 3 Things To Do When You're Not Getting Pregnant Wondering what supplements to take to help you conceive? Download my Fertility Foundations Supplement Guide Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.  

What happens when a type‑A, high‑achieving doctor slowly loses her period, her sense of safety in her body, and eventually her fertility, only to discover she is the one pushing her hormones to shut down? In this raw and hopeful episode, Dr. Ashley Burton traces her path from childhood body image and disordered "health" habits through years of irregular cycles, the pill, an unexpected pregnancy and termination, and a cascade of IUD complications that ended in full‑blown hypothalamic amenorrhea. Ashley pulls back the curtain on her HA journey and how true preconception prep was a game‑changer in helping her get and stay pregnant.  Episode Highlights: How growing up in a Northern Ontario First Nations community, body image pressure, and "healthy habits" quietly set Ashley up for missing periods and HA.​ The truth about her late first period, years of sparse cycles, and what seven years on the pill really did to her hormones.​ An unexpected pregnancy on the rhythm method, a difficult at‑home termination, and the Mirena IUD decision that changed everything.​ The terrifying hemorrhage that became her rock‑bottom moment and the doorway into real body literacy and cycle awareness.​ The one line on a fitness podcast that made her realize she was overtraining, and how easing up finally opened the door to pregnancy.​ Why she is so grateful for preconception nutrient loading now that she is 10 weeks pregnant with first‑trimester food aversions in full swing.​ The sneaky "goal clothes" trap that keeps so many women stuck in HA and what freedom on the other side can look like.​ A client story where a frightening PCOS label turned out to be HA that shifted in two months with breakfast, stress work, and charting.​ Ashley's countercultural reframe on movement, timing, and why building fertility foundations now pays off well into perimenopause and beyond.​ If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below. PLUS FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE FOR BITE SIZED TTC TIPS! Need Nora's Support To Get Pregnant? Click here for a collection of Nora's best self paced programs to get & stay pregnant Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here For full show notes and guest related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/168 Grab Your FREE Resources: Just starting your TTC journey? Download my Eat To Get Pregnant Guide  Having trouble getting and staying pregnant? Download my Top 3 Things To Do When You're Not Getting Pregnant Wondering what supplements to take to help you conceive? Download my Fertility Foundations Supplement Guide Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.  

In today's episode, I'm sharing my top 8 essential insights as a functional fertility coach that go far beyond standard advice, to help you truly understand, prepare, and take charge of your fertility. Get ready to learn why generic protocols aren't enough, how to avoid common misconceptions, and which proactive, holistic steps can give you the best shot at conception and a healthy pregnancy. If you're ready to move from confusion to confidence and make science-backed decisions for your future family, you're in the right place! Episode Highlights: Why it's never too early to take charge of your fertility. The truth about LH ovulation strips and why confirming ovulation requires more than a positive test. How conventional blood labs often miss dynamic hormone patterns and what to do about it The hidden impact of gut health on fertility, even if you feel fine and have no gut symptoms Why your initial fertility diagnosis may not tell the whole story and what to do about it The critical importance of a comprehensive functional health workup (for both partners) before starting any fertility treatment The new science on the uterine microbiome, and why testing this "hidden ecosystem" could be your key to implantation and healthy pregnancy. How waiting to get support can actually cost you more time, energy, money, and heartache Actionable steps you can take today to start building your most fertile body and empowered mindset, no matter where you are on your journey. If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below. PLUS FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE FOR BITE SIZED TTC TIPS! Related Links: Need 1:1 support? Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here Get Inito Starter Kit for just $89 by using code NORAPODCAST at checkout here For full show notes and related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/167 Grab Your FREE Resources: Just starting your TTC journey? Download my Eat To Get Pregnant Guide  Having trouble getting and staying pregnant? Download my Top 3 Things To Do When You're Not Getting Pregnant Wondering what supplements to take to help you conceive? Download my Fertility Foundations Supplement Guide Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.

In today's episode, we're diving deep into the five things every woman should do before trying to conceive with one of the most holistic minds in women's health, Dr. Roxanne Pero. As a triple-boarded OB/GYN specializing in functional and lifestyle medicine, Dr. Pero brings a modern, integrative lens to preconception care. Together, we unpack why pregnancy preparation should start long before that positive test. We discuss everything from nourishing your body and syncing with your cycle, to advocating for your health and building emotional resilience. You'll discover how small, strategic changes can dramatically improve your fertility, pregnancy outcomes, and overall well-being. Whether you're actively trying to conceive now or just thinking ahead, this conversation will empower you to take charge of your fertility with clarity and confidence. Episode Highlights: Why early preconception prep makes all the difference for fertility and pregnancy outcomes The essential nutrients every woman should focus on before conception How to truly understand your menstrual cycle and fertile window, plus the right way to track ovulation What labs and health screenings to consider before TTC and how to advocate for yourself in the medical system How stress, sleep, and movement impact ovulation and hormonal balance Why emotional readiness is just as critical as physical preparation and practical ways to manage the mental load of TTC If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below. PLUS FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE FOR BITE SIZED TTC TIPS! Related Episode Links: Get Inito Starter Kit for just $89 by using code NORAPODCAST at checkout here Download the Fertility Blood Labs Blueprint guide here For full show notes and guest related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/166 Need Nora's Support To Get Pregnant? Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here Click here for a collection of Nora's best self paced programs to get & stay pregnant Grab Your FREE Resources: Just starting your TTC journey? Download my Eat To Get Pregnant Guide  Having trouble getting and staying pregnant? Download my Top 3 Things To Do When You're Not Getting Pregnant Wondering what supplements to take to help you conceive? Download my Fertility Foundations Supplement Guide Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.

In today's episode, I interview Irene Alvarado, a software engineer turned entrepreneur, whose personal fertility journey led her to develop the Berry Fertility app, a true game-changer in patient-centered reproductive care. From experience with egg freezing, Irene saw firsthand just how overwhelming the clinical logistics, medication schedules, and data tracking could be. That's why Berry Fertility focuses on tackling these real-world challenges head-on, streamlining the way patients organize their medication routines, manage critical treatment data, and interface with complex protocols during fertility treatments.​ Beyond just education, Berry Fertility empowers users to coordinate timing, access clinical resources, and seamlessly track every step of their treatment cycles, all in one intuitive platform. This episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking clarity and support on their fertility journey while preparing for or going through fertility treatment. Episode Highlights:  Nora sits down with Irene Alvarado, founder of Berry Fertility, whose personal fertility journey sparked an innovation now empowering women everywhere. Discover how Irene's tech background shaped her mission to reimagine one of the most emotional and complex parts of women's health. Learn what makes Berry Fertility more than an app, how it brings clarity, control, and calm to every stage of treatment. Get behind-the-scenes insights into choosing a fertility clinic and the surprising factors that matter most when starting treatment. Hear how the Berry team is breaking financial and accessibility barriers to make fertility support more inclusive. Irene will leave you with honest, heartfelt advice for anyone navigating the ups and downs of fertility If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below. PLUS FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE FOR BITE SIZED TTC TIPS! Related Links: Get on the waitlist for the Fertility Treatment Prep Program Here Coupon discount details for the Berry Fertility app below: iOS App, click here for your 40% off from the yearly subscription Android (3 months free on the yearly subscription): use promo code NATURALLYNORA at checkout  For full show notes and guest related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/165 Looking For More Support? Need 1:1 coaching? Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here Looking to do it on your own? Click here for a collection of Nora's best self paced programs to help you get & stay pregnant Grab Your FREE Resources: Just starting your TTC journey? Download my Eat To Get Pregnant Guide  Having trouble getting and staying pregnant? Download my Top 3 Things To Do When You're Not Getting Pregnant Wondering what supplements to take to help you conceive? Download my Fertility Foundations Supplement Guide Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.  

Get ready to discover how cervical mucus works, what it's made of, and why it's critical not just for sperm survival, but for creating a truly fertile environment. In today's episode, you'll learn how mucus quality changes with hormones and age, how to use it as a tool to track your cycle and flag potential issues, and strategies to improve mucus production for a better chance at pregnancy. From distinguishing peak to non-peak days, exploring the mysteries behind cycle charting, and understanding how lifestyle choices directly shape your fertility, you'll walk away inspired and empowered. Episode Highlights: Why cervical mucus is the untaught masterpiece of reproductive science and how to tune into its signals. Step-by-step guide to tracking CM for accurate cycle timing and fertility prediction. Eye-opening insights into how age and hormones change mucus patterns. Red flags and what discharge types say about your health. Proven ways to naturally improve cervical mucus quality, including hydration, nutrition, medication review, and smart cycle tracking strategies If you're LOVING this podcast, please follow and leave a rating and review below. PLUS FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM PAGE HERE FOR BITE SIZED TTC TIPS! Related Links: Get the 50% OFF Birthday Sale for The Get Pregnant Program Here - sale expires Sunday Nov 9 at 11:50pm EST Need 1:1 support? Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here Looking to do it on your own? Click here for a collection of Nora's best self paced programs to help you get & stay pregnant For full show notes and related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/164 Grab Your FREE Resources: Just starting your TTC journey? Download my Eat To Get Pregnant Guide  Having trouble getting and staying pregnant? Download my Top 3 Things To Do When You're Not Getting Pregnant Wondering what supplements to take to help you conceive? Download my Fertility Foundations Supplement Guide Please Note: The contents of this podcast are for educational and informational purposes only. The information is not to be interpreted as, or mistaken for, clinical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.