201: Debunking Your Top Fertility Myths with Dr. Sasha Hakman

Fertility myths are everywhere and this week, we're setting the record straight. I'm sitting down with Dr. Sasha Hakman, a double board-certified OB-GYN and reproductive endocrinologist who brings something rare to this conversation: she's not just the expert, she's also walked her own infertility journey.  Together we're busting the biggest myths keeping hopeful parents stuck, from how much prep time you actually need before trying to conceive, to why that period-tracking app on your phone might be leading you astray, to what really matters in a prenatal supplement.  Dr. Hakman also shares surprising research on toxin exposure and egg quality, gets real about the stress-fertility connection, tackles the exercise question everyone gets wrong, and explains why male fertility testing deserves way more attention than a basic "normal" result. If you've ever felt confused or unsure of your own body's signals, this episode hands you the clarity and confidence to advocate for yourself on this 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 Episode Links: CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE FREE ROOT CAUSE FERTILITY SUMMIT For full show notes and guest related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/201 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 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.

If you're navigating a miscarriage, now or have in the past, this episode is for you. In today's episode I'm walking you through exactly what to expect and what to do, from the earliest signs and symptoms to be aware of, to how to nourish and rest your body through it, to the specific red flags that mean it's time to head to the hospital.  I'll also cover what to do with the supplements and prenatal vitamins you're already taking, how long a miscarriage typically lasts, when ongoing bleeding could mean you need more medical attention, and how soon you can expect your cycle to return.  I'm also breaking down something most women have never heard of, Products Of Conception (POC) testing and exactly how and when you can use it to get real answers from this loss. And if you've been through this once, or more times than you can bear to count, I'll be closing off with something I need you to hear: I've walked alongside many clients with sometimes up to five losses who went on to carry healthy babies to term naturally, and I want you to know this is possible for you too.  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 Ep 148: Naturally pregnant at 37 after loss, healing chronic BV, gut inflammation and hormone imbalance + Damaris's Story Ep 191: Brittany's Story: Misdiagnosed PCOS, Miscarriage and How She Got Pregnant Naturally Before Starting IUI Ep 193: The Missing Pieces Behind Recurrent Pregnancy Loss: Briony's Story and What Finally Worked For full show notes and related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/202  Need Nora's Support To Get Pregnant? 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 the diagnosis you're given doesn't actually fit your body? In today's episode, I'm interviewing my client Christine. She did everything "right" to start her family, but when her cycle didn't return after coming off birth control, she was quickly labeled with PCOS and told IVF was her only option. Something about that diagnosis didn't sit right with her and trusting that instinct changed everything. Through self-advocacy and after signing up for the Bronze package, we discovered she actually had hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA) Christine's story is one of the most powerful examples of self-advocacy I've witnessed. From rethinking her approach to movement to making dietary shifts that felt counterintuitive at first, she helped her body remember how to do what it was designed to do. But her path wasn't a straight line, there was heartbreak, and a turning point that changed everything. If you've ever felt dismissed by a diagnosis, Christine's journey is proof of what's possible when you keep asking questions, find the right practitioner and have deep commitment to this 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 Episode Links: CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR SEPTEMBER BRONZE PACKAGE Private Coaching with Nora (limited spots available) CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE FREE ROOT CAUSE FERTILITY SUMMIT For full show notes and related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/200  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 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 tackling a question that trips up even the most experienced cycle-trackers: can your chart look perfectly ovulatory and still, the egg was never actually released? It sounds impossible, but it's a real, documented condition called Luteinized Unruptured Follicle Syndrome, or LUF syndrome. Today I'll be breaking down why ovulation, not your period, is the true main event of your cycle when you're trying to conceive, what's actually happening in your body when LUF syndrome occurs, how common it really is (the research on this might surprise you), the risk factors that can make it more likely, the diagnostic tools that can actually catch it, and what you can do if you suspect this might be part of your own story. If you've been living inside unexplained infertility with charts that look completely normal and no real answers, this episode might just give you a clear path forward. 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: CLICK HERE TO APPLY FOR SEPTEMBER BRONZE PACKAGE Private Coaching with Nora (limited spots available) CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE FREE ROOT CAUSE FERTILITY SUMMIT For full show notes and related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/199  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, my client Alessandra returns to share the raw, deeply personal evolution of her fertility journey, from the heartbreak of loss and a long road through IVF to the unexpected surprise of conceiving naturally when she least expected it. Today, we peel back the layers of what it really looks like to move through grief, release control, and rebuild trust in your body after everything you thought would work didn't. We also explore the contrast between her two pregnancies, her first marked by intense medical intervention, anxiety, and physical strain, and the second unfolding with more ease, fewer symptoms, and a completely different emotional landscape.  This conversation is a powerful reminder that healing isn't linear, outcomes aren't always predictable, and with the right support and foundational shifts, your story can change in ways you never imagined. 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? Apply for Private Fertility Coaching with Nora here Click here for a collection of Nora's best self paced programs to get & stay pregnant Related Episode Links: Alessandra's First Pregnancy Story: Episode 102: How she got pregnant after loss & 2 years of trying For full show notes and related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/198 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 pulling back the curtain on the stress you don't feel, the kind that quietly hijacks your hormones, drains your adrenals, and can drag out your time to conception without you ever naming it as "stress." I'm going to decode your nervous system in real-life terms, show how it flips you between "safe to make a baby" mode and "must survive" mode, and connect that directly to cortisol, adrenal health, and your fertility. And then I'll walk you through how years of hustling, pushing through, and being the woman who "handles it all" can leave a fingerprint on your lab markers and how tools like the DUTCH test can finally reveal whether this invisible stress is one of the missing pieces in your fertility 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! 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 For full show notes and related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/197 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 this episode, I'm sitting down with my client Emily to share the real story behind her path to pregnancy and it's not as straightforward as it may seem. What began as a proactive plan quickly turned into navigating a PCOS diagnosis, male factor infertility, and a fertility experience that left her feeling discouraged and dismissed. But instead of accepting that as her path, Emily chose to do things differently. We take you behind the scenes of how we prepared both her and her husband for IVF, uncovering deeper imbalances through functional testing and focusing on the pieces that are so often overlooked with conventional care. Emily also opens up about the moments that challenged her the most, what helped her stay grounded through the uncertainty, and the unexpected signs that kept her holding on. Today's episode is a story about self advocacy, trust, and what can shift when you stop rushing the process and start supporting your body in a deeper way. 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? Apply for the Silver Package for 1:1 Fertility Coaching 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/196 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's episode invites you into a completely different way of thinking about fertility, motherhood, and what it really means to prepare for a child. I'm joined by Chelsea Ann O'Brien, an integrative medicine nurse practitioner who bridges clinical practice with Eastern spirituality, and together we explore the concept of "feminine frequency" and why so many women today feel disconnected from it.  If you've ever felt stuck in overthinking, control, or survival mode on your fertility journey, this conversation will likely land in a very real way. Chelsea shares how our modern conditioning pulls us into masculine patterns that can quietly disrupt our mental, emotional, physical, and even spiritual health and ultimately, our ability to conceive and carry with ease.  We talk about how your internal state shapes the environment your future child is being welcomed into, why surrender is not weakness but power, and how healing generational patterns plays a critical role in conscious motherhood. Through both science and story, she offers a grounded yet deeply expansive perspective on becoming the mother your child is already calling in. 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! For full show notes and guest related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/195 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.

Before you start trying to conceive, there's one step most people never think about, but it can completely change how you plan for a healthy pregnancy. Genetic carrier screening isn't just for people with a known family history. In fact, most carriers are completely healthy and have no idea they carry a genetic condition. So the question becomes: what don't you know and how could that information shape your choices? In today's episode, I interview genetic counselor Janet Rosenfield, who brings over 40 years of clinical and teaching experience, and Orren Alperstein, founder of Canavan Foundation, whose personal connection to this work adds a powerful, human perspective. Together, we break down what carrier screening actually is, why timing matters, and how this information can shape your fertility journey.  From real patient stories to the future of genetic testing, this conversation is all about making informed, values-based decisions as you plan to grow your family. 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! For full show notes and related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/194 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.

After two back-to-back miscarriages, my client Briony knew something deeper was being missed. On the surface, she was "doing everything right," but underneath were silent unresolved issues like chronic stress, overtraining, and hidden gut infections.  In today's episode, I interview Briony, who shares how she shifted from chasing answers to truly supporting her body as a whole system, alongside her partner. From making big changes like stepping away from intense routines, addressing a hidden parasite, and even taking a full break from trying to conceive to focus on healing.  What followed wasn't just another pregnancy, but a completely different experience of feeling safe and supported in her body.  If you've been stuck in cycles of loss or confusion, this conversation will remind you there is another way forward. 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? SIGN UP FOR PRIVATE COACHING: Sign Up For The June Bronze Package Here (limited spots available, closes Friday June 12) Missed June enrollment and looking for Nora's 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 get & stay pregnant For full show notes and related links: https://www.naturallynora.ca/blog/193 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.