The Whole Pineapple (The Whole Pineapple)

There are toxic hazards all around us – in plastics, in candles, even in pajamas. But fear not! There are simple and effective tweaks we can make to reduce chemicals in our day-to-day lives.

On today’s short snack, Dr. Natalia Grob – who is an expert on endocrine disrupting chemicals – is back, and going room-to-room in the house to talk about what we should ditch to make our environments healthier. 

For more with Dr. Grob:

https://www.conceptionsrepro.com/dr-natalia-grob.html

IG: @nataliagrob_md

You’ve decided to give IVF a(nother) try: what should you do or not do during treatment?

And how does this relate to Miami vs Pacific Northwest “chic”? Well, let’s just say, it really helps to know the rules in advance….

There are a lot of mythunderstandings (misunderstandings + myths!) out there about IVF, so in this snack, Ruby and Anne are going to talk about the things you genuinely need to know.

Here’s what you’ll learn: (and yes, you need to listen to get the full answer!)

1. Exercise: yes, no, decrease, increase, and why?
2. Alcohol: can you have a glass of wine?
3. Caffeine: please o please, Mother Nature, may I?
4. Tobacco/nicotine: spoiler — NO. For so many reasons…
5. Bath, hot tub, sauna?
6. Sex during an IVF cycle?

As always, please consider sharing this information with anyone you believe could benefit. It not only helps that person, it helps make The Whole Pineapple more discoverable on podcast apps, which could help a whole lot of people.

Find more at thewholepineapple.com.

Shelbi Day and Rebecca Willman are back with Anne and Ruby for this short snack about family advocacy. Some BIG changes happened in United States law in 2022: The Dobbs decision (aka the reversal of Roe v Wade overturning the federal right to abortion), the many state-level laws that followed, and The Respect for Marriage Act. 

Trying to understand how all of this affects family building can be confusing and overwhelming. Shelbi and Rebecca break down the details of the most influential laws of 2022, discuss what to expect going forward, and challenge all of us to become advocates for family building equality. 

Their passion is inspiring, and they give actionable steps anyone can take to make a difference — for reproductive and family building rights and for LGBTQ+ families, community, and youth.

Shelbi and Rebecca (and Ruby and Anne!) urge you to pay attention, get involved, and show up for one another and for marginalized communities.

Be sure to listen to the full episode with Shelbi and Rebecca where they talk about what makes a family and share their own stories.

Jaimie Kelton, co-host of the queer families podcast, If These Ovaries Could Talk, is back! On this short snack episode, Jaimie, Ruby, and Anne are talking about what it’s like to be out as an LGBTQIA+ family. 

Jaimie has some great anecdotes and a lot of insight about undoing internalized homophobia, modeling pride for your kids, and grappling with being a non-biological parent. How to be a queer family out in the world? It boils down to love, of course. 

Happy Pride!

Mentions:

Jeffrey Marsh

Auntie Uncle Drag Queen Hero

A semen analysis is a snapshot in time, so what can it really tell you? In this short snack episode, Ruby and Anne reveal the story behind the numbers, debunk some common misconceptions, and take us on the sperm’s journey.  

How are sperm counted? What does that tell you about your fertility? Is there such a thing as an ideal sperm? Hear it all on this episode. 

#SpermEverywhere 

“Neurodiversity,” says Ruby, is basically a term explaining the unique ways people’s brains work. And Ruby knows. In this episode, she’s “taking down the mask” to talk about her own unique brain!

Although neurodiversity is a much more common topic than in days past, it’s still pretty misunderstood. And when you pair it with fertility challenges, well, finding research or even conversations becomes really challenging.

But few are as tenacious as these two when it comes to sharing important information. They found a licensed psychologist who works in fertility and who is looking to make fertility clinics more neurodiverse-friendly. In this conversation with Dr. Kristen Chambliss, Ruby, Anne, and Dr. Chambliss tackle many of the misconceptions rooted in our culture when it comes to a diversity of neurotypes. 

It’s a critical conversation. After all, as Dr. Chambliss says, neurodiversity may be as crucial to the human race as biodiversity. Or, as Anne put it so well: “Variety is not a disability.” Neurodivergence is not the same as intellectual disability or mental illness. And the more we understand, the less we’ll have to fear. There are many strengths that come with being neurodivergent, though sadly, most of what we hear about are the struggles.

Fertility can be a particular problem for the neurodivergent individual. Fertility treatment can be especially difficult for individuals who find sensory experiences problematic, for example. Recognizing the many challenges humans as a whole struggle with means more folks get the kind of help they need, offered in the way they need it. And that’s just plain good. 

Dr. Kristen Chambliss is a licensed psychologist specializing in treating individuals coping with infertility, in vitro fertilization, relationship concerns, and anxiety. She currently practices in Friendswood, Texas. Not only is she an infertility specialist but she is also actively working with our professional organization, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine on a proposal to make clinics more neurodiverse friendly. 

References: 

Website for the Bloom (1998) article from The Atlantic

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1998/09/neurodiversity/305909/

Damian E.M. Milton (2012) On the ontological status of autism: the ‘double empathy problem’, Disability & Society, 27:6, 883-887, DOI: 10.1080/09687599.2012.710008 

Sasson NJ, Faso DJ, Nugent J, Lovell S, Kennedy DP, Grossman RB. Neurotypical Peers are Less Willing to Interact with Those with Autism based on Thin Slice Judgments. Sci Rep. 2017 Feb 1;7:40700. doi: 10.1038/srep40700. PMID: 28145411; PMCID: PMC5286449. 

Saxena P. Assisted reproductive technology and its Association with autism in children. Fertil Sci Res 2021;8:20-4 

Singer, J. (1998). Odd People In: The Birth of Community Amongst People on the Autistic Spectrum: A personal exploration of a New Social Movement based on Neurological Diversity. Sydney: Faculty of Humanities and Social Science University of Technology, Sydney. 

Youtube clip for Chloe Hayden:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP84_OHOCzM 

From Autistic Doctors International:

Williams, G. L., Adams, J., Bull, P., Cave, H., Chown, N., Doherty, M., Forrest, K., Foster, R., Fricker, R., Godfree, B., Keaveney-Sheath, K., Knight, J., Marrable, T., Murray, R., Shaw, S. C. K., Ventour-Griffiths, T., Wood, J. (2022) More than words: Supporting effective communication with autistic people in health care settings. Economic and Social Research Council. Available at:https://www.boingboing.org.uk/more_than_words/

OK, we have to start off with a caveat here: If you did a 23andMe or similar genetic test at home, no medical professional can use the results to diagnose or treat a medical condition. The test may indicate something really important, like you’re a carrier of cystic fibrosis, for example. But to start treatment or make any medical decision, the result must first be validated through a clinical, diagnostic laboratory.

In this snack, Ruby, Anne, and guest genetic counselor Rachel Donnell tackle the question: What’s wrong with a commercial test? Answer? There’s nothing wrong with it, as long as you treat it as a fun way to learn more about yourself, and NOT as a medical diagnosis. 

To begin with, at-home tests are likely nowhere near as rigorous. The test just isn’t as sophisticated as a medical test, and commercial tests may not come with a professional who will sit with you and go over the results. Interpretation of the results can be as important as the results themselves — what are the full implications to you and any future children? 

Rachel describes how these tests are often far less accurate than medical tests, so please, have fun with them, but don’t use them as a basis for making important decisions about your health. If information comes up that concerns you, follow up with a medical-grade test from a healthcare professional. 

And please, don’t assume that just because the test claims you’re not at high risk for heart disease or some other concern, that you’re “safe.” Continue to discuss everything with your health provider, no matter what that at-home test told you. OK? 

We know people are relying on these commercial tests already, so we hope you’ll share this episode with others. 

​​Find more about Rachel, Ruby, and Anne at Seattle Reproductive Medicine (seattlefertility.com) and hear more episodes of The Whole Pineapple at https://thewholepineapple.com/.

Why do some identical twins have different fingerprints?

Oh the 90s, era of the Hale-Bopp Comet and the Human Genome Project in science. Mapping the human genome was A Big Deal, and everyone from then-President Clinton to your high school biology teacher was pretty excited. 

The genome project eventually led to the lesser-known but also very important Human Epigenome Project — health impacts beyond our genetic code. How are we impacted by environment and behavior, in addition to (or despite) the effects of our genes?

Ruby and Anne are having this critical nature/nurture conversation with Kent Thornburg, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, School of Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). 

Just FYI, Dr. Thornburg’s list of credentials, accomplishments, and accolades are far too long to reproduce here, but you can learn more about him and watch his Tedx Talk on the OHSU website: https://www.ohsu.edu/people/kent-l-thornburg-phd.

We have so much technology, so much information — why are we sicker and with lower life expectancies than earlier generations? Because technology is a tool, much like a hammer. You can build with it, but you can also destroy. We’ve actually caused epigenetic changes through processed foods, decreased physical activity, increased stress, and other poor choices.

Learn what the science of epigenetics actually studies and what we’ve discovered so far (including that fingerprint-twin question). And learn to take action that can help you be healthier and pass on better health to future generations.

Learn more about Dr. Thornburg at OHSU and from the resources listed below, and of course, find Ruby and Anne and more episodes of The Whole Pineapple at https://thewholepineapple.com/.

Kent Thornburg at Tedx Portland

George Fox Journal: The 100-year effect with Kent Thornburg

You Are What Your Grandparents Ate: What You Need to Know About Nutrition, Experience, Epigenetics and the Origins of Chronic Disease, By: Judith Finlayson, Forward by Kent Thornburg 

Pregnant While Black: Advancing: Advancing Justice for Women’s Health in America

Link to Amazon

Guest contact info:

Bernadette Battilega (Kent Thorburg’s assistant): battileg@ohsu.edu

Solace, inspiration, laughter — humans are amazingly good at turning difficult experiences into art, and infertility is no exception.

In this short snack, hosts Ruby Booras and Anne Judge share some of their favorite poetry on the challenges of infertility...and take a turn at crafting some poetry of their own!

If you've written about your experience, we hope you'll share your writing with us! Find Anne and Ruby on Instagram @thewholepineapplepod or on Twitter @WholePineapple. And of course, on the website: https://thewholepineapple.com/.

Resources:

Heart Talk: Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life by Cleo Wade:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35297176-heart-talk?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=8ms9v11qBN&rank=1

https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B074ZGQYGC&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_8JA15BM1Z94NYPRVAZ4W

She Dreams When She Bleeds: Poems About Periods by Nikki Tajiri

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45036159-she-dreams-when-she-bleeds?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=7fv27TXUQs&rank=1

https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B07NQTCBS1&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_TDNER7E77NHYT3EVS9VN"The Carrying" by Ada Limón

"Fertility Day: Letter to My Younger Self" by Kat Francois (video of the poem read by the artist).

The world's oldest love poem, "The Love Song for Shu-Sin"

We’ve talked a lot of the science of sex recently, so on today’s snack, we welcome back friend of the pod, Jamie Mammenga, to bring some awareness around the emotional and pyschological side of sex. 

Jamie and Anne sit down to talk about distinguishing love making from baby making, how to maintain a strong relationship when sex becomes stressful, and how to communicate your needs with yourself and your partner. And then, Jamie leads us on a meditation that will leave you relaxed, refreshed, and ready for the day.

"Let food by thy medicine..."

We're not sure Hippocrates really said it, but whether he did or not, it's true. What we eat can promote health and healing and may help with fertility challenges. And few people have ever experienced serious side effects from a radish.

Equally, inflammatory foods can make conceiving harder, so it's good to know what foods are often culprits. And because every body is different, it's also good to learn your body's language, so you understand what it's trying to tell you.

In this episode, Ruby and Anne talk with Dr. Michelle Tollefsen about food, fertility, and overall wellness. 

Dr. Michelle Tollefson is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist in Denver, CO, and a Professor in the Health Professions Department at Metropolitan State University of Denver where she created and oversees the Lifestyle Medicine Program and the Wellness Coaching and Lifestyle Medicine Pathway.

And, be sure to check out the American College of Lifestyle Medicine's new course, Food as Medicine.

Each session within the ACLM Food As Medicine course series builds on practical strategies that help health professionals use nutrition to treat and even reverse common chronic diseases. Led by foremost experts and backed by strong evidence, sessions also consider various life stages, scope of practice, and pharmaceutical implications.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Improving Women’s Health Across The Lifespan: https://www.amazon.com/Improving-Womens-Lifespan-Lifestyle-Medicine/dp/0367627639

Beth Frates - Paving the Path to Wellness: https://www.bethfratesmd.com/paving-the-path-to-wellness

Paving the Path to Wellness workbook: https://www.bethfratesmd.com/books

American Institute of Cancer Research Resource page: https://www.aicr.org/resources/media-library/

Mass General PAVING the Path to Wellness groups for those with breast cancer: https://www.massgeneral.org/cancer-center/patient-and-family-resources/supportive-care/paving/?TRILIBIS_EMULATOR_UA=Mozilla%2F5.0+(Windows+NT+6.1%3B+WOW64%3B+rv%3A26.0)+Gecko%2F20100101+Firefox%2F26.0#:~:text=Based%20on%20the%20principles%20of,a%20diagnosis%20of%20breast%20cancer.

American Institute of Cancer Research Resource page: https://www.aicr.org/resources/media-library/

Your Brain on Food by Uma Naidoo: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49088685-this-is-your-brain-on-food?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=YXDfXeexaL&rank=1

Your Body in Balance by Neal Barnard: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46208089-your-body-in-balance?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=pihtZD54kI&rank=2

The Good Germ Hotel by Kwon Soo-Jinn (Author), Kim Sung-Hwa (Author), Kim Ryung-Eon (Illustrator): https://bookshop.org/books/the-good-germ-hotel-meet-your-body-s-marvelous-microbes/9781913750169

Puberty in reverse – Welcome to menopause! Like those tumultuous adolescent years, you may feel like a tourist in your own changing body. And it’s not necessarily a fun destination, with hot flashes, mood swings, weight gain, and the longer-term dangers of osteoporosis and increased heart disease risk.

But are we thinking about menopause all wrong? In this episode, Ruby and Anne welcome back TWP alum Dr. Michelle Tollefson. Board certified OB-GYN, professor, advocate for lifestyle medicine and women’s health, and co-author of PAVING a Woman’s Path Through Menopause and Beyond, breast-cancer survivor (and thriver) Michelle Tollefson knows how dramatic the effects of menopause can be.

Even worse, there’s not much out there in terms of good, science-based information to help women navigate the changes in their bodies. 

Menopause is a profound change — it’s not just the end of periods — and women can begin the process much sooner than they think. Knowing that, women can start preparing for menopause much sooner; this can, for many, make the transition easier and healthier. And for those already in the thick of it, it’s not too late — there are ways to ease the physical, mental, and emotional impacts.

The “PAVING” in the title stands for physical activity, attitude, variety, investigation, nutrition, and  goal-setting. These tools, plus the PAVING “STEPSS” (stress reliance, time outs, energy management, purpose, social connection, and sleep) really can help women experience menopause in a healthy, supported, goal-centered way.

Maybe menopause isn’t something to dread, and maybe there’s more joy to be had than the ability to wear white jeans any day of the month? 

Learn more about Dr. Tollefson, the PAVING process, and the whole team behind it at https://www.pavingwellness.org/. And as always, please listen, rate, review, and SHARE the podcast with others you think can benefit as well. You can find more about hosts Ruby and Anne and Seattle Reproductive Medicine at https://thewholepineapple.com/.

Want to learn more about the Seattle Reproductive Symposium in April 2023? Early bird pricing through March 27 at seattlereproductivesymposium.com.

Note: The opinions stated by hosts and guest do not necessarily represent the opinions of their employers.

With the Supreme Court decision that ended Roe v Wade, states, hospitals, clinics, and caregivers are scrambling to figure out how to provide necessary health services without running afoul of often unclear, poorly created, and poorly worded laws.

With disparities already existing in health care — particularly in birthing mortality rates — the end of safe access to abortion in many states will likely mean even greater mortality among Black and other underrepresented minority communities.

In this episode, Anne and Ruby are speaking again with Dr. Jasmine Johnson, this time about the potential ramifications of this decision on all people who can get pregnant. Listen up, and if you're so moved, get active to protect reproductive health!

Follow Dr. Johnson on Instagram @MrsMommyMD and check out her blog: http://www.mrsmommymd.com/. You can find The Whole Pineapple on Instagram as well: @thewholepineapplepod.

We often refer to fertility as a “journey” — but sometimes it can feel like a slog through disappointment, bewildering medical terminology, treatments, surgical termination, physical and emotional pain, and more horrors that you really don’t need us to list out.  

One of the hardest parts may be feeling so isolated, like no one’s journey has been as complicated and fraught as yours, and no one will truly understand what it feels like to be you.

In this episode, reproductive psychology expert Dr. Julie Bindeman tells her story. It is a roller coaster that will probably feel all-too-familiar to many: miscarriages, bad news from the ultrasound, medical professionals who don’t have a proper sense of urgency (to put it politely, though we’re screaming on the inside). 

But there are two very important takeaways here:

1. You are not alone. And you deserve to have safe spaces to talk about your experience with others who understand.
2. You need to advocate for yourself. It sucks. It really sucks that sometimes you may feel you’re the only one taking your concerns seriously, but if it happens, you have the right to stick up for yourself and insist on being heard.

A bonus takeaway: even professionals in the field find the fertility journey really tough. If someone in your life (maybe even you?) tries to make you feel you’re being “high-maintenance” or “too sensitive” or “hyper-vigilant” or any of the other ways we dismiss the concerns of those with uteruses, just refer to the takeaways above. You know your body best

We also urge everyone to know the reproductive rights (or lack thereof) in the state where you live. You can find up-to-date information on The Center for Reproductive Rights website: reproductiverights.org/maps/abortion-laws-by-state. 

To learn more about Dr. Bindeman and find a whole host of resources, be sure to check the Pregnancy After Loss Support website: pregnancyafterlosssupport.org/author/juliebindeman. Find out more about hosts Anne and Ruby, and listen to more episodes, at thewholepineapple.com.

And of course, we hope you’ll share, rate, and review this episode. If you’re listening on a podcast app, you can rate and review right now! We hope you will; it makes it easier for others to find us.

We all have different shapes and sizes. And there’s growing awareness that we can enhance health and well-being in every body.

On this week’s short snack episode, we welcome back Judy Simon to talk about how we can engage in gentle nutrition and joyful movement instead of restrictive dieting.

And she talks about the imperative that medical professionals practice respectful patient-centered care and weight inclusivity.

Along the way, she debunks commonly held – and antiquated – beliefs about fatness and fertility.

About Judy:

Judy Simon practices as an RDN, certified health education specialist, and adjunct faculty at the University of Washington. She also owns a private practice, Mind Body Nutrition, PLLC, specializing in reproductive nutrition and eating disorders.

Contact Judy at her email, judy@mind-body-nutrition.com; on Instagram @fertilenutrition; on Twitter @JSimonRD; on her website, www.mind-body-nutrition.com, or find her on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/judy-simon-9178267/. 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

EATING DISORDERS

www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

www.anad.org

http://www.diabulimiahelpline.org/resources.html

https://www.eatingrecoverycenter.com/recovery-centers/denver

https://www.emilyprogram.com/

HAES ® (Health at Every Size)

https://asdah.org/health-at-every-size-haes-approach/

https://haeshealthsheets.com/the-health-sheet-library/

https://www.intuitiveeating.org

https://benourished.org/about-body-trust/

BOOKS:

Body Kindness: Transform Your Health from the Inside Out — and Never Say Diet Again by Rebecca Scritchfield

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28110894-body-kindness?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=e8FG1gCPQV&rank=1

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/79534/9780761187295

The Body is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34956885-the-body-is-not-an-apology?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=DMkNIvKwDN&rank=1

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/79534/9781523090990 

Intuitive Eating 4th Edition Evelyn Tribole & Elyse Resch 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51291382-intuitive-eating?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=GaaCwOqSNk&rank=1

Bookshop:  https://bookshop.org/a/79534/9781250255198

Nurse Practitioners Ruby Booras (DNP, ARNP, FNP-BC, DipACLM/DipIBLM, she/they) and Anne Judge (DNP, ARNP, WHNP-BCare, she/her) know a lot about fertility and wellness in general.

And they want to help you be as ready as possible when it's time to start or extend your family. 

Meet the team who will share information on physical and emotional wellness, including nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress, and more — all viewed through the lens of fertility.

Learn more about Ruby and Anne and The Whole Pineapple at thewholepineapple.com!

“Sleep on the roof” as contraception. 

HUH??

Separating sex from reproduction allowed so many women to finally enjoy sexual pleasure, free from concern about unintended pregnancy.

Jonathan Eig’s The Birth of the Pill: How Four Crusaders Reinvented Sex and Launched a Revolution is a deep dive into the history of the creation of revolutionary oral hormonal contraception. 

The four main actors in the story of the Pill are complex characters, as Ruby and Anne say, and the development of the Pill was far from straightforward — and not always legal or entirely ethical. But helping women take control over their bodies was indeed revolutionary, and the Pill changed the world.

Hear the book review with Anne and Ruby, then read more on how sexism, eugenics, feminism, pleasure, medicine, and social norms all collide in this one tiny Pill.

References:

The Birth of the Pill: https://wwnorton.com/books/The-Birth-of-the-Pill/

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25622271-the-birth-of-the-pill

https://www.pushkin.fm/podcasts/revisionist-history/dr-rocks-taxonomy 

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/files/1514/3518/7100/Pill_History_FactSheet.pdf

https://www.ourbodiesourselves.org/book-excerpts/health-article/a-brief-history-of-birth-control/

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/fda-approves-the-pill

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3520685/

https://ordinaryphilosophy.com/2015/03/14/book-review-summary-the-birth-of-the-pill/

https://www.vox.com/2014/10/23/6994695/the-secret-history-of-birth-control-pills

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/63507/12-bizarre-facts-about-history-birth-control

https://www.mic.com/articles/113022/the-dark-history-of-birth-control-that-you-haven-t-heard

The Whole Pineapple's 2022 in review:

12 months of podcasting
25 FULL episodes (including this one)
49 snack episodes
19,000+ downloads
20 countries!

What a year it’s been! So much has happened in 2022, and Ruby, Anne, and The Whole Pineapple team are so grateful you've shared it with us. This podcast began with the idea of sharing the science behind fertility treatments and overall wellness, and the team are all thrilled with how it's grown and where it’s headed in 2023.

Picking a favorite episode is nearly impossible, with so many amazing guests, but Anne and Ruby tried. From loving Jamie Mammenga so much that we kept her, to following the changes in the science, to laughing ourselves to tears over Anne's husband Nick's ... challenges with sperm testing, the podcast has been an amazing adventure.

They say "never meet your heroes," but that hasn't been an issue on TWP; several heroes have shown up on the show, and each one was as delightful and knowledgeable as we could hope for.

Hear some of Ruby and Anne's favorites, their thoughts on changes in reproductive rights in 2022, and plans for the podcast in 2023.

If you want to hear (or hear again) any of the episodes mentioned here, you'll find them all on your favorite podcast app, or at https://thewholepineapple.com/.

Thanks again for listening, and we wish you all the best in 2023!

Resources: 

The Well-Lit Lounge from The Broken Brown Egg: https://youtu.be/Cyz7cGi8MxE 

More of the Well-Lit Lounge:
https://thebrokenbrownegg.org/turnonthelights/

Christine McVie article: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/christine-mcvie-fleetwood-mac-dead-obtuary-1234638903/

If you have a fertility story to share, please email thewholepineapple@gmail.com.

Hello, Pineapple People!

October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month, and if you’re grieving a loss and feeling like you might never have the family you’re hoping for, please listen to this episode. We see you. There’s hope.

In this episode, hosts Ruby Booras and Anne Judge talk with reproductive specialist Dr. Lora Shahine about the many causes of pregnancy loss — and the many reasons to hope.

Anatomy, genetics, environment, physical health: there are so many factors that can lead to pregnancy loss. 

Dr. Lora Shahine (https://drlorashahine.com/) is a physician double board certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility and obstetrics and gynecology.  

Dr. Shahine has trained in one of the few Centers for Recurrent Pregnancy Loss in the US and has published over 50 peer-reviewed research projects, numerous articles and several books which include Not Broken: An Approachable Guide to Miscarriage and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss, Planting the Seeds of Pregnancy: An Integrative Approach to Fertility Care, and a children’s book titled The Bean Family Sprouts: Growing Stronger Through New Experiences. 

Dr. Shahine is the host of the podcast Baby Or Bust - Exploring the Fascinating World of Fertility. Find it here: https://babyorbustpodcast.com/. Connect with her on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok: @drlorashahine.

Hear more from Ruby, Anne, and their expert guests; be sure to subscribe to The Whole Pineapple wherever you listen to podcasts. And please rate, review, and share to help others on their wellness and fertility journey.  https://thewholepineapple.com/

Got pain? Try changing the story.

Sometimes there are no treatments or medicines that will completely eliminate pain. Chronic pain can cause anger, frustration, depression, and anxiety, and those negative emotions can actually increase our perception of pain. 

Are there other ways to manage pain so we can learn to cope with it?

According to Jamie Mammenga, you can work to change the narrative around the pain. Know the triggers that surround the pain, understand the baggage your pain brings with it, and see if you can find another way to view the pain.

What if it were a close friend who was going through this; how would you help them?

Take a moment to let Jamie guide you through a mindfulness exercise that may help you treat yourself with more compassion.

Find more of Jamie's guidance and teaching from her other episodes. You'll find them at https://thewholepineapple.com/.

Amanda Ellis and her husband had made the decision not to have any more biological children. As luck would have it, another option fell into their laps. 

On this week’s short snack, we’re sharing an incredible listener story about one of the many ways to build a family. If you’ve thought about third party reproduction, or you simply want to hear a heartwarming story about a special set of sisters, you won’t want to miss this treat of an episode.

When it comes to ovarian reserves, aka egg supply, there’s a lot of gray area. What can tests really show? And what can you do with the information they reveal?

In their first "snack: episode, Ruby and Anne dig into the details – and clarify some of the confusion – of AMH testing, antral follicle counting, and the impact of genetics on fertility. Tune in to learn about the state of your ovaries. 

Fertility preservation for those undergoing gender-affirming transition is an important area of reproductive medicine. In this episode, Anne and Ruby are talking with Dr. Lynn Davis about how fertility options may be dependent on age, the gametes involved (i.e. sperm or eggs) and the stage of gender-affirming care. 

Dr. Davis started her educational journey with a double major in Biology and Psychology from the University of Virginia, followed by her MD from the University of Colorado and OB/GYN residency from Harvard. She concluded her training with her REI Fellowship at Stanford University, where she also completed a postdoctoral Fellowship at the Stanford Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality, and served as Clinical Instructor in the Department of OB/GYN.

Dr. Davis developed and now leads SRM’s Fertility Preservation Program, a specialized approach that assists those who need assisted reproductive technology to efficiently delay family building.

Sometimes it’s a question of timing. For example, those born with testicles do not begin producing sperm until puberty (a process known as spermatogenesis). So if an individual with testes chooses to go on gender-affirming puberty blockers, they may not yet produce sperm. While puberty blockers can prevent bodies from undergoing unwanted physical changes (development of facial hair, lower voice, etc.), it may also mean little or no sperm to freeze for fertility preservation. 

For those who have undergone natal puberty, it is possible to interrupt gender-affirming hormones in an attempt to resume spermatogenesis and freeze sperm for later use. However, there is a chance the process may not result in viable sperm. The experience coming off gender-affirming hormones also needs to be considered; for some, it can be a distressing, dysphoric experience. 

Options for those with ovaries are also dependent on puberty and stage of gender-affirming treatment. Dr. Davis discusses the options for ovary stimulation, egg retrieval, ovarian tissue cryopreservation, and all the nuanced considerations along the way.

Be sure to tune in for this important and fascinating conversation. 

 You can learn more about Dr. Lynn Davis and reproductive endocrinology at www.seattlefertility.com. 

You can also find Anne and Ruby there. Hear more episodes of The Whole Pineapple at thewholepineapple.com.

We’re making you a mixed tape! Well, the 2023 version of a mixed tape — a Spotify playlist.  

Anne and Ruby share some science behind why music is so powerful in helping us manage Big Emotions like fear, uncertainty, and joy. Anne and Ruby have (quite) different musical tastes and are drawing from different perspectives. Instead of division, this shows how people of all backgrounds and preferences can experience fertility struggles and how we can connect with each other simply with our collective love for and emotional connection to music. Whatever your taste, we hope our “infertility playlist” will have songs that speak to you. 

We want you to have songs for moments throughout your journey: from your first appointment, to preparing and starting an IVF cycle, egg retrieval, embryo transfer day, and all the other days before, during and after. There’s so much waiting and wondering; maybe a little music can help lighten the load.

The lists include songs to lift you up, let you really feel all the feels, and give you “bad B” vibes if that’s what you need.

For the record: Anne is Team N’Sync and Ruby is Team Backstreet Boys.

Anne’s Spotify TWP Playlist

Song Mentions: 

Sara Bareilles - Brave

Rachel Platten - Fight Song 

Christina Perri - 1000 years

Stephanie Beatriz - Waiting on a miracle

Colin Hay - Waiting on my real life to begin

Imagine Dragons - Blank space/Stand by me 

David Guetta with Sia - Titanium

Leslie Odom Jr., Original Broadway Cast of Hamilton - Wait for me

Guns N’ Roses - Sweet Child of Mine 

Sara Bareilles - She Used To Be Mine

Keala Settle, The Greatest Showman Ensemble - This Is Me

2gether - The Hardest Part of Breaking Up (Is getting back your stuff)  

Ruby’s Spotify TWP Playlist

Ruby’s Song Mentions: 

Kate Bush - Running Up that Hill

The Black Crows - Remedy 

Fleetwood Mac - Don’t Stop

Prince - How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore 

Sonny & Cher - I Got You Babe

Club Nouveau - Lean on Me

Johnny Cash - Ghost Riders In The Sky 

Foo Fighters - All My Life 

Madonna - Vogue 

Ru Paul - Supermodel 

Ramones - I Wanna Be Sedated 

John Legend - Never Break

Yo Yo Ma - The Wounded Heart, Op. 34, No. 1;
Yo Yo Ma - The Carnival of the Animals. R. 125. XIII

Claude DeBussy - Reverie 

Bob Marley & The Wailers, Ms. Lauren Hill - Turn your lights down low

Fleetwood Mac - Songbird

Journey - Don’t Stop Believin’ 

Chris Cornell - Patience 

Guns N’ Roses - Patience

Rüfüs Du Sol - Treat You Better

Blackway, Black Caviar - What’s Up Danger

Leon Bridges - Bad Bad News 

AJR - Humpty Dumpty

Soundgarden - My Wave 

Brick + Mortar - Voodoo Child 

Jimi Hendrix - Voodoo Child

Birdy - Fire and Rain

John Denver - Fire and Rain (James Taylor, but who’s counting?)

Al Green - That’s The Way It Is  

Listeners’ Spotify TWP Playlist:
To suggest songs for the listeners’ playlist, message us on social @thewholepineapplepod on IG/Facebook and @wholepineapple on Twitter or email us at  thewholepineapple@gmail.com 

References:

NPR Silent Dance Party Story 

Music and Stress - Nechama Yehuda Article 

Music and Medicine - The Official Journal of the IAMM 

Brains of deaf people rewire to ‘hear’ music - Walter Neary UW News Article

Journey - Don’t Stop Believin’ (Live 1981: Escape Tour - 2022 HD Remaster)

Did you know we start off every recording with a clap? It’s designed to allow our audio editors to line up and synchronize the audio tracks.

Today, Anne and Jamie’s clap was … uhhhh … messy. At best.

But we kept it in, because it’s such a good example of being just a little out of sync or alignment. And many people on the emotional and physical journey of fertility treatment know what it feels like to just feel out of sync. 

One way to start feeling better is, honestly, to take a break. Take some time off from fertility treatment – it can be a few weeks, a cycle or two, whatever amount of time you need – so you can come back ready, refocused, and with more resilience in your tank. 

A break can also be a good time to check in with your partner(s) on this journey. It can be a time to ensure you’re fully listening to and understanding each other and “get your claps back in sync,” so to speak. 

In case a trip to a warm beach or snowy mountaintop isn’t possible right now, Jaime is offering a meditation that will soothe and rejuvenate you. Listen along, breathe deeply, and come along on our gentle break.

Find more of Jamie’s meditations and all our episodes on fertility and wellness at https://thewholepineapple.com/ or your favorite podcast app.

Just relax: Jamie’s back!

OK, no one ever relaxed because someone told them to. In fact, being told to calm down or relax may be one of the most blood-pressure-elevating things that can happen to us. 

How do you feel when fertility issues come up at work? Someone puts a baby photo on their desk, a colleague is pregnant, invitations to a baby shower or to contribute to a baby gift float around — these can be hurtful for those dealing with fertility challenges, but asking someone to put their baby photos away or refusing to participate in a celebration are often just not an option. 

And often those who don’t understand the issue may think saying “just relax” or “just ignore it” is a “solution.” (Spoiler: It’s not.)

In this episode, Anne and Jamie take on how to have (or avoid) awkward, super-personal conversations at work and how NOT to carry those conversations home with you. 

Bonus: if someone consistently asks inappropriate questions, share this episode with them as a gentle way to open the conversation. 

These situations can be so specific to the people involved and the climate at work, so we’d love to hear how YOU handle awkward moments like this at work or after it. Do you ask, “Why do you ask?” when someone asks you why you don’t have kids yet? Do you come up with a cover story to avoid revealing more than you want to (and have you ever been caught out)? 

Share with us on Instagram @thewholepineapplepod or email us at thewholepineapple@gmail.com and let us know if we can share your story!

Find more wisdom from Anne and Jamie at thewholepineapple.com!

Article: My Co-Worker’s Baby Photo Gallery Put Me Over the Edge

Cue the mood lighting, Marvin Gaye, and high thread count sheets. Let’s talk about sex! 

On today’s short snack we’re covering some juicy stuff you’ve always wanted to know about sex, but (maybe) are afraid to ask your fertility doc. Like should you actually stay horizontal after sex to increase chances of pregnancy? Does a clitoral orgasm have any bearing on fertility rates? How often should you have sex if you’re trying to get pregnant? And can you get pregnant while you’re menstruating? 

Also, did you know Ruby coined a sex position in Taking Charge of your Fertility??

Let’s get it on!

Secondary infertility is, as Anne says, a “unique subset of the journey.” What is it like to have a child and then experience difficulty conceiving or carrying subsequent pregnancies?

In this special episode, a Whole Pineapple listener shares her journey and struggles through secondary infertility. 

There are lots of special concerns in this situation: when you have a first, people don’t worry about asking when you’re going to have another the way they might hesitate to ask about a first. There’s guilt about potentially having a “lonely only.” And what about as parents age, is it “wrong” to leave all the responsibility of caretaking on one child? 

As Anne, Ruby, and Amy tell us, healthy families can take a whole lot of different shapes and come in many different sizes. If you’re worried about the concerns above, there are ways to prepare: have a response or exit plan in place for insensitive questions, find ways to involve your kiddo in peer-group activities, plan and save for your own aging as best you can.

Hear more about Amy’s challenges in finding a support group for secondary infertility, dealing with insurance demands, working through the pressure this can place on relationships, and navigating the well-intended but painful questions from friends and family. 

If you or someone you care about is experiencing a secondary infertility journey, please share this episode. This particular challenge can be terribly isolating, and we always want people to know they’re absolutely not alone. 

Find out more and hear more episodes at thewholepineapple.com.

If you've had fertility treatment, chances are you filled out some sort of intake form that asked questions about the foods you eat, how much you sleep, medications you take, and so on.

Did any of those forms ask about eating disorders? 

Turns out, asking about eating disorders is really important - always - but especially when it comes to fertility. Nutrition and overall health are certainly reasons to ask about eating habits, but there are also questions of control, body dysmorphia, fear of weight gain, and even an over-emphasis on healthy eating that can lead to disordered eating. 

Judy Simon practices as an RDN, certified health education specialist, and adjunct faculty at the University of Washington. She also owns a private practice, Mind Body Nutrition, PLLC, specializing in reproductive nutrition and eating disorders.

Judy co-developed the successful Food for Fertility Program with Dr. Angela Thyer and is recognized as a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and as a national leader in the area of fertility and nutrition.

Judy offers her patients the unique experience of a non-dieting, intuitive approach to healthy eating.

Please have a listen and pass this podcast along to anyone you think could benefit.

Contact Judy at her email, judy@mind-body-nutrition.com; on Instagram @fertilenutrition; on Twitter @JSimonRD; on her website, www.mind-body-nutrition.com or find her on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/judy-simon-9178267/. 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

EATING DISORDERS

www.nationaleatingdisorders.org

www.anad.org

http://www.diabulimiahelpline.org/resources.html

https://www.eatingrecoverycenter.com/recovery-centers/denver

https://www.emilyprogram.com/

HAES ® (Health at Every Size)

https://asdah.org/health-at-every-size-haes-approach/

https://haeshealthsheets.com/the-health-sheet-library/

https://www.intuitiveeating.org

https://benourished.org/about-body-trust/

BOOKS:

Body Kindness: Transform Your Health from the Inside Out — and Never Say Diet Again by Rebecca Scritchfield

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/28110894-body-kindness?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=e8FG1gCPQV&rank=1

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/79534/9780761187295

The Body is Not an Apology: The Power of Radical Self-Love by Sonya Renee Taylor

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34956885-the-body-is-not-an-apology?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=DMkNIvKwDN&rank=1

Bookshop: https://bookshop.org/a/79534/9781523090990 

Intuitive Eating 4th Edition Evelyn Tribole & Elyse Resch 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51291382-intuitive-eating?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=GaaCwOqSNk&rank=1

Bookshop:  https://bookshop.org/a/79534/9781250255198

Q: What is a cyst? 

A: It’s a pocket of fluid. 

Q: Why do I have cysts? 

A: Because you have ovaries.

Q: Is it bad?

A: Great question. Let’s talk.

Not all cysts are bad news. In fact, bodies with ovaries generate cysts pretty regularly as part of the menstrual cycle. For example, what you see on an ultrasound isn’t the egg; the egg is inside a “follicular cyst,” which is what’s big enough to see and measure on an ultrasound.

As you listen to the episode, you’ll hear about “functional” cysts that have a job to do and are good things to have. So if you hear the word “cyst,” that’s not necessarily cause for alarm. 

That confusion is what this episode is all about — there are different kinds of cysts, some good, some less positive — and knowing what kinds of cysts there are and what they do can help you know what’s happening in your body.

In this episode, Ruby and Anne talk about:

1. Different kinds of cysts
2. What you can do about them (if they need something done)
3. Symptoms of cysts
4. What impact cysts can have on your cycle, fertility, and fertility treatments
5. What you or your doc might see on an ultrasound and what that might mean
6. What a “dermoid” cyst is and why it’s … wow. You’ll just have to listen.
7. PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome)  

The good news is, cysts are largely benign. They can cause some issues, but if you get a diagnosis of a cyst, it’s time to ask more questions, not to panic!

Have a listen, then pass the episode along to others with ovaries — it’s such important information for everyone to know! To hear more from Ruby and Anne, check out thewholepineapple.com. Please rate and review, to make the podcast easier to find for others!

How did pineapples — once a way of displaying one's wealth — become a symbol of infertility?

In this first episode of The Whole Pineapple, Nurse Practitioners, fertility experts, and podcast hosts Ruby Booras and Anne Judge talk about how pineapples and fertility came to be associated, and whether or not you have to eat the chewy pineapple core to help IVF be more successful.

About one in eight women or couples will experience infertility in their lives, making difficulty conceiving much more common than many believe.

The Whole Pineapple is about helping couples and those with uteruses optimize their health and wellness, both for themselves and for the family they hope to build.

Hear the history and the science, then visit TheWholePineapple.com to learn more!

Welcome to Ruby's Happy Place! We're talking healthy food today — especially fiber! Because #EverybodyLovesAGoodPoop.

Dr. Will Bulsiewicz (hereafter "Dr. B") is a clinician, researcher, author, gut health expert, and Ruby and Anne's guest for episode 22.

If you're operating under the belief that fibrous foods taste about as good as the paper Dr. B's books are written on, listen on. There's so much good here, in information AND flavor.

Gut health is more critical than most of us know — sure, it affects our weight and muscle mass, but it can also impact our mood, energy levels, even our fertility.

Finding the right diet can help us feel like ourselves again, says Dr. B, and when he found the right nutrition for him, he knew he had to share his journey with his patients. 

Will Bulsiewicz is a board certified gastroenterologist. He graduated from medical school at Georgetown School of Medicine and was Chief Medical Resident at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Chief Gastroenterology Fellow at The University of North Carolina Hospitals. He also holds a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation from Northwestern University and a Certificate in Nutrition from Cornell University.

Dr. B has won multiple awards and distinctions for his work as a clinician and researcher. His goal as a gut health doc is to be a trusted, research-based source helping people to create positive change in their lives. At the core of his philosophy is what he calls “lifestyle medicine,” which uses food, exercise, and other lifestyle factors to optimize your gut and get you back in control of your health.  

When he is not working as a full-time gastroenterologist, Dr. B is writing and is twice now a New York Times bestselling author, first with Fiber Fueled and as of May 2022, with The Fiber Fueled Cookbook.

You can find more about Dr. B’s approach, his books, and his 2023 Masterclass on his website ThePlantFedGut.com or on social @TheGutHealthMD

And of course, you can find out more about your hosts, Ruby and Anne, at https://thewholepineapple.com/.

Close your eyes and take a few moments to relax. A deep breath in. A deep breath out. 

It’s deceptively simple.

That’s why on this minisode, we welcome back Jamie Mammenga, MS, LMHC, a mental health provider at Seattle Reproductive Medicine, to lead us on a guided meditation. 

We promise she’ll make you feel centered, rejuvenated, and whole. Come sail away with us. 

Change is hard, especially when they involve endings of things we’re sad to see go. And we’re definitely sad to see The Whole Pineapple go. 

In this very special, final (for now?) episode, Ruby, Anne, Jamie, and podcast producer Shannon Perry reflect on how difficult it can be to say goodbye. But as A.A. Milne says in the voice of Winnie the Pooh, “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” Given how hard this is, we’ve clearly been very lucky indeed. Then stay tuned for Jamie’s meditation on letting go so you can move forward.

This podcast has been a labor of love, and there has been a lot of joy in talking with amazing guests, hearing from listeners how much you’ve gotten from the episodes, and diving deeper into how fertility appears in research, books, and even popular culture.

We hope The Whole Pineapple has helped listeners learn more about the fertility journey and the options that exist for those who are having challenges building their families. But we also hope it’s helped open the discussion — the stigma that still exists around infertility, and the reluctance many of us feel when talking about bodies and reproduction can make it tough to talk. But these are necessary conversations, and sharing podcasts like The Whole Pineapple can be a gentle way to introduce the topic.

Finally, we have to say “thank you.” Thank you for listening and supporting this podcast. Thank you for sharing episodes and the things you’ve learned. Thank you for coming with us on this journey. Please know that the episodes will continue to be available, and our email, thewholepineapple@gmail.com is still live, if you have comments or questions.

We love and appreciate you. Have a delicious week.

Resources: 

Kahlil Gibran: On Joy and Sorrow

Find Jamie Mammenga on her website, Sound Perinatal and Fertility Counseling, PLLC: www.soundcounseling.org

Audiotocracy Podcast Production: audiotocracy.com

Do you eat at your desk? Are you stuffing down a bag of something from the junk-food machine between tasks? Are you eating from a bag or a plate, over candlelight or over the sink? Do you have one eye on your phone or laptop the whole time?

Who knew there were so many ways to eat unhealthily that have nothing to do with nutrition?!

Especially for those managing PCOS, eating mindfully and taking time to eat right can be nearly as important as what's on your plate. 

In this delicious snack, Anne and Ruby are talking with Certified Nutritionist and Wellness Coach Chelsea Fetchner. Chelsea has some fabulous ideas about how you can enjoy your food and really nourish your body and spirit  at every meal. Bon appetit!

Chelsea Fetchner is an essential part of Seattle Reproductive Medicine’s Wellness Program. She began her studies at the University of Washington, majoring in Early Childhood and Family Studies. After discovering her interest in prenatal nutrition, she continued on to receive her Master of Science in Nutrition from the National University of Natural Medicine. Chelsea now specializes in nutrition for fertility, reproductive health, and early pregnancy.

Find Chelsea on Instagram @chelseafetchner

Be sure to read her blog post, "Mindful Eating Practices for PCOS": https://www.seattlefertility.com/mindful-eating-practices-for-pcos/

Find out more about Seattle Reproductive Medicine's Wellness Program on their website: https://www.seattlefertility.com/category/wellness/

It’s International Transgender Day of Visibility, so Ruby and Anne are bringing you a bonus short snack episode to talk about identity, allyship, and how you can put your dollars to work for the LGBTQIA+ community. 1.4 million adults in the U.S identify as transgender, gender queer, diverse, fluid or nonbinary. Let’s show our support!

Family Equality

http://FamilyEquality.org

Family Equality Book Nook

https://www.familyequality.org/family-support/lgbtq-books/

Contact your elected officials

https://www.familyequality.org/issues-advocacy/state-advocacy/

Donate:

https://donate.familyequality.org/give/282932/?_ga=2.79196820.1037584484.1648244697-538433170.1646093702#!/donation/checkout

National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center of The Fenway Institute https://www.lgbtqiahealtheducation.org/

Contact your elected officials

https://www.familyequality.org/issues-advocacy/state-advocacy/

The Trevor Project 

https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Transequality.org

https://transequality.org/state-action-center

The Safe Zone Project

https://thesafezoneproject.com/about/what-is-safe-zone/

ACLU

https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights

Trans Lifeline toll free - a lifeline for trans people run by trans people 

US at 877-565-8860 

Canada at 877-330-6366 

The Trevor Project Lifeline

For LGBTQIA+ Youth under the age of 25

Toll free 24/7 by phone at 1-866-488-7386

Text the word START to 678678 (standard message rates apply)

Chat for free on The Trevor Project’s website’s online portal at https://www.thetrevorproject.org

References used in episode:

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/07/27/rising-shares-of-u-s-adults-know-someone-who-is-transgender-or-goes-by-gender-neutral-pronouns/

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/01/health/transgender-population.html

https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/publications/trans-adults-united-states/

https://www.lgbtqiahealtheducation.org/

https://transequality.org/state-action-center

https://thesafezoneproject.com/about/what-is-safe-zone/

http://FamilyEquality.org

According to a recent Gallup poll, over 20% of Gen Z identifies as LGBTQIA+, so there are millions of reasons why Lara Hayden (she/they), MSW LICSW is working to raise the bar for LGBTQIA+ medical and fertility care.

Lara is a licensed independent clinical social worker who’s passionate about working with LGBTQIA+ folks looking to grow their families. In their conversation, Lara, Ruby, and Anne discuss the importance of harm reduction and investing in health equity work, knowing that it benefits all patients. They talk about the range of experiences people have surrounding gender affirming hormones and fertility, and how we can preserve queer and trans joy in the family building process. And they have notes for navigating sperm banks, good questions for LGBTQIA+ folks to ask a potential fertility clinic, how fertility clinics can be safer and more inclusive, how fertility journeys can be more comfortable, and how to see through the rainbow washing. Don’t miss these critical insights!

More about Lara:

Lara Hayden (she/they) is a long time Puget Sound resident and a licensed independent clinical social worker. Lara works with LGBTQIA+ folks looking to grow their families, providing 1:1 education and care coordination, support groups, and second parent adoption home study reports. In addition to work with queer and trans families, Lara has worked for over a decade providing clinical care and program management in community health, including pediatric gender-affirming care, adolescent medicine, chronic illness case management, HIV case management, and student health programs. Lara also offers clinical supervision, consultation, and training to other professionals looking to learn to better support LGBTQIA+ families.

Find Lara at Courageous Constellations.

Mentioned in this episode: 

Maia Midwifery and Fertility

Queer Conception: The Complete Fertility Guide for Queer and Trans Parents-to-be

"Family" can be a loaded concept, and don't even get us started on the misnomer "traditional family!" Luckily we have two experts from the nonprofit organization  Family Equality here to talk about the hard work their organization is doing to move toward both legal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ families. In this week’s episode we are chatting with Shelbi Day and Rebecca Willman.  

Shelbi Day (she/her) joined Family Equality in October 2016 as Senior Policy Counsel and now works as the Chief Policy Officer. She has dedicated her career to LGBTQ+ advocacy and law. Rebecca Willman (she/her) is Chief Community Engagement and Programs Officer at Family Equality and has spent most of her adult life ensuring bodily and emotional autonomy for individuals and families. Family Equality believes that storytelling is key to helping people understand the similarities between all types of families, and both Shelbi and Rebecca have fascinating fertility journeys to share. Have you wondered what the household feels like when both women are in the midst of fertility hormones? Or how five different people can contribute to build a family tree that is more of a lush and intertwining bush? What is the difference between a family of origin and a chosen family? What are good children's books and family traditions to help children see themselves and their family as represented and rooted in the community?

We came away from this conversation so impressed with both our guests and their organization. Fertility treatment options have expanded the complexity of options available for LGBTQ+ families. But these families existed long before ART, and unfortunately so did legal challenges to the rights of LGBTQ+ parents. Listen for a better understanding of both the legal need for a group like Family Equality, and for the stories that help us connect with one another. 

Mention:

Episode 12: Celebrating LGBTQIA+ Families with If These Ovaries Could Talk (now titled The Queer Families Podcast)

Make sure to catch the short snack episode to hear all about advocacy and some of the BIG changes that took place in 2022.

Support your local indie bookstore! 

Resources:

Our Shelves 

Family Equality Book Nook

Family Equality Fertility & Trying To Conceive Virtual Support Group

Family Equality - Family Week in Provicetown 

Red: A Crayon’s Story by Michael Hall - Goodreads

If you’re currently doing fertility injections, or are considering it, you may have some anxiety about giving yourself shots. Feeling nervous about needles is normal. 

So on today’s short snack, we’re delighted to have another Mindful Moment with friend of the pod, Jamie Mammenga, who is here to share some tools to help ease the stress. She also guides us on a meditation to help reduce fear. Whatever is holding you back, this episode will help you let go of your fear, and leave you feeling refreshed and empowered.

Welcome back to Dr. Kelly Casperson, urologist, author, and expert in sexuality, and not to jump in, but let’s “fix” sex already!

It’s really challenging to get even our own ideas on sex straight, given what we were taught (or weren’t) and how societal and cultural “norms” around sexual behavior are … often not about sex.

Controlling sexuality is a time-honored tradition for controlling women in particular, and Dr. Casperson is ready to help women claim their bodies and their sexual responses through education and by  shedding stigma.

In this episode, Dr. Casperson, Ruby, and Anne talk about how participants can improve their sex lives, including….

• What “should”s might be crowding our brains and how to get to our own genuine ideas about sex. (Sex should be about procreation; sex should occur X times per week; you should be having sex to keep your heart healthy, even if it’s not pleasurable.)
• What is “sex etiquette”? Is it OK to talk about the quality of the encounter while you’re cuddling, or should you save it for later? How do you introduce something new to the bedroom (or the kitchen floor or the back of the Volvo)?
• What tools are out there for easing into uncomfortable conversations?
• Gently educating men on women’s bodies (if we weren’t taught much about our own, how much education do you reckon THEY got? Hint: porn is NOT educational.)
• How bodies and preferences change over time.
• How sex is like coding. :) 
• Erotica for telling your brain, “Hey, this is sexy time.”

Be sure to check out Dr. Casperson’s website and book for LOTS more information: kellycaspersonmd.com/home, and be sure to share this episode. (It might be kind of embarrassing upfront to share an episode on sex tips, but just imagine how grateful the receiver will be!)

Find more from Ruby and Anne at thewholepineapple.com 

Resources:

Sssh.com

Quinn

AudioDesires

July 25, 1978 was a great day, and not just because July 25 is Ruby’s birthday. This particular day in 1978, the first IVF baby, Louise Brown, was born!

IVF is a lot different now than it was then — a lot was learned on the way to this first successful human pregnancy, and a lot has been learned since. In this snack, Ruby and Anne are talking about the research and experimentation that got us where we are now.

One of the biggest changes (and dare we say, improvements) from the experience of Lesley and Peter Brown is how much less invasive (physically and frankly, of the Brown family’s privacy) the process is now than it was then. 

Early hurdles included getting past people’s notions of whether or not IVF was ethical. And IVF cycles were so much more involved, including blood draws every four hours. Egg retrieval was a surgical process back then, it involved a single egg, and it was much more often unsuccessful. Transfers were done in the middle of the night until one didn’t and it worked out fine, and that was (thankfully) abandoned.

The fact that Louise Brown was later able to conceive without medical intervention helped allay fears that IVF would create a generation of people unable to reproduce on their own. 

So Happy Birthday, Louise Brown, and thank you, Lesley and Peter Brown and Elizabeth Carr (first IVF baby in the US) for going through so much to get us where we are today. 

Learn more about All Things Fertility at our website: thewholepineapple.com!

One in eight women in the U.S will be diagnosed with breast cancer...

A year and a week after her previous clear mammogram, Dr. Michelle Tollefson went in for another. This one showed a lump. 

On this week’s short snack, Dr. Tollefson shares her experience as a doctor becoming a patient – of knowing the information but having to face putting it into practice. Tune in for an incredible story, and for actionable steps we can take to prevent and fight cancer with lifestyle medicine. 

For more information:

American Institute of Cancer Research (AICR)

Improving Women’s Health Across The Lifespan

https://www.amazon.com/Improving-Womens-Lifespan-Lifestyle-Medicine/dp/0367627639

Beth Frates - Paving the Path to Wellness 

https://www.bethfratesmd.com/paving-the-path-to-wellness

Paving the Path to Wellness workbook 

https://www.bethfratesmd.com/books

American Institute of Cancer Research Resource page 

https://www.aicr.org/resources/media-library/

Mass General PAVING the Path to Wellness groups for those with breast cancer

https://www.massgeneral.org/cancer-center/patient-and-family-resources/supportive-care/paving/?TRILIBIS_EMULATOR_UA=Mozilla%2F5.0+(Windows+NT+6.1%3B+WOW64%3B+rv%3A26.0)+Gecko%2F20100101+Firefox%2F26.0#:~:text=Based%20on%20the%20principles%20of,a%20diagnosis%20of%20breast%20cancer.

American Institute of Cancer Research Resource page 

https://www.aicr.org/resources/media-library/

Your Brain on Food by Uma Naidoo

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49088685-this-is-your-brain-on-food?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=YXDfXeexaL&rank=1

Your Body in Balance by Neal Barnard 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46208089-your-body-in-balance?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=pihtZD54kI&rank=2

The Good Germ Hotel by Kwon Soo-Jinn (Author), Kim Sung-Hwa (Author), Kim Ryung-Eon (Illustrator)  

https://bookshop.org/books/the-good-germ-hotel-meet-your-body-s-marvelous-microbes/9781913750169

Why is it necessary to have a physical space in South Chicago that focuses on reproductive health?

Chicago is historically one of the most segregated cities in the US, says Regina Townsend of The Broken Brown Egg, and most reproductive clinics are located in the more affluent, predominantly white neighborhoods on the north side.  

Reproductive health is difficult enough without having to travel an hour each way to ask a question or understand test results. Enter: The Well Lit Project. 

Mental health, financial literacy, as well as reproductive health and justice  — all of these are critical to our overall health, and wouldn't it be nice to have a south-side space for resources, conversation, and rest?

Learn more about The Well Lit Project in this conversation among Ruby, Anne, and Regina Townsend, then discover how you can help Turn On the Lights. 

It's All Thing Uterus today! As Anne says, today we're going deep on "polyps and fibroids and adhesions, oh my!"

Guest Dr. Paul Lin may not have one of these organs, but he is an expert on this complex and important part of the human anatomy.

Because so many uterine issues may not present with symptoms — or the symptoms may disguise themselves as irregular periods or other variability — many people don't realize there's a problem until they have difficulty conceiving or carrying a pregnancy.

What can go wrong? What symptoms might you be experiencing? How can problems be addressed? Anne, Ruby, and Dr. Lin tackle the big concerns that can make fertility a real challenge.

Paul Lin is a board certified OB-GYN and REI Specialist and one of the founding partners of SRM. He is the former president of the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology, the organization that tracks outcomes in IVF centers across the country, among other things. 

Dr. Lin has extensive experience in many reproductive surgical concerns including laparoscopic and hysteroscopic fibroid removal; surgical management of endometriosis; and surgical management of uterine issues such as endometrial polyps, intrauterine adhesions, and uterine septums. He is one of the few fertility specialists who also uses a robotic approach for complicated surgeries. 

Learn more about Dr. Lin at https://www.seattlefertility.com/. And find more episodes of The Whole Pineapple at https://thewholepineapple.com/. 

Cue the candles and oysters. Let’s talk about sex… Part 2! 

You had questions, we have answers. On today’s short snack, we’re responding to your queries about sex. Like, are aphrodisiacs real? Is there such thing as a sexual “peak”? And can you control the sex of your baby at conception? Tune in for all that and more.

And to continue down the nutrition rabbit hole, check out Ruby's favorite website, nutritionfacts.org

What do we know about sperm and miscarriage?

Dr. Lora Shahine has a chapter in her book Not Broken about "the other half" (men and miscarriage), and it's the shortest chapter. The reason may be very different than you think. 

Sperm is half of the genetic equation. And most pregnancies that are lost are lost because of a problem with the embryo — not the person carrying it.

So why do we know so little about the sperm side? Historically, infertility and pregnancy loss have focused on the pregnant person, so there's very little research about the contribution of the partner.

In this conversation with Dr. Lora Shahine, Ruby and Anne ask why we know so little and what's being done to correct the bias in the research and testing. 

For more information, find Dr. Shahine's book here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B5SN2RXH/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_tkin_p1_i0

And hear her podcast here: https://drlorashahine.com/podcast.

And of course, for more The Whole Pineapple, check out their website, and don't forget to share, rate, and review! https://thewholepineapple.com/ 

Patient: "Why do I have fibroids?"

Provider: "Because you have a uterus."

It may seem flippant, but it is nonetheless true. Many people with a uterus may not even realize they have fibroids, as they may be asymptomatic or have symptoms that can be explained away as "bad periods."

People may not know they have fibroids until they start having extremely heavy periods at perimenopause — or until they have struggles getting pregnant.

In this short snack, hosts Ruby Booras and Anne Judge and guest Dr. Lin talk about where fibroids come from, when they need to be removed, and what impact they can have on achieving pregnancy. (Hint: location, location, location)

Be sure to listen to Dr. Lin's full episode, "Tales from the OR," as well as this snack, and share both with others!

Paul Lin is a board certified OB-GYN and REI Specialist and one of the founding partners of SRM. He is the former president of the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology, the organization that tracks outcomes in IVF centers across the country, among other things.

Learn more about Dr. Lin at https://www.seattlefertility.com/. And find more episodes of The Whole Pineapple at https://thewholepineapple.com/. 

What do scary movies (or not-so-scary movies), nutrition, wellness, and fertility journeys have in common?

Listen to this special Halloween Spooky Snack to find out! 

It's nearly All Hallows' Eve here in the US, and Ruby and Anne are sharing some of their Halloween favorites — with an eye to wellness and fertility, of course.

Pick up some great information on wellness villains (Count Inflammation has a lot of explaining to do) and managing your fertility journey (please don't go down those dark paths alone).

And it's OK to indulge in the full-size candy bars once a year. As long as you remember to brush your teeth. 

Learn more about Ruby, Anne, The Whole Pineapple, and Seattle Reproductive Medicine at https://thewholepineapple.com/.

Resources from this episode:

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/2015/11/03/report-says-eating-processed-meat-is-carcinogenic-understanding-the-findings/

https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2021/red-meat-colorectal-cancer-genetic-signature#:~:text=In%202015%2C%20based%20on%20data,probable%20carcinogen%20(Group%202A).

https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/2015/11/03/report-says-eating-processed-meat-is-carcinogenic-understanding-the-findings/

https://www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/new-evidence-links-ultra-processed-foods-with-a-range-of-health-risks/

https://www.nami.org/Press-Media/In-The-News/2021/What-you-need-to-know-about-the-cost-and-accessibility-of-mental-health-care-in-America?feed=In-the-news

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soylent_Green#Cast

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-019-0675-0 

https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2021/red-meat-colorectal-cancer-genetic-signature#:~:text=In%202015%2C%20based%20on%20data,probable%20carcinogen%20(Group%202A).

You’re a soldier, a firefighter, an EMT, a 911 dispatcher, a nurse, a cop; you’re used to taking control and getting things done, even in enormously stressful situations. So where do you turn if your own body just won’t “follow orders”? 

Mollie Huyck is the Founder and President of Roaring Adventures, a non-profit organization supporting first responders and active duty military members who need help building their families.

Seven long years and nine devastating losses before finally having a daughter inspired Mollie to help military and first responders with family building. Why this population in particular? First, her daughter’s story includes ties to the military, and second, this population tends to suffer infertility at higher rates than civilians. And often fertility treatments — even for our military and first responders — are not covered (or fully covered) by insurance.

We all know stress can impact fertility in many ways. Can you think of many professions MORE stressful on a daily basis than the ones listed at the top of these notes? Their professions can also expose them to toxic substances. How do we serve those who protect and serve in such critical ways?

Roaring Adventures supports these folks in their fertility journeys by helping them access financial resources through family building grants. But it’s not just financial assistance, it’s also education, support, and other services. Roaring Adventures supports many family building channels, including medical treatment and adoption services.

PS Just wait until you hear the origin story of the company name….

More about Mollie:

Mollie is also co-founder of My Fertility Health, Inc. Her company created Navie, a comprehensive software platform designed to provide tools and support to those navigating their reproductive health. Her book I Became Your Mama was created as a resource for parents to share their personal stories with their children. 

Mollie is an advocate for family building causes in Oregon and across the United States.

Find out more about Mollie and her organization at Roaring Adventures: www.roaringadventures.org.

Learn more about Navie at navieapp.com. And as always, find more episodes from Ruby and Anne at thewholepineapple.com.

When you’ve tried ALL THE THINGS to get pregnant, what’s left to do but make a rap about it? 

It’s a bit of an unconventional snack, but then, many of the things Meirav Zur has tried are pretty “out there” as well. Reflexology? Peeled almonds? Toe magnets? Mantras? And what the hell is a fertility “magician”? 

In this episode, Meirav refers to “Fertility OCD” – an obsession with making sure you do everything and do all the things exactly right, coupled with the consciousness that the clock is ticking – and how it can rule your life. And as Anne says, seeing others getting pregnant “easily” can be extremely isolating.

Of course, as you’re juggling all these things, feeling the pressure of time and expectation, watching test after test come up negative and holding onto hope with the tiny tippy top of your fingers, someone will undoubtedly barge into your life and tell you to “RELAX.”

Sigh.

Humor is a coping strategy for many, and you are “allowed” to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. And on those days when it really just isn’t funny, you’re allowed to feel that too and to ask others to respect those feelings. 

If this is one of those OK-to-laugh days, be sure to check out Meirav Zur on her website: meiravzur.com. And as always, find out more about Ruby and Anne on their website, thewholepineapple.com.

If you enjoyed the episode, please rate, review, and share to help others find us!

Note: This episode deals with grief and loss. Please consider carefully if this is the right time for you to listen.

October is Infertility, Pregnancy Loss, and Infant Loss Awareness Month in the United States. The losses that can accompany an infertility journey often aren't commemorated in the same way as other losses, and that can add an extra burden to those grieving.

We already struggle to cope with death in our society; when there's the extra stigma of shame that frequently accompanies infertility or pregnancy or infant loss, people can be left without the support they need.

Grief Coach Wendy Sloneker spoke with Ruby and Anne about why we need help, what that support can look like, and where to find it.

If you or someone you know is dealing with grief around infertility or any other loss, we encourage you to listen (if you're ready) and share this episode, then seek help in whatever form feels best for you.

You can find Wendy at her website and arrange for a complimentary consultation: https://www.wendysloneker.com/. You can also hear Wendy's podcast, Heart Healing from Loss: https://www.wendysloneker.com/podcastindex.html. Find her at Instagram @wendy.sloneker and on Twitter @WSloneker.

As always, you can find Ruby and Anne at https://thewholepineapple.com/, on Instagram @thewholepineapplepod and on Twitter @WholePineapple. 

Resources mentioned:

https://resolve.org/
https://thebrokenbrownegg.org/

Periods can be a pain, disrupting your plans, pimpling your face, and REALLY messing with your moods.

But if they're causing a lot of actual pelvic pain, or if the pain is persistent and not only cyclical, that may indicate a problem that's more than "normal" cramps.

Müllerian anomalies and endometriosis are common causes for pelvic pain, but because people with uteruses are told that pain is "normal," it can take years to get a proper diagnosis and treatment. Yeah.... no.

Fortunately, getting the right diagnosis for pelvic pain can mean finding solutions to help with the pain and heavy bleeding. Solutions now may also help preserve fertility in the future.

In this episode Ruby and Anne are talking with Dr. Angela Hernandez, Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecologist at Seattle Children's Hospital, about pelvic pain, why it happens, what we can do about it, and how far someone who says "suck it up, it's normal," can shove it. 

Are you or someone you know concerned about pelvic pain? Learn more from the resources below:

The Center for Young Women's Health: https://youngwomenshealth.org/gynecology-index/#a-gyn-guides-E

The Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology: https://www.jpagonline.org/article/S1083-3188(19)30365-1/fulltext

Or check out the Adolescent Medicine department at Seattle Children's at 206-987-2028. 

More about Dr. Angela Hernandez:
Dr. Angela Hernandez is a Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecologist at Seattle Children's Hospital. She completed OB/GYN residency at Baylor College of Medicine and PAG fellowship at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, Texas. Her clinical interests include Mullerian anomalies, multi-disciplinary care, complex contraception and chronic pelvic pain in adolescents. When she is not at work, she enjoys going to Orange Theory fitness classes and exploring the PNW with her partner, James, their two dogs, and their foster child.

What does famine data teach us about epigenetics? (Note: Anne and Ruby are not “pro-famine” — they just provide some fascinating and useful information!) What about twins? And how did bees get in there? We’re on a total science-nerd learning path today, and it’s great fun. 

Our environment can turn genes off and on, so it’s not “nature vs nurture,” it’s “nature AND nurture.” How genes and our environment work together or at odds has real impact not just on our individual health but potentially on our offspring and theirs!

Why are famines, devastating as they are, useful for study? Because while the stress and nutritional deficits profoundly affect those suffering, they can also cause cascading epigenetic effects that continue or appear generations later.

Which brings us to now and what we can learn: One, what you eat now may matter 100 years from now, even if you’re no longer around, so maybe sideline the sugar and processed stuff for occasional consumption? And two, issues you’re experiencing now may be at least partly caused by what your great-grandmother ate and the environment she lived in.

This is such a fascinating conversation and it sheds light on struggles of mental health, weight, fertility, disease, and more. We hope you’ll take a look at the resources included below for more information. And as always, we encourage you to share this episode with anyone you believe could benefit.

Find more about Ruby and Anne and The Whole Pineapple at https://thewholepineapple.com/!

Resources:

Anne’s References 

Dutch Famine info from Nature Epigenetics: Tales of adversity | Nature

NYT article about it, showing differences in methyalation with samples taken 70 years after 

The Famine Ended 70 Years Ago, but Dutch Genes Still Bear Scars - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

True scientific article 

Prenatal famine exposure and adult health outcomes: an epigenetic link | Environmental Epigenetics | Oxford Academic (oup.com)

And the citation for it: Prenatal famine exposure and adult health outcomes: an epigenetic link - PubMed (nih.gov)

Irish potato famine and growth of the asylum system, was increase in schizophrenia (in the high risk age ranges right timeline post famine) to blame?

 Irish Potato Famine: Date, Cause & Great Hunger - HISTORY - HISTORY

The Great Irish Famine (1845-52) and the Irish asylum system: remembering, forgetting, and remembering again - PubMed (nih.gov)

Did the Great Irish Famine increase schizophrenia? - PubMed (nih.gov)

Ruby’s references:

 What it takes to make a queen bee 

New York Times Dutch Famine Article: NYT article

Longevity Article on The Great Hunger https://vocal.media/longevity/the-irish-potato-famine-and-epigenetics

The China Study: 

https://nutritionstudies.org/the-china-study/

Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/178788.The_China_Study

Amazon: https://a.co/d/aV7zA1p

Nurses Health Study

American Journal of Public Health article

Vaginismus, dyspareunia, low libido, sexual dysfunction: terms most of us would prefer never to have to learn.

Both vaginismus and dyspareunia can cause pain in intercourse or render penetration impossible. There are often very good solutions, but because we find it so difficult to be open about sex — particularly about sexual dysfunction — many live with these conditions for years before being diagnosed.

In this week's short snack, Anne and Ruby talk with clinical sexologist Dr. Ioan Hanes about issues people with vaginas can experience in sex or even in trying to use a tampon.

If you experience pain during sex, or if you’re concerned your libido is waning, this can be a great way to learn more and have the language you need to talk with your doctor or gynecologist.

Resources:

Cornell - Sensate Focus

“The legacy of Masters and Johnson is certainly complex: they perpetuated sensational myths about HIV/AIDS and homosexuality, but they also helped to expel many misconceptions about sex and sexuality, particularly regarding women and the elderly.” https://www.historyhit.com/masters-and-johnson-controversial-sexologists-of-the-1960s/

Recommended films:

50 Shades of Grey

The Piano Teacher

As anyone born with a uterus will tell you, living in a body equipped with one of these and all that goes with it comes with a special set of challenges. And many of us don’t really know all we need to know, so think of this episode as a sort of Owner’s Manual.

So what do we need to know through the decades of our life?

TEEN YEARS: Irregular periods are normal, but if they’re super problematic or painful, a discussion with your primary care provider or a gynecologist might be in order. Time to start screening for sexually transmitted diseases if you’re sexually active.

TWENTIES: Is it time to consider protecting your future fertility? This is prime time for fertility, but if you’re not ready yet, it might be good to at least consider what’s ahead.

THIRTIES: Do you know how large of a family you want? As you get into your mid- and late-30s, fertility can be more challenging — definitely know your options!

FORTIES: Celebrities having babies in their 40s should not convince you that you have plenty of time, especially if you’re wanting to use your own eggs to conceive. “Time is eggs!” as Anne says.

HINT: talk to a menopause specialist at this point – perimenopause is a critical stage of life for protecting your future health!

FIFTIES: Pregnancy is still possible, but celebrities at this age are most likely using frozen eggs or donor eggs. 

SIXTIES: Pregnancy is probably not a concern, but STIs are, so protect yourself!

Obviously, this is just a hint of what Ruby and Anne have to share at each stage, so make sure to listen and share! And find more from our hosts at thewholepineapple.com.

Pain, stress, anxiety, uncertainty, and challenges like infertility can swamp the sturdiest boats, especially when the waves just keep on coming as they seem to be right now. 

In this short snack, Anne Judge and Jamie Mammenga talk about how mindfulness and gratitude can help you move through the storm. In addition to "fluffy" shows. ;) 

What 1-3 things happened to you today or are present in your life that you can feel thankful for? Can you put sticky notes on the bathroom mirror to remind yourself of the things that are going well?

Listen, let Jamie help relieve the stress of the day, then go put a sticky note on your mirror for one good thing that comes to you!

The holidays can bring up a whole lot of emotions: Joy and excitement, sure, but also anxiety, depression, and grief for many.

And are you, like us, a little out of practice with making "small talk"? That might lead to some "big talk," but that can bring its own stress!

Whatever you're feeling, practicing mindfulness and self care care can really help you have a healthier holiday season. 

In this episode, Anne Judge and Jamie Mammenga talk about stresses — and solutions! — that come up at this time of the year. Listen in for some great tips about setting boundaries, dealing with invasive questions, recharging your energy when family and friends are burning you out, and more!

If you're loving The Whole Pineapple, please take a moment to "gift" us with a review on your favorite podcast app. It really does help make it easier for listeners to find us.

For more amazing episodes from Jamie, Anne, Ruby, and their expert guests, visit The Whole Pineapple website: https://thewholepineapple.com/.

Is sperm from sex “donated”? Welcome to a crossover episode with podcaster Ellen Trachman, host of I Want to Put a Baby in You. Lawyer by trade, reproductive technology advocate at heart, Ellen Trachman is the founder and managing attorney at Trachman Law Center LLC. 

Ellen founded her firm in order to bring dedicated and compassionate legal representation to those wishing to build a family or to help others to build a family through assisted reproductive technology (ART). She co-founded the Colorado Fertility Advocates, a nonprofit group dedicated to supporting Colorado families and fertility advocates.

The laws around reproductive technology have never been simple, and they are becoming increasingly tangled as politics encroaches on health care. It’s important for everyone to understand what’s happening and how it may affect access to ART.

Some cases Ellen’s seen included a birth mother who was being considered a “surrogate” for her own child and in danger of losing her parental rights. In another case, the state sued a sperm donor for child support. And whatever you do, if you plan to use a sperm donor, don’t have that donor “donate” their sperm in the … traditional manner, because sperm from sex isn’t considered a donation. Ooof. 

For those who may need assistance from reproductive technologies, or who may have genetic material already in reserve (eggs, sperm, or embryos), recent legal changes may already have impacted the choices that are available to you. How do you protect yourself and your genetic material? Will you need to move to another state simply to build the family you’ve always hoped for?

This is an incredibly important episode for anyone who is interested in or in need of ART. Please share and find ways to get involved locally, if you are willing and able. 

You can find Ellen Trachman at her website, https://www.trachmanlawcenter.com/, and as always, hear more episodes and learn more about Ruby, Anne, and Seattle Reproductive Medicine at https://thewholepineapple.com/.

Resources mentioned: 

I Want To Put A Baby In You podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/

Ellen Trachman’s website: https://www.trachmanlawcenter.com/

https://www.facebook.com/iwtpabiy/ 

https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/

Exciting news: Ruby just passed her board exams to become a certified Lifestyle Medicine Professional! But, what exactly does that mean? 

In this short snack, Ruby and Anne discuss the many different kinds of medicine: conventional, complementary, alternative, functional, preventative, lifestyle, and more. And, they get into some of the systemic issues that prevent a more holistic, patient-centered care model. Your wellcare is unique to you, so let’s explore the many options you have!

On today’s short snack, we’re going past ovulation into the luteal phase of your cycle. Which means it’s time to talk about progesterone! Progesterone is the hormone that signals your uterus to turn into a nice comfy place for an embryo to implant. 

Supplemental progesterone can be an important part of fertility treatment. It’s also one of the most common, confusing, and controversial topics of  conversation in the fertility world. So, how do you know if you should take it? What’s the goldilocks timing? And are there side effects?

Anne even has one of her special songs to explain things.

Have you had COVID-19? At this point in the pandemic, the chances are quite high. So what does the virus mean for your reproductive health?

On today’s short snack, we welcome back Dr. Marah Hehemann – who is a fellowship trained surgeon, researcher, educator and patient advocate specializing in the fields of urology, reproductive health, and sexual health – to talk about the direct impacts of COVID-19 on sperm health. 

How does covid impact the testicles and penis? How does a high fever impact sperm? Is there an association between Covid-19 and erectile dysfunction? 

Get all our questions answered on this bite-sized episode. 

Ps. Before you even have a chance to wonder, YES, the COVID-19 vaccine is absolutely safe for testicular health and sperm production.

Content Warning: There is discussion of animal testing some listeners may find difficult. 

Continuing our digital/audio tour of a fertility clinic, we’re stopping off at the Lab, a place full of lovely humans, according to Ruby and Anne.

One of those lovely humans is Embryologist, Julia Aliabadi. Julia graduated from the University of Washington in 1992 with a Zoology degree (which apparently is a common path for folks who end up in Embryology). She first worked in andrology before joining Seattle Reproductive Medicine in 2005.

So, what actually happens in the lab with the sperm and eggs and embryos? Well, life in the lab has changed as technology has evolved. For example, Embryologists used to test sperm’s penetrative abilities by introducing it to animal eggs and see if it could get through. These days, there’s a process called ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) where a tiny needle injects the sperm directly into the center of the egg.

Why do this? Well, as Anne says, “Life is a struggle!” and there’s a lot more involved in reproduction (no matter how it’s achieved) than most of us know. 

If you’re curious what goes on in a fertility lab, this is a great introduction and tour. It’s also a great mini-tour of some of the history of fertility treatments: imagine making your own pipettes! Or doing all your embryo freezing at one time because the freezer took three hours to complete a cycle. Or realizing embryos actually do better when we look at them less.

So since we no longer get a daily update, what happens between Day Zero and Day Five? And how do strippers work into all this???

Take a listen to hear how far Embryology has come and what life is like in the lab now. And find out more about Julia Aliabadi and hosts Anne and Ruby at Seattle Reproductive Medicine: www.seattlefertility.com. As always, listen and share episodes of The Whole Pineapple at thewholepineapple.com.

Oh-varies, do we have a special treat for you! On this episode, Ruby and Anne talk with Jaimie Kelton, who is the co-host of the famed show, If These Ovaries Could Talk, the queer families podcast. The podcast has been written up in Forbes Magazine, was a Webby Award honoree, and has a celebrity-studded following (like Amy Schumer…no big deal).

When she went through her own fertility journey, Jaimie looked around and couldn’t find stories like hers – of queer people building families, facing roadblocks, and experiencing the joys of parenthood. So she started If These Ovaries Could Talk to fill the gap. 

In today’s conversation, Ruby, Anne, and Jaimie dig into the nuances of queer parenting and fertility journeys – from trips to the clinic, to donor siblings, to decisions about where to get sperm, to insurance coverage biases. It’s informative, honest, and funny, all rolled together. 

In addition to podcasting, Jaimie is an actor, singer, dancer, wife, and lesbian mom to two kids.

Happy Pride, all!!

The FDA is hands off when it comes to supplements, which means wading through the claims can be tricky and confusing. How do you know if what you’re getting is the good stuff?

On this week’s short snack, Anne and Ruby chat with board-certified OB-GYN Dr. Sarah de la Torre to demystify supplement labels, claims, and certifications. What do the percentages mean? How do you know if your fish oil is mercury-free? What if you’re on a plant-based diet?

Tune in so you can feel more confident finding and consuming nutrition-packed supplements that won’t waste your money. 

Links:

Dietary Supplement Label Database

NSF

FDA Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) Regulations

Consumer Reports: How to Choose Supplements Wisely 

True Label Program

International Fish Oil Standards / International Krill Oil Standards

Marine Stewardship Counsel 

Certified Vegan 

How can such a tiny gland have such big impacts on your health and fertility? 

In this week’s short snack, Ruby and Anne dig into the thyroid. What’s the deal with T3 and T4? What’s the difference between hypo and hyperthyroidism? What about the hypothalamus and pituitary gland? We even included some fascinating thyroid health history (hint: it involves seaweed in the year 2700 BC!).    

If it sounds like a lot, fear not: Anne has a song that breaks it all down. 

Today’s short snack is a listener story and a very special guest – Anne’s husband, Nick!  Nick is here to talk about his diagnosis of Severe Male Factor. He shares his and Anne’s fertility journey from his point of view, from the surprise of their diagnosis to the challenges of unsuccessful initial treatments. 

Have you ever wondered what can go wrong in a collection room? Nick shares some hilarious stories of uncooperative door locks and audiovisual “malfunctions.” Nick also talks to Anne and Ruby about feeling guilty, watching and supporting Anne throughout their experience, and how nervous he was during her pregnancy. 

Sperm is an issue in 50% of infertility cases, and we so appreciate having Nick share his point of view in such an honest, funny, and relatable way! This is a great episode to share with anyone with a male factor diagnosis to help them feel less alone and see the humor in a difficult situation.

As always, for more The Whole Pineapple, check out their website: https://thewholepineapple.com/  And don't forget to share, rate, and review!

For Monica Bivas, pain became purpose. After going through years of her own fertility challenges, she became a fertility and IVF coach to support others experiencing the same difficulties.

On this week’s short snack, Monica shares her journey, including grappling with endometriosis, miscarriage, and emotional tumult. And, she explains how a fertility coach supports clients.

If you’re considering a fertility coach, or are interested in finding community with others who are facing fertility difficulties, this episode is for you.

Trigger warning: on this episode, we discuss: infant loss, stillbirth, miscarriage, and relationship challenges. 

https://monicabivas.com/

monicabivasivfcoach@gmail.com

IG  @monicabivas 

FB https://www.facebook.com/monicabivasfertilitycoach

The IVF Planner from Monica: https://www.amazon.com/Ivf-Planner-Personal-Fertilization-Positivity/dp/1982213256/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1W9RIIA05Z77U&keywords=monica+bivas&qid=1646334173&sprefix=monica+bivas%2Caps%2C119&sr=8-1

Looking for more information on fertility and wellness? Visit our website TheWholePineapple.com!

Clinical studies show that many of us experience an increase in anxiety and depression during the holidays. And yes, this includes the spring holidays going on right now.

So on today’s short snack, friend of the pod Jamie Mammenga shares some tools for navigating a fertility journey during this heightened time. Be sure to listen before heading out to family brunch. Jamie’s wise and soothing words are like a gentle breeze.

Are you ready to track everything you eat and drink, answer a whole lot of questions, give stool samples, and get weighed over and over (and over) again for 12 weeks? 

What if you could help end endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a much more common problem than previous medical stats might have led us to believe. But as it becomes more and more apparent that many with endometriosis were just mis- or undiagnosed, studies that give us the real facts become more valuable.

Like, for example, how much does what you eat affect your endo symptoms? Could a whole-food, plant-based diet help?

In this short snack, Ruby and Anne talk with Dr. Hana Kahleova and OT Macy Sutton, who are conducting just such a study. And they're looking for more people to participate.

If you'd like to take part in the study, please contact the team at https://www.pcrm.org/clinical-research/endometriosis.

Hana Kahleova, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A.

Dr. Hana Kahleova is the Director of Clinical Research for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. She has conducted several clinical trials using a plant-based diet in the treatment of diabetes and metabolic disease. Her previous research has shown that a plant-based diet leads to improvement in metabolism and addresses multiple mechanisms behind diabetes.

As a member of the American Diabetes Association and as a board member of the Diabetes and Nutrition Study Group of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, Dr. Kahleova is directly involved in the process of updating the nutritional recommendations for patients with diabetes.

Macy Sutton

Macy is an occupational therapist (bless you) by training with nearly 8 years of work experience in clinics and hospitals. In late 2021, she transitioned into a nonclinical research coordinator role at the Physicians' Committee for Responsible Medicine. Macy is passionate about health and wellness and the opportunity to share the forthcoming evidence gained from this Endometriosis Study.

"My doctor told me I have to lose weight before I can try IVF."

When BMI becomes a barrier to fertility treatment, is that really medically necessary or appropriate?

Nutritionist Rachelle Mallik hears "My doc says I have to lose weight" a LOT in her practice, and she'd really rather doctors advise their patients to practice healthy habits than just "lose weight."

Eating well and getting exercise may increase someone's chances of a healthy pregnancy, but BMI alone isn't really a good measure of fertility success.

In this snack, Ruby and Anne talk with Rachelle about how weight stigma and the automatic assumption that a fat body is an unhealthy body are limiting many people from accessing fertility services. 

Listen up, share, and have a delicious week.

Learn more about Rachelle here:

• Instagram and Twitter: @rachellemallik
• Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelle-lacroix-mallik-ma-rd-ldn-95b68b13/
• The Food Therapist Website:  https://rachellemallik.com/meetrachelle-thefoodtherapist
• Get on the waitlist for her Fertility Nutrition course: https://rachellemallik.com/fertility-foundations-course

NOTE: Yes, Roaring Adventures is focused on helping first responders and active military find funding to support fertility journeys. For you “Too Long/Didn’t Read (TL/DR)” people, even if you’re NOT either of those, keep listening! There is a lot of great information here about resources for anyone needing help with infertility treatment.

In order to qualify for Roaring Adventures, you need to meet a few criteria: one partner should be diagnosed with infertility. You should also be a firefighter, nurse, paramedic/EMT, EMS, law enforcement (police officer), or a 911 dispatcher. Be sure to listen to the full episode for a detailed rundown of who qualifies.

Roaring Adventures knows how challenging it can be to fund fertility treatments. So in this discussion with Ruby and Anne, Mollie offers some very sound tips for anyone. Rule number one — be cautious sharing a lot of personal information and paying a fee when you apply for a family grant. Make sure the organization you’re approaching is legitimate.

Here are a few questions that might indicate red flags:

• Is the application fee fair and reasonable?
• Is the org a genuine 501(c)(3)?
• Have they had actual recipients in the past?
• Are they working with respected doctors, clinics, etc.?
• Can they answer your questions about their processes?

A “no” answer to any of these questions might mean you should keep looking or for sure delve a little deeper. 

So, let’s say you qualify for a grant — how do you apply? Roaring Adventures’ grant is open to submissions once a quarter. You’ll find an application and a list of FAQs on their website, www.roaringadventures.org.

What do you get when you add two nurse practitioners, a healthy serving of science, a heaping scoop of kindness, a dash of fun, and a microphone? 

The Whole Pineapple podcast takes a whole-person approach to fertility. Join co-hosts Ruby Booras and Anne Judge as they discuss a variety of fertility and wellness-related topics including nutrition, physical activity, mindfulness, stress management, toxic habits, environmental exposures, mental health, sleep, sexual health, relationships, self-care and so much more. 

From thought-provoking interviews with leading experts and straight-forward conversations about scientific research to inspiring real-life infertility stories from listeners like you, The Whole Pineapple is sure to become a source of reliable, knowledgeable support, guiding you through your journey and inspiring your WHOLE life.   

With laws and regulations changing so fast and all over the place, it can feel overwhelming and futile to try to do anything at all. But it’s important that we don’t give up and let decisions be made for us.

What can people who aren’t professional lobbyists do to make our voices heard?

According to Sean Tipton, you can do exactly that – you can make your voice heard. Register to vote and then vote. Talk to candidates for political offices, especially when they’re in an election season, as they’re most likely to listen at that time. You have a right to be heard, so get in there and get talking.

Have anecdotes to share (with permission, of course): if you can tell a relevant story, that is often much more effective than straight data. Faces, stories — those are the ways to get folks to listen. Showing how your policy position will solve problems is also effective. Most of us don’t like being presented with problems, so come at policy makers with solutions.

Be sure to check out the Resolve website (resolve.org) for tools to help you get started. Please share resources, including this episode, with anyone who is looking to help preserve medical fertility assistance and reproductive rights in general. Sean’s organization, ASRM (American Society for Reproductive Medicine), is also a great resource: asrm.org.

And of course, please rate, review, and share this podcast to help others be informed about All Things Fertility, including advocacy. thewholepineapple.com.

Sorry, folks, it’s official: it’s the end of sex.*

Henry “Hank” Greely, Professor by courtesy of Genetics at Stanford School of Medicine, Deane F. and Kate Edelman Johnson Professor of Law, and Director of the Center for Law and the Biosciences, is very interested in how new biomedical technologies impact assisted reproduction. He’s authored two books: The End of Sex and the Future of Human Reproduction in 2016, and CRISPR People: The Science and Ethics of Editing Humans, which published in 2021, and is Chair of the Steering Committee of the Center for Biomedical Ethics, among other impressive mouthfuls.

In this episode, Ruby, Anne, and Hank dive into the changes that are already happening in human reproduction — and the possible changes to come. In addition to the scientific challenges, what are the ethical and legal questions we’ll need to tackle as the landscape changes?

Many of us became aware of genetic questions with Dolly the cloned sheep and the controversy over stem cells and how they might be used to repair damaged bodies. But Hank took the question even further, asking, What happens when we can make eggs and sperm from skin cells? Does that signal the end of human reproduction as we know it?

Hank can pinpoint the origin of his curiosity to October 19, 2010 in Muenster, Germany — a conference talk on how induced pluripotent stem cells (iPscs) could be used to make other cells, including, the speaker said off-handedly, sperm and eggs. Wait, what?

Science fiction? Maybe not.

If you’re curious about the possible future of fertility (and sex), this is the episode for you. Be sure to check out the book as well. There’s not only theory about what the future could hold but also a well-researched history of how we’ve gotten here 

As always, please rate and review, and most of all, share the episode and show with anyone you think could benefit. 

*Spoiler: New technologies might mean the end of sex for reproduction and the start of sex purely for pleasure. So the news isn’t bad after all. 

Learn more about Hank Greely on the Stanford Law School Directory: https://law.stanford.edu/directory/henry-t-greely/

Find more episodes from Ruby and Anne at https://thewholepineapple.com.

Resources mentioned:

Purchase the book from the Harvard University Press: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674984011

Episode 29: My Embryos are Mosaic? https://thewholepineapple.com/episode-29-my-embryos-are-mosaic-interpreting-your-pgt-results/

First, we’d like to apologize for the joke that starts this episode. This is what happens when good vegetables go bad…. ;)

In this delicious snack, Ruby and Anne are chatting with Judy Simon and Angela Thyer about their new book, Getting to Baby: A Food-First Fertility Plan to Improve Your Odds and Shorten Your Time to Pregnancy.

If you are considering starting or building your family, it’s great for everyone involved to get in their best possible health, whether you’ll be carrying the child or not! And this plan can help everyone attain optimal health.

Get your answers to:

• What is a “food-first approach” to fertility, and does it actually help?
• How do nutrition and lifestyle affect fertility?
• Is nutrition a one-size-fits-all? (spoiler alert: no.)
• Should I focus more on plants? (spoiler alert: probably)
• Are you all about weight loss? (nope)

And so much more. 

One thing we love about this plan is that it focuses on making progress, not on being perfect. And there’s no shame here: nutrition can be challenging, especially when life is busy. But the great thing is even small improvements can yield great, noticeable benefits. 

Cooking and eating well don’t have to be stressful, and that’s what this book is all about. Let Angela, Judy, and your own body guide you to explore new foods and reach your health goals!

As always, we hope you’ll share this episode with anyone who could benefit!

More about our guests:

Angela Thyer, MD, is a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist and one of the founding partners at Seattle Reproductive Medicine. She is triple-board-certified in reproductive endocrinology, infertility, obstetrics, and gynecology, and lifestyle medicine, and her special interests include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), nutrition and fertility, lifestyle medicine, and reproductive aging. 

Judy Simon, RDN, is a registered dietitian nutritionist who specializes in reproductive health. She is the founder of Mind Body Nutrition, LLC, clinical instructor, and staff dietitian at the University of Washington. Judy has held leadership roles in the American Society of Reproductive Medicine Nutritional Special Interest Group, and is a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Resources:

• Book website: gettingtobabybook.com
• Judy’s website: mind-body-nutrition.com 
• Instagram: @fertilenutrition
• Order on Amazon
• Judy’s previous full episode: Disordered Eating & Fertility 
• Snack: Health & Fertility at Every Size 

Find more from Anne and Ruby at thewholepineapple.com. 

If you, like 113 million other people, watched the Super Bowl in February, you probably saw singer Rhianna’s pregnancy announcement reveal.

While Rhianna’s excitement about being a mom is understandable, it’s kind of tough for those dealing with infertility to be involved in the celebration – especially when they aren’t expecting it.

So how do you handle triggering situations? If you found yourself dealing with big emotions in the middle of a Super Bowl party, what did you do? And how do you handle it when someone unintentionally asks you a hurtful question about your own family building?

In this episode Anne and Jamie Mammenga talk about how to gently, politely extricate yourself from a situation where you don’t feel safe or supported. Whether you went to get more nachos you really didn’t want, or remembered a task or meeting you urgently needed to attend to, Anne and Jamie said to give yourself permission to walk away.

It’s OK to tell a white lie, it’s OK to cut someone short, it’s OK to suddenly get much more interested in the score, it’s OK to enlist a sympathetic friend to jump in and help you remove yourself. It’s also OK to treat this as a “learning opportunity” for a person who clearly isn’t being sensitive to others — replying with “That’s an odd question to ask” is also completely fine.

If this conversation has you back in one of those unpleasant moments, we gotcha. Jamie leads us on a really lovely meditation exercise that will re-center you and help you chase obtrusive thoughts away.

Hear more from Jamie and from The Whole Pineapple podcast from our website: https://thewholepineapple.com/.

Do you have to throw away all your pans, your plastic containers, your bubble wrap? 

Maybe life is just meant to be sticky…. Since non-stick pans and surfaces are generally not great for preparing or storing food.

There used to be lead in lipstick? REALLY?? In this episode, learn what substances may be affecting your health and the health of your family. And learn steps you can take to make your environment healthier.

Dr. Natalia Grob is an expert on endocrine disrupting chemicals, the effects of environmental toxins on fertility and overall health, and how we can all make healthier consumer choices.

Dr. Grob is double board-certified in obstetrics/gynecology and reproductive endocrinology and infertility. She uses evidence-based medicine to enhance your fertility naturally with diet and lifestyle recommendations. She believes in patient empowerment and wants to help provide you with the information you need to make the best decision for your family. 

Mama to three boys, outdoor adventures keep her grounded. She currently lives in Denver, Colorado and practices with Conceptions Reproductive Associates of Colorado.

Contact Info:

https://www.conceptionsrepro.com/dr-natalia-grob.html

IG:  @nataliagrob_md

Resources:

https://www.millionmarker.com/

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes/index.htm

https://thinkdirtyapp.com/

https://www.ewg.org/

https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php

https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

Gut health and hormones — who knew that was a thing?

According to Dr. B., these microbes that hang out in our gut are so intertwined with our hormonal balance that the gut microbiome is basically an endocrine organ.

Your brain has the most nerves in your body. The second? Your gut. FIVE TIMES more nerves than your spinal cord. With so much going on in our guts, do you think maybe it's time we pay attention to what our guts are telling us?

We're living in a scientific revolution, Dr. B tells Ruby and Anne — the information we're gathering about our bodies, our health, and our gut are changing how we consider food, medicine, wellness, and disease.

Be sure to listen to Dr. B's full episode on The Whole Pineapple as well as this short, then share share share! And please don't forget to rate and review to make our podcast more discoverable. 

Find us here: https://thewholepineapple.com/

Jamie Mammenga is here with Anne for our first “Mindful Moment with Jamie” of 2023.  

It's a new year and we want to talk about patterns, and how we can break the ones that are not serving us. 

From checking ovulation predictor kits to early pregnancy tests, being in fertility treatment can make it feel like your life is ruled by "peeing on a stick". One of our wonderful listeners sent us a question to ask if others experience what she called “Pink Line Addiction.” While "Pink Line Addiction" is a great band name, this concept of frequent home testing can really impact your life. 

Anne and Jamie share great tips for thinking about this pattern, deciding if it is serving you well or not, and ways to break the cycle. Listen for ideas on distraction, the concept of "thought stopping," and a new guided meditation. 

The loss of control you feel in infertility is real, and painful. We hope this episode helps you examine what patterns in your life are helpful, and what ones might need to be discarded like an old test stick.

We spend a lot of time on the Whole Pineapple talking about eggs, ovaries, and tubes. And for good reason! But today, we’re giving some attention to another vital ingredient in the reproduction recipe: sperm. 

Despite our habit of looking to the egg side to locate issues, sperm is often a major factor in infertility (50% of the time, in fact!). So we’re taking you on a trip into the urologist’s office with Dr. Marah Hehemann. Marah is a fellowship trained surgeon, researcher, educator and patient advocate specializing in the fields of urology, reproductive health, and sexual health. Not only is she incredibly credentialed, she is also very attuned to high-sensitivity topics and supporting patient-centered conversations.

So, what can you expect from a urology visit? What can a semen analysis tell you? Is there actually a correlation between sperm count and virility? What should you eat to optimize penile and sperm health? What should you do if you’re experiencing erectile dysfunction? There’s a load to talk about.

If you’re facing fertility challenges, there are myriad resources for medical and emotional support. There are podcasts (ahem, like this one!), classes, and…books! On today’s short snack episode, Ruby and Anne are reviewing two fantastic reads.

Fertility Walk by Tamara Tobias (@fertilitywalk, @tamaratobias.fertilitywalk), a nurse practitioner, dives into the medical side of infertility. What's it like in fertility clinics? What’s the science behind the barriers? What are those gray blobs on your ultrasound?

Make IF Make Sense by Regina Townsend (@brokenbrownegg) shares a deeply personal story about the unpredictability – and all the accompanying emotions – of infertility. How do you make sense of such a big IF? Where are the spots of humor in an otherwise difficult situation? How can you locate solace for yourself? 

Both books are excellent companions for your fertility journey.

…Looks like it’s time to head to the library! 

What is a “clinical sexologist”? 

A three-year post-graduate training is required to be registered as a clinical sexologist in Belgium. Sexuality is a complex set of human behaviors involving body, mind, and heart, so it makes sense that experts in the subject undergo some pretty rigorous training.

When it comes to fertility, too often the medical aspects can overtake the human, and sex is relegated to its most basic function: to create a pregnancy. But in recent years, says Dr. Hanes, fertility clinics have begun paying more attention to sexual function and dysfunction and the role of sexuality in procreation.

In this episode of The Whole Pineapple, Ruby and Anne talk with Dr. Ioan Hanes about sex, the human sexual response, and the need to talk more openly about sex and human biology in general.

Ioan Hanes (pronounced “Yohan Hanesh”) is a medical doctor and clinical sexologist who lives and works in Brussels, Belgium.  A certified medical nutritionist, he is a clinical practitioner in lifestyle medicine and head of the Obesity Department of the Military Hospital MeNuFit Brussels. 

Dr. Hanes has completed several different lifestyle medicine related courses in the US and Belgium. He has a strong interest in the field of sexual health and lifestyle medicine. He is the founder and coordinator of the European Lifestyle Medicine Certificate and co-coordinator of the first European Lifestyle Medicine book. He is the founder and president of the Belgian Lifestyle Medicine Organization. He is a multicultural practitioner which is demonstrated in the five languages he speaks fluently: English, French, Romanian, Hungarian, and Dutch.  

You can find more about Dr. Hanes on his LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ioanhanesmd/. Learn more about Ruby and Anne and Seattle Reproductive Medicine at their website, https://thewholepineapple.com/.

Resources

American Sexual Health Association

European Lifestyle Medicine Organization

World Association for Sexual Health 

https://www.facebook.com/ELMO.org/

https://www.facebook.com/people/BELMO-Belgian-Lifestyle-Medicine-Organisation/100064175161112/

Lifestyle Is On Air Podcast

Gagnon, John H. and Simon, William (1974) Sexual Conduct: The Social Sources of Human Sexuality, paperback ed. Chicago, IL: Aldine Press.

NPR Fresh Air - Master's & Johnson 

Cornell - Sensate Focus

“The legacy of Masters and Johnson is certainly complex: they perpetuated sensational myths about HIV/AIDS and homosexuality, but they also helped to expel many misconceptions about sex and sexuality, particularly regarding women and the elderly.” https://www.historyhit.com/masters-and-johnson-controversial-sexologists-of-the-1960s/   

Still want more? Don't worry! We’ll cover the history of sexual research in a later episode.

If, unlike Anne, you’re not already a season ticket holder for the OL Reign, and you do live in the Seattle area, maybe consider grabbing your seats now. Like most women’s sports, tickets are less expensive than the men’s and certainly less than they’re worth!

In this episode, we hear from OL Reign players Lu Barnes and Nikki Stanton on the joys and challenges of being a professional athlete.

This episode came about because Seattle Reproductive Medicine is the OL Reign’s official fertility partner, providing education, fertility advice and care to preserve fertility options. Chances are, if you’re listening to this podcast, you know why it’s important for players to have a fertility partner, but if you don’t, for women, peak fertility years often coincide with peak athletic years. Options such as egg freezing can extend a female athlete’s career by enabling her to postpone family building.

So what are the challenges of being an athlete in possession of a uterus? (And heads up – these issues often affect the careers of any professional, not just athletes!)

• Depending on her cycle, there are times when women’s bodies are more injury prone.
• Uniforms often don’t take into account the realities of women’s bodies — white shorts, y’all? Really??
• Unlike for men, a woman’s sports career usually has to at least pause for becoming a parent.
• Double standards exist. And they generally suck for women.
• Society often “expects” women to simply quit their sports careers in favor of family.
• Men have never EVER had to deal with “the period lady.”

Just like the fathers, mothers would like their kids to be able to see them play and to provide that same inspiration. And this isn’t a fantasy that biology makes impossible; more research, more investment, more conversation on the subject has already resulted in improvement — there’s no reason to assume the status quo is “good enough.”

Nikki and Lu are brilliant on and off the field, so once you’ve listened to this awesome conversation, check out their bios at the OL Reign: Nikki Stanton bio and Lu Barnes bio, and then buy those tickets! Get Tickets HERE!

And as always, help us end the stigma around infertility and bodies with uteruses and vaginas by sharing this and other episodes. You’ll find all the episodes at thewholepineapple.com.

"Let me know what I can do for you!" It's a common statement made by very well-intended friends and family when someone is going through loss. 

But even thinking about an answer to that question, much less all the surrounding thoughts (Am I asking too much? Do I want to reveal this much about myself?) — it's exhausting for someone who is probably already in emotional chaos.

A better solution? Drop off groceries. Don't stay for conversation, just let your loved one know the food is there, and give them space. Or text a note that says, "You don't need to respond to this, but I'm thinking of you." 

It can be so hard to know what to say, and no one wants to make pain worse by saying the wrong thing. But as Grief Coach Wendy Sloneker says in this oh-so-valuable conversation with hosts Anne and Ruby, sharing happy memories can be a gift. Just follow your loved one's lead. 

If you're trying to find a way to support someone, there are some great ideas and advice in this episode. If you're going through grief and you wish your friends knew the information in this episode, maybe ask a trusted friend to share it out.

For more grief support, contact Wendy at her website, https://www.wendysloneker.com/. And of course, get more episodes of The Whole Pineapple from their website, https://thewholepineapple.com/. 

It can take years before people make their first appointment at a fertility clinic. Whether that's because they don't know how long they "should" try before they seek medical help, or because they're embarrassed, or because they're afraid of what they might learn, waiting rarely makes things better.

In this episode, Ruby, Anne and guest Dr. Nichole Barker demystify that first visit: when it's time to make the appointment, what will likely happen at the clinic, how you can prepare beforehand, and more.

If you've been considering seeking fertility help for starting or extending your family, give yourself the gift of greater clarity with The Whole Pineapple.

Dr. Lee Hullender Rubin wants you to understand acupuncture and how it can aid all kinds of issues, including infertility. 

The founder of Rosefinch Health, Dr. Lee is an award-winning doctor of acupuncture and a leader in the field of integrative reproductive medicine. She blends compassionate care with over two decades of clinical experience specializing in fertility, IVF support, pelvic and vulvovaginal pain, and cancer-related support. She is also a teacher and researcher in acupuncture and integrative East Asian medicine and founded Rosefinch Academy to help other providers learn more. 

But about that “being poked with needles” thing: In unskilled hands… well, just don’t be in unskilled hands. Acupuncture can seem random to the unfamiliar, but it’s a highly specific process developed, literally, over thousands of years. 

If you’ve avoided acupuncture because you’re needle-phobic, here’s a big tip: acupuncture, in the right hands, doesn’t and shouldn’t hurt. In skilled hands, you won’t feel the needle going in, only the results. 

So, here are a couple of tips for assessing an acupuncture provider:

1. Ask to see their license for your state or look them up on your state’s medical board. 
2. Your specialist will perform an assessment of you involving lots of questions. You should do the same. Ask about their training and experience until you’re confident about their professionalism.
3. Your acupuncturist is part of your care team. Make sure this provider is complementary to and cooperative with the rest of your care. 
4. Your acupuncturist should understand your goals and have experience dealing with fertility issues, so ask about their work in fertility in particular.
5. Check with aborm.org (aborm.org) but realize not everyone who is qualified has taken this optional test.
6. Ask: if this isn’t the cycle for me, how will you support me?

What can acupuncture do for you?

1. At the very minimum, acupuncture can help you feel more relaxed and have better energy. And that can be super-helpful at a difficult time.
2. Acupuncture may increase your chances of a clinical pregnancy or live birth.
3. Acupuncture can relieve stress and help you sleep better.
4. Acupuncture may help your body ovulate more consistently. 
5. Acupuncture may help control blood sugar levels.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of this conversation among Ruby, Anne, and Dr. Lee, so be sure to listen to hear all the science behind acupuncture. This ancient treatment method has so much to offer us here in the present!

Learn more about Dr. Lee and schedule an appointment at Rosefinch Health at rosefinchhealth.com

And as always, learn more and hear more from The Whole Pineapple at thewholepineapple.com.  

The Acupuncture and TCM Board of Reproductive Medicine (ABORM): aborm.org

PGT or "preimplantation genetic testing of embryos" – even the name is complicated. But, as we’re having a genetic counselor come in to talk about testing and what the results mean, we thought a little primer on the science would help everyone understand the longer episode better.

And who better to help us than the genetic counselor herself? We’ll give you her full bonafides with the full episode, but Rachel Donnell is a certified genetic counselor with a Master of Medical Science in Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling and more than seven years of clinical experience under her belt.

Best of all, we’re in for a three-for with Rachel: this bonus snack to help us get ready for the full, then a full episode on mosaicism, and finally, another snack on the far side on commercial genetic testing (think 23andMe). It’s a lot of science, but Rachel’s job is — literally — helping people understand genetic testing. She’s very, VERY good at it.

In this bonus snack, Ruby, Anne, and Rachel talk about the categories of possible genetic diseases, the different kinds of tests, what testing can reveal, what testing can’t reveal (or guarantee), and what patients can do with the results. They also talk through the process, so patients can rest assured that testing is safe for the embryos.

If you’re considering PGT or if it’s been recommended to you, this is a great way to add to your understanding of what the testing involves and what testers are looking for. As always, we hope you’ll share it with anyone you know who can benefit!

Find more about Rachel, Ruby, and Anne at Seattle Reproductive Medicine (seattlefertility.com) and hear more episodes of The Whole Pineapple at https://thewholepineapple.com/.

Rachel Donnell is back! However, unless you’re up on your genetic-testing-of-embryos science, you may want to hold off on this episode until you’ve heard the bonus episode (“56.5”) released a few days before this one. It gives you some background information that will make this episode a lot easier to follow.

In this episode, Ruby and Anne are talking with one of SRM’s genetic counselors: Rachel Donnell. Rachel is a certified genetic counselor with 7 years of clinical experience in the infertility setting and a whole lot of experience explaining genetics and genetic testing to patients.

Why are counselors necessary? Testing has never been a simple science, but it’s gotten increasingly complex in recent years as technology has made so much more possible. When someone comes in for IVF, they may be recommended testing to screen for abnormalities in their embryos. Rachel helps patients understand why they might (or might not) want to test, what the tests involve, what the results mean, and what their choices are.

Sometimes the result is an embryo with mosaicism. What is it, and what does it mean for the health of the pregnancy and the health of the baby? Well, with a name like “mosaicism” you can probably imagine it’s a pretty complex picture. For those considering IVF and PGT (preimplantation genetic testing), this episode can really help you understand mosaicism and what it might mean for the embryo.

More about Rachel Donnell: Rachel has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri and a Master of Medical Science in Human Genetics and Genetic Counseling from Emory University School of Medicine. At Seattle Reproductive Medicine, she counsels patients seeking PGT for aneuploidies and inherited genetic conditions. She is also involved in the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and was the Past Chair of the Genetic Counseling Professional Group. 

Find more about Rachel, Ruby, and Anne at Seattle Reproductive Medicine (seattlefertility.com) and hear more episodes of The Whole Pineapple at https://thewholepineapple.com/.

True or False: the only issue PCOS causes is problems with fertility.

Not sure? Listen up—it's PCOS Awareness Month, and Ruby and Anne are delivering a special episode to provide additional information about this common but little-known disease.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) may occur in as much as 8-12 percent (or more!) of women between 18 and 44. While it is often dismissed as "only a problem for fertility," the truth is, it can factor in many other issues people with PCOS need to be aware of, including diabetes and heart disease.

Often those with PCOS go years without a diagnosis for the symptoms they're experiencing. If you're dealing with PCOS or think you might be, please have a listen to learn more.

Additionally, if you know someone who could benefit from this episode, please share it. The sooner someone gets the correct diagnosis, the sooner they can learn to manage their health.

Learn more about Ruby and Anne at the website https://thewholepineapple.com/.

RESOURCES

Episode with Brea Seaburg: https://thewholepineapple.com/brea-seaburg-talks-insulin-resistance-metabolic-wellness-%ef%bf%bcwhy-they-matter/

Mastering Diabetes: https://www.masteringdiabetes.org/team/

Beware the 7-year itch, says Dr. Kelly Casperson. Around that mark (or so the thought goes), many of us start getting a little bored in our careers and in our relationships.

But sometimes it works out perfectly: Just as she was getting a little itchy, Dr. Casperson met a patient who was finding her sex life as uninspiring as, well, moldy lettuce. (You’ll get that reference in a minute.) That led to a whole new direction, and one you'll appreciate!

Many of us now approaching potentially “itchy” times are finding out where the gaps were in our sexual education. We were taught the sex = unintended pregnancy and STDs version of human sexuality, and now, with the stress and physical changes of fertility treatment, having sex can start to feel like a job — one we don’t remember signing up for and desperately need a vacation from.

Women’s sexuality in particular is hugely overlooked and under-discussed. Did you know the clitoris looks like a wishbone (oh, the irony…)? Why does the clitoris keep getting lost and rediscovered? Have we ever “lost” the penis and had to rediscover it? (spoiler: no.) Here’s another jaw-dropper: only 30% of those with vaginas orgasm from having a penis put in them. 

As Dr. Casperson says, it’s not necessarily true that those with vaginas don’t like sex — it’s far more likely they just don’t like the sex they’re having. And that can usually be fixed.

In this episode, Dr. Casperson talks with Ruby and Anne about how couples can work together toward good, satisfying, enjoyable sex. As the doc says, you don’t say, “I don’t like movies” when you only watch horror films, right? So maybe it’s time to try some different varieties.

Dr. Kelly Casperson is a board certified urologist and a founding member of Pacific Northwest Urology Specialists in Bellingham, Washington. She is an expert in comprehensive urology care, treating all genders for a wide range of conditions. She also specializes in urogynecology including things like stress urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, vaginal atrophy related to menopause, and sexual health. 

Be sure to check out Dr. Casperson’s podcast, You Are Not Broken. Find her on her website: kellycaspersonmd.com and order her book! You Are Not Broken: Stop “Should-ing All Over Your Sex Life

As always, please rate, review, and share The Whole Pineapple (AND You Are Not Broken) and find out more about our hosts at thewholepineapple.com. 

Phew! Ruby, Anne, and counselor Suzi Mohn are going to fix All The Things today, so the rest of us can relax by the pool.

OK, maybe not, but they certainly can help, so listen up!

Today’s question is: How can you support your partner in a difficult fertility journey?

Often, the one who will not be carrying the baby feels a little helpless and useless during the process. (For ease of communication, we’ll call this person “the partner.”) Partners want to support the one who will bear the child, but they don’t know how, and it seems everything they say gets tangled up with all the big emotions and the hormones and does nobody any good.

Though attention generally focuses on the one hoping to get pregnant, partners are suffering too. They’re sad and scared and hurting, but their attempts to help are perhaps a bit clumsy because they often can’t understand the ramifications of fertility treatment on the body, the heart, and the psyche. 

And the one going through the fertility treatments may not have the time or language or mental space to teach their partner how to help.

Because of this, a couple of Suzi’s therapy groups undertook the task of creating a list — a list of what those hoping to carry a child wanted to hear so that their partners could truly be as supportive as they wanted to be. 

All the points on the list are powerful and valid. Here are some of the highlights:

“Tell me you love me and know why I’m sad.”

“Share with me your vision of our child.”

Take my fears and doubts seriously, but also remind me that we're a team and we'll work this out.”

If you want someone to climb into the cab and stare at the ground with you (and that’ll make a lot more sense after you hear the episode), ask them to listen to this episode. Share with them the list (with your own additions and subtractions) to help open those critically important lines of communication and mutual support. 

You can find out more about Suzi Mohn and get her contact information at the HERE. You can find more from Ruby and Anne at thewholepineappple.com

Did you know: We can take cells from the outside of an embryo and test them? 

Formerly, “embryo biopsies” were done only if there was a risk of serious disease like cystic fibrosis. It wasn’t routinely done because taking a cell or two from an embryo that is only 8 cells brought with it the possibility of damaging the embryo.  

Nowadays, the cells are taken later and aren’t part of the inner cell mass that becomes the actual fetus. These cells still have the information embryologists are looking for (does it have the correct number of chromosomes), but the procedure doesn’t incur the same risk.

Why do it at all? This level of testing gives doctors and patients more information about the health of the embryo and its possibility of yielding a successful pregnancy.

Let’s talk about “assisted hatching” — it may make Anne and Ruby think of Austin Powers, but come on, Jurassic Park, right? Remember the dino egg hatching during the tour? 

These days, assisted hatching is done with a laser on Day 3 (it used to be done with acid and THE EMBRYOLOGIST’S MOUTH). Basically, the idea is to create a tiny hole in the “shell” so cells can ooze out during development and be collected for testing. Rest assured, hatching is a normal part of the process of implantation, laser-wielding Embryologist or no. 

For more fascinating science (and movie references), you really need to listen to this episode. It’s seriously jaw-dropping how far we’ve come in fertility treatment.

 Get more information on Julia, Ruby, Anne, fertility, Embryology, and treatment at www.seattlefertility.com. And learn more of the amazing science of fertility at thewholepineapple.com.

Find more information in these previous episodes:

[Bonus] Snack 56.5: What is PGT?

Episode 29: My Embryos are Mosaic? Interpreting Your PGT Results

“Infertility” and “Humor” don’t really seem like they go together, at least not if you’re going through fertility struggles or care about someone who is. But in this episode, Ruby and Anne and their guest Meirav Zur take us on a tour of the absurd side of fertility and fertility treatment.

Meirav Zur is an actor, producer, writer, and humorist who has dealt with unexplained infertility. As someone who communicates for a living, she was surprised to find herself so unable and unwilling to talk about the situation she was in. 

When she was finally ready and able to share, her friends encouraged her to turn her experience into a show. A year later, she shared her personal, private, impossible-to-talk-about experience with a room full of strangers with Inconceivable: The Totally True One-Woman Semi-Fertile Quasi-“Musical.”

Like many others have said on this podcast, fertility challenges are just too hard to talk about. The feelings of shame and embarrassment that haunt couples mean that we don’t talk about it even with our closest friends and family, leaving people to struggle alone. 

But that has to change, and sharing shows like Inconceivable can be a way of breaking the ice and normalizing what is, after all, a very common experience. (Hint: sharing this podcast works too…)

Check out Meirav Zur and see excerpts from shows on her website, meiravzur.com. And get more Pineapple episodes from Ruby and Anne at thewholepineapple.com. Please rate, review, and share, and help more folks join the conversation here at The Whole Pineapple.

Imagine this: you’re standing in the Italian countryside when a tanker truck goes by. You catch a whiff of something odiferous, but it can’t be… or could it be? Is that truck full of pee?

It turns out we can thank some happy accidents, chance encounters, hamsters, and the urine from hundreds of Catholic nuns for our modern fertility medicine. Why and how? In today’s episode, we’re looking back in time for the stories behind the pharmaceuticals.  

Who discovered hormones? How was Clomid first synthesized? When and how were injectables introduced? And do we really share the same steroid receptors as sea sponges, jellyfish & worms? (Hint: Yes, yes we do). If you’re curious where your medicine comes from, buckle up for a wild ride!

References:

Letrozole for Female Infertility - PMC (nih.gov)

The strange story of a fertility drug made with the Pope’s blessing and gallons of nun urine — Quartz (qz.com)

Microsoft Word - s015approval.doc (fda.gov)

Follistim - Food and Drug Administration

The strange story of a fertility drug made with the Pope’s blessing and gallons of nun urine - Quartz

Microsoft Word - 2_9.docx (nih.gov)

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(17)31697-7/fulltext

https://www.worldscientific.com/doi/abs/10.1142/S2661318219500026

https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(12)02308-4/fulltext

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4769851/

https://www.rbmojournal.com/article/S1472-6483(10)60937-6/pdf

For a very long time, scientists and fertility experts believed overweight or obese bodies had a harder time getting or staying pregnant.

Lots of would-be parents went on strict diets or adopted difficult life-style changes in the hopes of achieving and maintaining a healthy pregnancy. And many fertility clinics wouldn't perform IVF until the potential parent's BMI dropped below a specific threshold.

Was it worth it? 

Maybe not, say Ruby and Anne. Large-scale, randomized studies seem to show no particular benefit in dropping X% of your body weight.

In this short snack, our experts take a look at some new studies and sum up for us what this new information appears to indicate.

You're going to want to hear this. And if you know someone else who could benefit, we ask that you please share.

References:

https://www.asrm.org/globalassets/asrm/asrm-content/news-and-publications/practice-guidelines/for-non-members/obesity_and_reproduction.pdf

https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(22)00271-0/pdf

https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282(22)00379-X/pdf

Note: This episode contains news on the future of The Whole Pineapple podcast, so be sure to tune in!

There’s a difference between “letting go” and “giving up,” right? 

Giving up is relinquishing control; letting go is making the decision that this path isn’t serving you right now and it’s time to make a change.

But even if letting go is your decision, it isn’t necessarily easy or painless.

In this very special snack, Ruby joins Anne and Jamie to talk about balloons and balls and dandelions and whirligigs in a way that we promise will make sense when you hear it. And they remind us that letting go of something that isn’t working leaves a hand free to take hold of something else.

And of course, the discussion is followed by Jamie’s gorgeous voice giving us the peace to let go, even if just for this moment.

As ever, find more meditations and more information at thewholepineapple.com, and find more from Jamie at soundcounseling.org.

Your average drugstore or grocery store holds a dizzying array of supplements. Gummies versus pills, this brand versus that, one-a-day versus as-needed, and don't get us started on the dosage discrepancies.

The FDA doesn't regulate nutritional supplements the way it does medications, even though some ingredients in supplements can have profound affects on the body. 

When it comes to your fertility or your health in general, how do you know which one(s) to choose?

In this episode, Ruby and Anne talk with Dr. Sarah de la Torre, a board-certified OB-GYN who has worked in private practice for over 16 years. 

A medical and wellness consultant for over 7 years, Dr. de la Torre is an ACLM Board Certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician and has specialized training in Functional Medicine. 

She joined SRM in 2019 and has been a leader in launching and developing our Wellness program, which has been a huge success and benefit to our patients here at SRM as well as those referred from clinicians outside our practice.    

Links:

Dietary Supplement Label Database

NSF

FDA Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) Regulations

Consumer Reports: How to Choose Supplements Wisely 

True Label Program

International Fish Oil Standards / International Krill Oil Standards

Marine Stewardship Counsel 

Certified Vegan 

“A tendency to cause trouble” – over history, there have been LOTS of “definitions” of hysteria. Usually from men, starting in the 5th Century BC with Hippocrates. (You’ve heard of the Hippocratic Oath? Yeah. That guy.) Ahem.

If you’re like us, the least mention of hysteria in regards to those who identify as women really gets the hackles up. Outdated and untrue though it may be, it’s still a problem: This notion of women being "hysterical" underpins much of women’s struggles to get their issues recognized, respected, studied, and treated. 

So in this episode, Ruby and Anne take apart these notions of women and hysteria, that great uber-diagnosis that explained All The Things. Except it didn’t.

Though the episode is genuinely hilarious (note the purposeful avoidance of ‘hysterical’ in reference to ha ha funny), it’s an important issue – women often aren’t diagnosed or are mis-diagnosed for YEARS, causing not just undue suffering, but also allowing disease progression and potentially triggering inappropriate self-medicating, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. 

So listen to the episode, laugh along with the hosts and the ludicrous ideas that “science” has held about women’s bodies. Then gird your loins, gals, and be ready to advocate for yourself when remnants of that old “hysteria” idea creep into modern life. Menopause is NOT all in your head, heart attacks look different in women, cramps shouldn’t be debilitating, and any medical professional who says "just deal with it" for flooding periods can f- uh, find a more suitable profession.

Looking for more great information? Find Ruby and Anne and their catalog of episodes on your favorite podcast app and at https://thewholepineapple.com/. 

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3480686/ 

(Women And Hysteria In The History Of Mental Health - PMC (nih.gov))

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780128017722000011

(A brief history of hysteria: From the ancient to the modern - ScienceDirect)

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/the-controversy-of-female-hysteria#Vibrators-for-hysteria?

https://www.wired.com/2014/05/fantastically-wrong-wandering-womb/

https://bpr.berkeley.edu/2021/08/10/the-lingering-effects-of-female-hysteria-in-medicine/ 

https://www.themedicalcareblog.com/female-hysteria-womens-health-disparities/

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/high-court-lets-alabama-sex-toy-ban-stand/ 

https://muse.jhu.edu/article/562915/summary

Here is where you can read The Yellow Wallpaper

https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1952/1952-h/1952-h.htm

Family building is complicated no matter who you are. But for queer and trans families, there are some unique hurdles. So what can you do to make sure your family feels protected? 

On today’s short snack, we welcome back Lara Hayden (she/they), MSW LICSW, to talk about some of the legal specifics of LGBTQIA+ family building. What legal issues should LGBTQIA+ folks think about when beginning a family building journey? What resources are out there? What are the options and protections around sperm donations? Even though legal issues often make us think about worst case scenarios, for Lara, the goal is to be prepared, not scared!

Mentioned in this episode:

National Center for Lesbian Rights

More about Lara:

Lara Hayden (she/they) is a long time Puget Sound resident and a licensed independent clinical social worker. Lara works with LGBTQIA+ folks looking to grow their families, providing 1:1 education and care coordination, support groups, and second parent adoption home study reports. In addition to work with queer and trans families, Lara has worked for over a decade providing clinical care and program management in community health, including pediatric gender-affirming care, adolescent medicine, chronic illness case management, HIV case management, and student health programs. Lara also offers clinical supervision, consultation, and training to other professionals looking to learn to better support LGBTQIA+ families.

Find Lara at Courageous Constellations.