The Hormone Genius Podcast

What if your menstrual cycle could tell you something important about your health—just like your blood pressure, heart rate, or other vital signs?

In this episode of The Hormone Genius Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Pearl Huang Ramirez, a family medicine physician, fertility awareness-based medicine advocate, and founding member of FACTS About Fertility, to talk about one of the most overlooked tools in women’s healthcare: the menstrual cycle.

Dr. Pearl shares her own journey of discovering fertility awareness-based methods during medical school, at a time when she realized that medical education had given her very little understanding of natural fertility or cycle biomarkers. That discovery eventually led her to Creighton medical consultant training and to helping other physicians understand how fertility awareness can be incorporated into real-world medical care.

Together, we explore why the cycle can be considered a vital sign of health and what clinicians can learn by paying attention to biomarkers such as cervical mucus, basal body temperature, cycle phases, bleeding patterns, and luteal phase length.

We discuss what charting patterns may reveal about conditions such as PCOS, progesterone insufficiency, abnormal bleeding, endometriosis and other hormonal concerns, and why understanding the cycle can help clinicians move beyond simply suppressing symptoms toward asking what may be happening underneath them.

Dr. Pearl also explains the powerful partnership between medical professionals and fertility awareness educators. Physicians don't have to do everything themselves. A trained fertility awareness instructor or hormone coach can spend the time teaching women how to observe and chart their cycles, while clinicians can use that information to guide evaluation, laboratory testing and individualized treatment.

And for the medical students, nurse practitioners, physicians and other healthcare professionals, listeningwe talk about an incredible opportunity to learn more.

🩺 FACTS About Fertility

The FACTS Student Elective: FABMs for Family Planning and Women's Healthcare provides medical students and students in other health professions with education in evidence-based fertility awareness methods, female cycle physiology, chart interpretation and the integration of FABMs into women's healthcare. The elective is primarily online and can be completed in two-week blocks or as a four-week course. It is accredited through Georgetown University School of Medicine.

👉 Learn about the FACTS Student Elective:
FACTS Student Elective

💻 FACTS 2026 Virtual Conference

And if you're a healthcare professional who wants to learn more, mark your calendar for the FACTS 2026 Virtual Conference, happening November 20–21, 2026.

The virtual conference is designed for medical and health professionals, residents, medical students, health-profession students and fertility educators. It offers an opportunity to learn from experts in fertility awareness, restorative reproductive medicine, women's health and fertility—and participate from wherever you are.

Early-bird registration is currently available through October 15, 2026, with reduced rates for medical professionals, residents/FABM educators/general attendees and students. CME credit is also available.

👉 Register or learn more about the FACTS Virtual Conference:
FACTS 2026 Virtual Conference

his podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to replace individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your qualified healthcare provider regarding your personal health and medical care.

WonderCow is running a Labor Day Sale! Don't miss out and go this this link https://affiliates.wondercow.com/HORMONEGENIUS.

We recently recorded an episode with Erica Diebersloot of Wonder Cow, who is three months postpartum with her fifth child. The conversation centered around her postpartum experience, breastfeeding, colostrum, nutrition, and practical strategies for managing motherhood and a large family. Erica shared that she has experienced a particularly smooth postpartum recovery, which she attributes in part to prioritizing a nutrient-dense diet, supplements such as beef liver, postnatal vitamins and colostrum, and making sleep a priority. She also discussed using gentle sleep-training strategies and shared that her baby began sleeping through the night around six weeks.

A particularly interesting part of the conversation was our discussion about breastfeeding and the remarkable biological communication between mother and baby. Erica highlighted the feedback loop that occurs during breastfeeding, where a baby's latch and interaction with the breast can communicate information to the mother's body and help support the production of immune components and antibodies that meet the baby's needs. We also discussed why colostrum is often called "liquid gold," including its distinctive golden color and concentrated nutritional and immune-supportive properties. Erica noted that components of colostrum can continue to be present in breast milk even months postpartum.

The conversation also included some practical and creative uses for breast milk that Erica has incorporated into family life. She shared using it topically for things such as diaper rash and poison oak, as well as using it as a natural facial cream. She has also added breast milk to smoothies for older children as an additional nutritional and immune-supportive boost.

Motherhood, Large-Family Life & Practical Strategies

Erica emphasized that one of the keys to managing motherhood is learning to be present while also accepting personal limitations. Rather than trying to do everything perfectly, she shared practical strategies that help make life with a large family more manageable. These included keeping pre-boiled eggs available for a quick source of protein, teaching older children how to prepare simple meals and take on more responsibility, and creating what she calls a "Breastfeeding Basket." The basket contains a rotating selection of special toys that are brought out specifically during breastfeeding sessions, giving toddlers something engaging to do while Mom feeds the baby.

These practical conversations helped reinforce the broader message of the episode: supporting women during pregnancy, postpartum, breastfeeding, and motherhood requires not only good nutrition but also realistic strategies that make healthy choices more sustainable within the demands of everyday family life.

Medical Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

What if preparing for pregnancy started months before you ever saw a positive test?

In this episode of Hormone Genius, Theresa and Jamie dive into the often-overlooked world of preconception health and why preparing your body for pregnancy shouldn't begin after conception—it should begin before.

We start with the “fifth vital sign”: your menstrual cycle. Your period, cervical mucus, ovulation, and luteal phase can provide valuable clues about your reproductive health. Learn the three simple things to start watching in your cycle and why understanding your body's natural fertility signs can be such a powerful first step.

Then we move beyond the cycle and talk about building a healthy foundation for both women and men, including:

• Why giving yourself at least three months to prepare can be valuable
• The role of whole foods and the Mediterranean-style approach to nutrition
• Key nutrients to consider, including folate, iron, iodine, vitamin D, choline, omega-3s, selenium, and zinc
• Why thyroid, metabolic health, hormones, and nutrient status deserve attention
• Egg and sperm health—and why the months before conception matter
• The potential roles of CoQ10, DHEA, and other targeted approaches for certain individuals
• Why your partner's health matters just as much as yours
• Sleep, exercise, stress, and environmental exposures
• Simple ways to reduce unnecessary exposure to plastics, fragrances, and other household chemicals
• Why dental and medication reviews belong on your preconception checklist
• What to consider if you've recently stopped hormonal birth control

Most importantly, we talk about hope without blame. If you've struggled to conceive, “just relax” isn't helpful—and fertility challenges deserve compassion, understanding, and appropriate care.

Medical Disclaimer

The information shared in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every person and pregnancy is unique. Always consult with your qualified healthcare professional regarding your individual health, medications, supplements, fertility, and pregnancy-related questions

What if your menstrual cycle wasn't just about fertility, but was actually revealing something profound about your health, your identity, and even your purpose?

In this inspiring episode, we welcome Caitlin Estes, fertility care practitioner, founder of Woven Natural Fertility Care, and author of Woven Well. Caitlin shares how her own journey into fertility awareness transformed the way she understood the female body—not simply as a biological system, but as a beautiful design that speaks to a woman's dignity, health, and capacity for relationship.

Together, we explore why understanding the menstrual cycle is about so much more than tracking fertility. Caitlin explains how hormones are not problems to suppress but important messengers that reveal overall health. Rather than viewing the body as something to "fix" or optimize, women can learn to appreciate the wisdom built into their cycles and seek care that addresses root causes instead of masking symptoms.

The conversation also dives into the growing movement toward restorative reproductive medicine and why more women are searching for alternatives to hormonal birth control when dealing with painful periods, PCOS, irregular cycles, or infertility. Caitlin shares powerful stories from women whose lives were transformed, not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually, when they began understanding their bodies through fertility awareness.

We also discuss the importance of community, education, and honest conversations between women. Whether you're a teenager learning about your cycle for the first time, a mother raising daughters, navigating infertility, or simply wanting to better understand your hormones, this episode offers encouragement and hope.

You'll walk away with a renewed appreciation for the incredible design of the female body and practical inspiration to begin paying closer attention to what your hormones are communicating every month.

In this episode you'll learn:

Why your menstrual cycle is a vital sign of health
The difference between suppressing symptoms and treating root causes
How fertility awareness empowers women in every stage of life
The connection between physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being
Why conversations about women's health can change future generations

Join us for this thoughtful conversation celebrating the beauty, purpose, and extraordinary design of every woman's Hormone Genius.

Woven Well: A Christian Woman’s Guide to Reproductive Health, Fertility, and Wholeness
Wovenfertility.com
@wovenfertility - Instagram and YouTube
Substack: Woven Fertility

Also, check out Teresa Kenney WHNP's book as a great Combo for every young woman in your life! The Happy Girls Guide to Being Whole
https://lumenpress.org/product/the-happy-girls-guide-to-being-whole/

Medical disclaimer: The information presented in this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for actual medical advice from a doctor, or any medical professional.

In this thought-provoking episode, we sit down with Dr. Sarah Hill to explore the far-reaching effects of hormonal birth control, not just on the body, but on the brain, relationships, and a woman’s lived experience of the world.

Dr. Hill shares how her research was sparked by a deeply personal moment: after discontinuing hormonal birth control in her early thirties, she was struck by a profound shift in how she experienced life. Colors felt brighter, music more moving, and everyday moments more meaningful. This transformation led her to question what might be lost when the natural hormonal rhythm is suppressed.

Together, we unpack the idea that hormonal birth control creates a kind of “black and white” internal landscape, flattening the natural peaks and valleys of the menstrual cycle. While this can offer predictability and convenience, it may also dampen the richness and intensity that hormones naturally bring to a woman’s emotional and sensory world. This conversation places that trade-off within a broader cultural context, where modern life often prioritizes ease and instant gratification, sometimes at the cost of depth and meaning.

A major focus of the episode is the adolescent brain. Dr. Hill highlights how little we truly understand about the impact of hormonal birth control during the critical window of development between ages 12 and 19. This is a time when the brain is undergoing significant remodeling, guided in part by natural hormonal signals. Emerging research raises important questions about how altering those signals might influence long-term mental health and development. While animal studies suggest measurable changes to brain structure, human data points to a potential association between adolescent use and increased risk of depression later in life. Still, many questions remain unanswered, making this an area in urgent need of further study.

We also explore the fascinating connection between hormones and attraction. Natural hormonal shifts across the menstrual cycle subtly shape preferences, especially around ovulation, when estrogen peaks. During this time, women may be more drawn to cues associated with genetic compatibility. Hormonal birth control suppresses these fluctuations, potentially influencing patterns of attraction in ways that are often invisible but meaningful. For some women, this can translate into changes in relationship dynamics over time, though experiences vary widely.

At the heart of this conversation is a call to awareness. Rather than framing hormonal birth control as simply good or bad, Dr. Hill encourages women to understand it as a powerful intervention with real trade-offs. Hormones are not arbitrary they are part of an intricate system that shapes how women think, feel, and connect.

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The information presented in HGP is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for actual medical or mental health advice from a doctor, or any other medical or mental health professional.