When it comes to fertility, we know that optimal nutrition plays a crucial role in supporting reproductive health for both women and men. In an ideal world, we would be able to get all of the nutrients we need from our food; however, due to changes in farming practices, food processing, and more, this is not always the case. Supplements can help fill in some of these gaps to make sure we’re getting the proper nutrients to support our fertility. But what supplements should you be taking when trying to conceive? While a high-quality prenatal vitamin...

Kristyn Hodgdon • Jun 26, 2023

In many ways, endometriosis is one of the most mysterious conditions in the world of women’s health. Between its notorious underdiagnosis (not-so-fun fact: Endometriosis is referred to as “the missed disease” due to the challenges of diagnosing the condition) and our lack of societal conversation around endometriosis, there’s not enough understanding of the condition. Few people realize what endometriosis is, the warning signs of the condition, and how exactly endometriosis affects the approximately 1 in 10 women who suffer from it. For example, while people generally have some awareness of the fact that endometriosis can complicate...

Zara Hanawalt • Jun 25, 2023

The menstrual phase tries to keep all the shine for being the most uncomfortable and ever-present stage in the menstrual cycle, but the truth is that for some, the ovulatory phase comes in as a close second.  Each stage of the menstrual cycle — luteal, follicular, menstrual, and ovulatory — brings its own unique hormonal changes and physical symptoms. For instance, the menstrual phase is the most well-known for cramping, bloating, and PMS, which can be triggered specifically by ‘that time of the month.’ The follicular and luteal phases bookend both the menstrual and ovulatory phases. And ovulation...

Vivian Nunez • Jun 25, 2023

Hearing your baby’s heartbeat for the first time is an exciting milestone — and not just because it’s proof of a future life, but because your miscarriage risk actually declines. According to a study published in JAMA, after an ultrasound confirms a baby's heartbeat at 8 weeks, the risk of miscarriage is ~3%.  All in all, most healthcare providers will say the first 13 weeks of pregnancy are the most critical (1st trimester) since rapid growth and development take place during this time. The embryo-turned-fetus develops distinct facial features, limbs, organs, bones, and muscles, and has...

Caroline McMorrow • Jun 23, 2023

While prenatal vitamins don’t directly increase your chances of conception, they do play a hugely important role in helping your body become a healthy, well-nourished home to support a potential pregnancy — which is why they’re highly recommended for any time you’re trying to have a baby.  But with never-ending options on the market, it can feel nearly impossible to decide on a prenatal supplement to support you when you’re TTC (as if that time weren’t stressful enough!)  We've got your back, though. Below, we give you the lowdown on everything you need to look for...

Caroline McMorrow • Jun 22, 2023

If you’re only just starting to consider in-vitro fertilization (IVF) as an option, the very concept can be intimidating. The term “IVF” is thrown around so often in fertility circles that some people automatically assume it’s a necessary step for getting pregnant with infertility. Sometimes it is, but sometimes it isn’t.  “Don't assume just because you're struggling to get pregnant that you need IVF,” says Deanna Brasile, DO, a fertility specialist at Main Line Fertility. “The majority of patients can get pregnant through means that are less aggressive and less expensive than IVF.”   There are, however,...

Sarene Leeds • Jun 22, 2023

As expected, our moms were on point. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  But lately, the message has gotten a bit lost in translation as we’ve been hit with more content online and on social media advising us to do intermittent fasting, eat our first meal of the day at noon, do a fasted workout, or drink coffee on an empty stomach for accelerated fat burn.  For women in particular, it turns out our body isn’t too fond of all that manipulation because of our hormonal complex. Women aren’t small men. We have...

Caroline McMorrow • Jun 22, 2023

“Period symptoms” is a stand-in phrase for many different things. Depending on who you ask, they can range from mild headaches to bloating to debilitating cramping. For many women, period symptoms are so painful that it’s like a full-time job finding the right combination of wellness items and self-care to help support them during ‘that time of the month.’  Before we dive into how probiotics can help ease period symptoms, it’s helpful to understand just how prevalent and vast period symptoms are. According to the Office on Women’s Health, over 90% of women say they have...

Vivian Nunez • Jun 20, 2023

We get it, talking about blood sugar isn’t the sexiest thing on the planet, but it is necessary.  Most people assume blood sugar control only matters for people who are diabetic or pre-diabetic, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Blood sugar control is one of the primary pillars of our metabolic health, aka our metabolism.  Our metabolism is so much more than “a fat-burning mechanism” as we hear about from the diet industry. It’s responsible for ensuring every single cell and organ in our body is equipped with the energy to do its job....

Caroline McMorrow • Jun 19, 2023

As if our bodies couldn't get any more confusing and stress-inducing, sometimes, seemingly out of nowhere, we're thrown a curve ball in the form of an ovarian cyst. Ovarian cysts are annoying and sneaky little things — some women experience no symptoms at all, while others have warning signs in the form of back or pelvic pain. While the idea of an ovarian cyst may seem scary, especially if you're trying to conceive, figuring out whether you have one in the first place and whether or not it's affecting your fertility can make you feel even more...

Jennifer “Jay” Palumbo • Jun 19, 2023