Fertility co.
76 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 months ago - ★★★★ - 37 ratingsHow can I boost my fertility and improve my chances of getting pregnant naturally? When is the best time to get pregnant? Why is my period irregular (or late!)? Am I ready to have a baby? Am I ovulating? How can I balance my hormones? And the biggest question of all, how can I understand my menstrual cycle?
Welcome to The Fertility co. Podcast, where you’ll finally get answers to those questions you’ve been secretly Googling, all those things you’re too embarrassed to ask your doctor, because…well – we’re women! Shouldn’t we just know this stuff??
Every Wednesday, physiotherapist, health coach, natural fertility educator and self-proclaimed wellness nerd, Rachel Simpson shares her top tips, essential knowledge and life advice to help you understand your body, take control of your health and create a life you love!
Fertility awareness, charting your menstrual cycle, natural birth control and pre-conception care – she’ll teach you all those things they never taught you in health class!
Are you ready to tune in to your body’s innate wisdom? Because knowledge is power – when you truly understand your body, you are empowered to make informed decisions about your health!
For freebies and all of the latest information on periods, pregnancy and the pelvic floor, check out www.fertilityco.com.au/
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Episodes
Why Is My Period Late?
February 16, 2021 16:00 - 22 minutes - 15.7 MBWe’ve all been there once or twice. We wake up thinking we’re going to get our period. But it doesn’t come. We wake up the next day. Still no period. Then we start to panic. We do some backwards maths and work out if we might be pregnant. We start frantically Googling and cursing our bodies for messing with our heads. In this episode, I’m going to save you from that long fall down the Google rabbit-hole and share with you the top reasons why your period might be late. And...
Preparing Your Partner for Pregnancy
February 09, 2021 16:00 - 36 minutes - 25.4 MBPre-conception care is not just for women, your baby begins with 50% egg and 50% sperm, so sperm health is equally as important as egg health for fertilisation and development of a healthy baby. It takes three months for sperm to develop and mature before they are capable of fertilising an egg, so preparation should start at least three months before trying to conceive. This can ensure sperm is high quality and viable and gives the best chance of fertilising the egg. Once pregnancy is co...
Why You Should Start Your New Year’s Resolutions in February
February 02, 2021 16:00 - 16 minutes - 11.2 MBThink back to new year’s eve. The clock strikes midnight, we cheer and hug and kiss and say happy new year. We’re already likely up past our regular bedtime, glass of champagne in our hand, and since Christmas the week before we have been eating our weight in food, drinking too much and lounging around in the Australian sun, or curled up under a blanket for those of you listening in the Northern Hemisphere. Either way, do you really think these first few minutes of a new year are r...
Coming Off The Pill (Part II)
January 26, 2021 16:00 - 27 minutes - 18.6 MBReady to ditch hormonal contraceptives for good but feeling completely clueless about how to do it and what to expect? In this podcast episode, I'm talking you through the 5 steps to coming off the Pill. Whether you're ready to start preparing for pregnancy or you just want to explore a natural method of birth control, I've got you covered! Here’s What We’re Talking About: Why you need to understand the basics of your menstrual cycle. How to get started charting your cycle and your ...
Coming Off The Pill (Part I)
January 19, 2021 16:00 - 30 minutes - 21.3 MBDid you know that the pill was the very first medication that was prescribed to perfectly healthy women to treat something that was not a health problem? Instead, it works by shutting down a completely natural process of the female body – ovulation. The pill has been responsible for many changes in our society since it was first put on the market in 1960 and it’s now estimated that there are about 10 million women using the pill worldwide. But, how well do you really know what...
Is My Cervical Mucus Normal?
November 03, 2020 16:00 - 29 minutes - 20.2 MBIs My Cervical Mucus Normal? Let’s get something straight, cervical mucus is not just discharge and it is a very good thing! You want to see mucus throughout your menstrual cycle because it’s the very best real-time indicator you have of your fertile window. It tells you when you’re ovulating so you can use this information to avoid unplanned pregnancy or conceive naturally. Mucus helps keep sperm alive and helps get us pregnant, and it protects us from vaginal infections. The change in mu...
Recurrent UTIs and the Vaginal Microbiome, with Joanna Macmeikan
October 27, 2020 16:00 - 42 minutes - 29.5 MBIn this episode, we’re talking about UTIs and why the bacteria around your vagina and bladder are essential for good health. I’m chatting with registered Chinese medicine practitioner Joanna Macmeikan about all things UTIs and bacterial vaginosis and why antibiotics are not always the answer. HERE'S WHAT WE COVER: What is a recurrent or chronic UTI and how is it different to a one-off UTI? How do we treat a recurrent UTI? What are some problems with the current medical approach for recur...
Joanna Macmeikan - Recurrent UTIs and the Vaginal Microbiome
October 27, 2020 16:00 - 40 minutes - 28.1 MBIn this episode, we’re talking about UTIs and why the bacteria around your vagina and bladder are essential for good health. I’m chatting with registered Chinese medicine practitioner Joanna Macmeikan about all things UTIs and bacterial vaginosis and why antibiotics are not always the answer. Now you may have heard of the gut microbiome before, it’s a collection of literally trillions of tiny micro-organisms that are thought to have a powerful effect on your overall health. But did you know...
Overactive Pelvic Floor – When Kegels Do More Harm Than Good
October 20, 2020 16:00 - 19 minutes - 13.4 MBIn this episode, we’re talking about overactive pelvic floors. When your pelvic floor muscles have higher tone and activity than what we’d consider normal and why kegels are the very last thing you should be doing. And while there is no denying that it’s a great thing that women are becoming more informed about their bodies and how important the pelvic floor is, for some women, weakness isn’t the problem. And when we’re all being bombarded with the message to do our pelvic floor exercises e...
The Luteal Phase – Menstrual Cycle Masterclass Part 4
October 13, 2020 16:00 - 20 minutes - 13.8 MBEver had a complete breakdown only to discover that your period came the next day and *maybe* you overreacted slightly? Yep, I’ve been there! Mood swings, PMS, breakouts – in this week’s podcast episode, we’re wrapping up the Menstrual Cycle Masterclass series and talking about the luteal phase. That window of time after ovulation has occurred and as your body is preparing for your next period. That window of time where those typical symptoms of PMS start to emerge… HERE’S WHAT WE COVER: ...
The Ovulatory Phase – Menstrual Cycle Masterclass Part 3
October 06, 2020 16:00 - 24 minutes - 16.8 MBIn this episode, Part 3 of the Menstrual Cycle Masterclass, we have arrived at the main event – ovulation. I’ll be sharing what happens in our bodies in the lead up to, during and after ovulation, the signs of ovulation you can look out for and how to support your body during this important window of time with nutrition, exercise and self care. HERE’S WHAT WE COVER: The Day 14 ovulation myth – and why it’s the cause of so many problems Why timing is everything when it comes to achieving o...
The Follicular Phase – Menstrual Cycle Masterclass Part 2
September 29, 2020 17:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MBThe follicular phase – the window of time between menstruation and ovulation – can be tricky. While all of the other phases of our menstrual cycle are usually quite consistent and reliable, it’s the follicular phase which can change every single month. Some women may even skip this phase completely! Welcome to Part Two of your Menstrual Cycle Masterclass, where I’m breaking down the sneakiest of all the phases of the menstrual cycle, the follicular phase - what actually goes on inside our b...
The Menstrual Phase - Menstrual Cycle Masterclass Part 1
September 22, 2020 17:00 - 26 minutes - 17.9 MBHalf of the world’s population will experience a period. A lifetime of periods equates to 8.6 years, 448 weeks, 3139 days and 70 080 hours. And yet, I wonder just how many women actually understand what’s going on in their bodies. Not just during menstruation, but for the rest of the month too. Welcome to your Menstrual Cycle Masterclass, where I’ll be diving deep into each phase of the menstrual cycle - what actually goes on inside our body, how to support your body, balance your hormone...
Melissa Finlay Nutrition - Hormones, Fertility and Learning to Love Your Body
September 15, 2020 17:00 - 33 minutes - 23.2 MBIn this episode, I have the absolute pleasure of chatting with Melissa Finlay – a nutritionist with a love for women’s health. She’s passionate about helping people take control of their health, and getting back to feeling great so that life can be lived to its fullest. Her absolute favourite thing is to see people change their lives through understanding how to treat their body with the respect it deserves. Not only is Mel a qualified Nutritionist, she is also a Pilates Instructor and P...
Hormones, Fertility and Learning to Love Your Body, with Melissa Finlay
September 15, 2020 17:00 - 35 minutes - 24.1 MBIn this episode, I have the absolute pleasure of chatting with Melissa Finlay – a nutritionist with a love for women’s health. She’s passionate about helping people take control of their health, and getting back to feeling great so that life can be lived to its fullest. Her absolute favourite thing is to see people change their lives through understanding how to treat their body with the respect it deserves. Not only is Mel a qualified Nutritionist, she is also a Pilates Instructor and P...
3 Health Checks Every Woman Needs to Know About
September 08, 2020 17:00 - 23 minutes - 15.8 MBIt’s the first week of September which means it’s Women’s Health Week in Australia. This is an event now in its 8th year and is run by Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, an Australian not-for-profit organisation that is dedicated to improving women’s health and inspiring women to take control of their health. This year’s theme is all about Checking In on Your Health – and so in this week’s podcast episode, I’m unpacking the 3 health checks that every woman needs to know about – no matter what ...
Can I Get Pregnant During My Period?
September 01, 2020 17:00 - 19 minutes - 13.7 MBCan you actually get pregnant during your period? Surely not! Oh wait, actually…can you? Oh, the things we would go back and tell our younger selves if only we knew then what we know now…Don’t pop your pimples. Don’t cut your own fringe…. And don’t have unprotected sex during your period and assume that you can’t make a baby. Yes, you can in fact get pregnant on your period! This is a very common myth that needs busting asap! In this episode, we’re diving deep into what happens in that ...
I’m Pregnant – Should I Monitor My Heart Rate When I Exercise?
August 25, 2020 17:00 - 20 minutes - 14.2 MBI’m pregnant. Should I be monitoring my heart rate when I exercise? This is a super common question and something that causes a lot of stress and confusion for pregnant women. And you know what? The recommendation for pregnant women to keep their heart rates below 140 bpm was big in the 90s. But just like big perms, shoulder pads and flowery maternity dresses, things go out of date. And these guidelines have certainly gone out of date. In this episode, I’m diving deep into why monitori...
5 Things You Didn’t Know About Your Vagina
August 18, 2020 17:00 - 20 minutes - 14.4 MBWe all know that the female anatomy is a mystery for most men. But can we really blame them when the vagina is kind of a mystery for us girls too? Probably more of a mystery than we’re willing to admit… In this episode, I’m sharing 5 things I’m betting you didn’t know about your vagina. HERE’S WHAT WE COVER: Why every vagina is different (and why that’s totally normal!) How your pelvic floor is helping (or hindering) your sex life What makes a healthy vagina. Hint: It’s probably not wha...
Finding Your Why
August 11, 2020 17:00 - 21 minutes - 14.8 MBA couple of years ago, I was a very different person to the one sitting in front of the microphone right now. I was miserable in my job, hating life and hating the person it was turning me into. I didn’t know it then, but I almost had to hit rock bottom to pick myself back up and find my purpose. And in hindsight, I wouldn’t change a thing. Here’s a summary of everything I talked about in this episode: Why the grass is not always greener after a promotion My breaking point. Aka: That t...
Stress and Your Menstrual Cycle: Why Your Period is Irregular and Your Hormones Are Haywire (And What You Can Do To Fix It)
August 04, 2020 17:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBAre you noticing skin breakouts? Disrupted sleep? Wonky periods? Mood swings? The world is collectively stressed right now. And Covid-19 is probably affecting your health and your hormones in more ways than you think. In this episode, we’re talking about stress and your menstrual cycle. Why your period is irregular and your hormones have gone haywire (and what you can do to fix it) And even when we’re not in the middle of a global pandemic and we’re all isolated in our houses and stressed ...
My All-Time Top 5 Fertility Superfoods
July 28, 2020 17:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MBWanna know my all-time top 5 fertility superfoods? In this episode, I’m giving you my favourite foods for boosting your fertility naturally and making sure you’re getting all the essential nutrients when preparing for pregnancy. ________________ Read the show notes, including a transcript of this episode with all links and resources HERE DM Rachel on Instagram: @fertilityco The podcast is taking a break in 2024 while I'm on maternity leave, but there are still heaps of ways you can l...
Menstrual Cycle 101: All those things they never taught us in health class
July 21, 2020 17:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MBIn this episode, we’re going right back to the very beginning. Back to your high school health class when you first learn about periods, pregnancy and birth control. And then we going to un-learn everything you’ve ever been taught about your period and start from there. Are you in? Are you intrigued? Stick with me and I’ll change your life forever. I promise. Here’s What We’re Talking About: Why your menstrual cycle is so much more than just bleeding once a month We’ll break down all ...
5 Things Every Woman Needs to Know About Her Pelvic Floor
July 21, 2020 17:00 - 22 minutes - 15.7 MBBe honest. How often do you do your pelvic floor exercises? Every day? When you remember? Never? In this episode, I’m breaking down the 5 things that every woman should know about her pelvic floor – even if you’ve never had a baby! Now maybe you’ve tuned in to this episode because you already suspect there’s a problem down there that needs fixing. Or maybe you know that the pelvic floor is kind of important, but you honestly have no idea what it is, let alone how to do these pelvic floor ...
5 Things Every Woman Needs to Know About Her Pelvic Floor
July 21, 2020 17:00 - 22 minutes - 15.3 MBBe honest. How often do you do your pelvic floor exercises? Every day? When you remember? Never? In this episode, I’m breaking down the 5 things that every woman should know about her pelvic floor – even if you’ve never had a baby! Now maybe you’ve tuned in to this episode because you already suspect there’s a problem down there that needs fixing. Or maybe you know that the pelvic floor is kind of important, but you honestly have no idea what it is, let alone how to do these pelvic floor ...
Am I Ovulating? The One Check You Can Do Every Day to Know For Sure When You’re Fertile
July 21, 2020 17:00 - 36 minutes - 25 MBAm I ovulating? Wouldn’t life be so much easier if we had a clear answer to that question every single day? In this episode, I’m going to be teaching you the exact messages your body is sending you every day so that you can answer yes or no to that very question with complete confidence. Whether or not your goal right now is to achieve or avoid pregnancy, the key to understanding your menstrual cycle and boosting your fertility (for right now or the future) is to know when you are ovulati...