Episode 213: Understand Your Cycle; Take Back Your Power with Lisa Hendrickson-Jack
If you menstruate and have ever experienced pain or discomfort associated with your cycle, you’ve likely been told that it’s normal, and to take hormonal birth control as a treatment option. While this is certainly a viable and beneficial option for some, for others this answer can feel dismissive, especially if you’re looking to avoid hormonal birth control or want to dig into WHY you’re experiencing these symptoms.
These experiences can leave those seeking to better understand their bodies feel as though they have no control, and in a society where access to reproductive care (and even information) is increasingly hamstrung, this loss of control is especially disempowering.
Enter Lisa Hendrickson-Jack. She’s a Holistic Reproductive Health Practitioner and Fertility Awareness Educator, and in 2019 she sat down with Erin to get into the nitty gritty of everything you ever wanted to know about your period. Tune in to hear Lisa highlight why your cycle is a vital sign, the role blood plays, what’s considered “normal” with periods and PMS, how to know your fertile window, differences in birth control options, and how cycle tracking can not only give you insight into your reproductive and overall health, but also help you plan your life.
Whether you’re trying to get pregnant, trying to NOT get pregnant, or just trying to understand your body better, this is an especially relevant episode that offers up powerful information to take charge of your fertility. Reproductive health affects EVERYONE, so share this episode with anyone you care about!
In this episode:
When things feel out of control [1:29]
Additional fertility resources [5:09]
All about Lisa [15:24]
The power of cycle tracking [17:05]
What is a vital sign? [19:02]
What does it mean when you skip periods [23:03]
The Female Athlete Triad [24:03]
Osteoporosis risk factors [25:40]
What a normal, healthy cycle looks like (and why you need to know) [28:06]
Why PMS is NOT NORMAL [30:22]
What to do if you have severe cramping and bleeding [37:11]
How your diet and personal care products contribute to your PMS symptoms [41:00]
How to start paying attention to your cycle [47:03]
The best ways to track ovulation [54:16]
The best ways to track your hormones [56:46]
3 main signs of fertility [57:57]
Rhythm Method vs. Fertility Awareness Method [1:01:46]
IUDs and Copper IUDs [1:07:43]
Using your cycle to plan your life [1:15:44]
Resources mentioned:
Your Hormone Revival™ (Only available within the Funk’tional Nutrition Collective)
The Funk’tional Nutrition Academy™
The Carb Compatibility Project™ (Available for free within the Funk’tional Nutrition Collective)
Taking Charge of Your Fertility
Organifi supplement powder (save 20% on your order with code FUNK)
Bio-Kult Boosted probiotic supplement (save 15% on your order with code FUNK15)
Ned Natural Remedies (get 15% off your order with code FUNK)
LMNT Electrolyte Replenishing powder (Use code FUNK get a free sample pack with any purchase!)
Learn more about Hormones & Functional Nutrition
Related episodes:
48: Exploring Female Hormones & Birth Control with Dr. Jolene Brighten
120: Wonky Periods & PCOS: Melissa Lee Shares Her Journey/Experience
148: Periods, PMS & Hormone Strategies with Le'Nise Brothers
202: When Your Doctor Doesn’t Believe Your Pain: Sexism in Healthcare
203: Bladder Dysfunction, Gut Problems & Pelvic Floor Health