Many people think that when you are discussing fertility, that you are focusing just on the parts of your body and life that result in the creation of a baby. However, that is not the case with Whole Body Fertility.
If you Google the definition of fertility, this is what you will find:
fer·til·i·ty (/fərˈtilədē/) noun noun: fertility
- the quality of being fertile; productiveness.
- the ability to conceive children or young.
When I speak of fertility, I am referring to the first definition much more frequently than the second. And here’s why.
Your body is made up of multiple different systems. The one that I focus on with my clients is the endocrine system. The endocrine system is the collection of glands that produce hormones that regulate metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep, and mood among other things.
As you can see, the endocrine system affects many areas of your life. And when your endocrine system is not properly maintained, fertility fails in every area of your life. Your productiveness falls, your metabolism slows down, your sleep cycles become erratic, mood swings become much more frequent, your whole life seems to be slowly spinning out of control.
Whole Body Fertility encompasses every part of your health: mental, emotional, dietary, sleep, menstrual cycles, hydration, self-care, any and every part of caring for your health. Routine doctor visits (dentist, general practitioner, gynecologist), exercise, therapist appointments if needed, medication, and so many more items. Whole Body Fertility focuses on the WHOLE BODY.
How Does Your Period Tie Into Whole Body Fertility?
Most of us deal with it every month. We’ve given it names like Aunt Flo and Wicked Witch. Some of us dread “that time of the month” for a variety of reasons.
The most frequent ones I have heard are:
- The cramps!
- Mood swings
- The mess
- Inconvenience
What if I were to tell you that your diet and self-care routine can either improve or worsen these problems?
Our bodies are made up of multiple different cycles and systems, as we discussed in the last section. And each of these cycles and systems rely on the others to function optimally. So logically, if one piece of the puzzle goes awry, it’s safe to assume that the others will, right?
Imagine that this is how our inner systems work together. The teeth on the gears interlock and that’s what makes each cycle move. Imagine that one of those teeth break. The entire system starts to fall apart.
Our menstrual cycles can be a great indicator of when a tooth has broken or is close to breaking. The most effective way that I have found to monitor our cycles and to see what it is trying to tell us about our health is by applying the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM) of tracking. This includes monitoring your basal body temperature, cervical mucus, bleeds and also your cervical position if you choose to include it.
Your menstrual cycle can show you when you have a hormone imbalance, when your stress levels are too high, when your diet is out of wack, if you’re dehydrated, and so many more things!! I will break down the phases of your cycle in the next module and introduce you to FAM.
Disclaimer: If you are currently on hormonal birth control, you are NOT going to be able to rely on your cycles to tell you when there is a problem. Hormonal birth controls alter the levels of your hormones by introducing synthetic hormones into your system. (The Depo shot for instance introduces progestin into your system, which drops your other hormone levels to near menopausal levels. It’s effective at keeping you from getting pregnant, BUT it plays hell on your hormones and your overall health!) When you are on a hormonal birth control, even though you may have a “period” each month, it is not a true period but a withdrawal from the birth control’s hormones.
Self-Care and Whole Body Fertility
Self-care is one of the largest factors when it comes to being able to control your health. Some things are bigger than others and have more effect, but they all tie together.
One of the first and easiest steps is to make sure you attend your annual check up with your doctor. S/he will be able to answer questions you have about your cycle and health. Do not be afraid to ask questions!!
One of the first steps I give clients when they start working with me is to check their water intake. To find out how many ounces per day you should be drinking, take your weight and divide it in half. Look at your water bottles and divide that number by the number of ounces in the bottle. For example, if you weigh 153 lbs then your ounces per day is 76. If you drink a bottle with 16.9 ounces in it, then you should drink 4.5 to 5 bottles per day.
If you have your doctor run a vitamin screen, then taking the appropriate supplements is considered self-care. Taking time to pray or meditate is another form of self-care that can help to lower your stress levels. Healthy eating is also a form of self-care.
As you can see, all these forms of self-care can improve your health if they are practiced regularly. And vice versa, they can have a negative effect if they are not done regularly.
For a deeper look into Whole Body Fertility, join me in the Whole Body Fertility Course that launched June 3rd!
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Make sure you grab a copy of my FREE guide Trying To Conceive Language & my FREE Self-Care Mini Course. You can access either one by clicking on the title. These are packed full of information that you can begin implementing today to put yourself one step closer to getting pregnant, naturally.
If you’re looking for a group of like-minded women with which to share your fertility wellness journey, be sure to check out my Whole Body Fertility & Wellness Facebook group today!
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