Nothing makes you feel more competent than understanding how fertility tracking works. Suddenly, it no longer feels like you need a second degree just to know if you’re ovulating.  Many women (and their partners) feel more empowered and slightly more in control when they understand how menstrual cycles work in general and how theirs works specifically.  Understanding basal body temperature, or what happens to your temperature when ovulating, won’t always be a fool-proof method for tracking your fertility because of how many external factors can impact your temperature. Still, even so, it can really help.   So...

News flash: Around half of all infertility cases are due to a male factor. One-third are attributed to the female partner, one-third are attributed to the male partner, and one-third are a combination of both, or unexplained.  This math should be intuitive since sperm is half of the baby-making equation, but it still comes as a surprise to many people. In fact, a recent survey showed that 35% of men and 40% of women underestimated the prevalence of male factor infertility, and 1 in 10 respondents believed it had little or no impact on conception.  While...

It’s no secret that the world of reproductive health has been rocked recently, Most notably, when Roe vs. Wade was officially overturned, leaving countless people with uteruses vulnerable to horrific medical outcomes — and an overall lack of agency over their own reproductive health.  Just over a year after that overturning, we finally have some news that feels promising. The FDA just approved an over-the-counter birth control pill, the first non-prescription birth control oral medication to earn this approval. Opill: The first over-the-counter birth control pill to be approved by the FDA Opill, which is manufactured...

Many of us grew up with the ethos that exercise was always a good thing no matter how much of it we did. In fact, we were taught that most people don’t get enough physical activity, both directly and indirectly.  According to the CDC, only 28% of adult Americans meet their weekly exercise needs (150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity and 2 days of strength training) and 25% of adult Americans don’t exercise at all — so it makes sense as to where that message comes from. But too much of a good thing can be...

Sex is messy enough. There’s no need to add worry on top of that with lube that’s loaded up with harsh chemicals — especially when you're trying to conceive. Fortunately, though, there are a lot of awesome new non-toxic lube options on the market that help you turn up the heat without getting burned by irritants or hormone disruptors.  9 Ingredients To Avoid in Conventional Lube Parabens  Parabens are preservatives that are often used in personal care products, including lubricants. They’re added to prevent the growth of bacteria to extend the shelf life but can cause potential...

Egg freezing can take a significant emotional, mental, and financial toll — one of the reasons being that it’s not typically covered by insurance. This is because egg freezing is generally not considered a "medical necessity," even though we know that female fertility declines with age. For women looking to preserve their fertility, insurance coverage varies from plan to plan. Similar to IVF, the only benefits offered for egg freezing are available through employer-sponsored healthcare plans, which is entirely up to the employer to decide.  Interestingly enough, according to NPR, technology companies are more likely to cover...

According to the American Pregnancy Association, miscarriage is defined as a pregnancy that ends on its own within the first 20 weeks of gestation, with the risk for healthy women ranging from 10-25%. Although miscarriage is, by data standards, a common occurrence, it is no less devastating for those involved.  Naturally, friends and loved ones will want to offer support to those who have experienced a miscarriage. Oftentimes, however, their well-meaning actions can end up causing more distress than comfort. Although every person’s needs differ, it’s important to remember that miscarriage brings forth multiple types of...

I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and panic disorder when I was just fourteen years old. My symptoms came to a head when my conditions began impeding on my attendance at school. Nearly every morning, I found myself practically crippled by panic attacks that left me tired and weak for the remainder of the day.  Together, my primary care physician and psychologist decided medication might be the next best route for me. I began taking Lexapro, also known as its generic name Escitalopram, and I finally found relief from my regular panic attacks and...

Can masturbation cause infertility? In short, the answer is no. So you can breathe a sigh of relief.  Masturbation is completely normal and healthy. Incorporating pleasure into your daily and weekly routines is equally as important as other areas of wellness such as working out, eating a nutrient-rich diet, and getting high-quality sleep.  There have been layers of shame placed on top of female masturbation over the years, which has conditioned women to think it’s “bad,” when in reality, sexual health is a major component of your overall health and vitality.  How masturbation affects your body ...

Unless you live under a rock, you’ve probably been seeing ads for period underwear everywhere lately, as have we.  With more awareness being brought to sustainability, the Pink Tax, and various toxins found in conventional menstrual products, it makes sense as to why this trend has taken off.  The Impact of Menstrual Products Financial Impact According to the National Organization for Women, the average woman spends over $20 on menstrual products per cycle, adding up to about $18,000 over her lifetime.  Environmental Impact In the United States alone, approximately 12 billion pads and 7 billion tampons...