I’ve had a few other guests on the podcast talking about the menstrual cycle and how it’s the fifth vital sign, as well as the impact oral contraception can have on the female body. I used to take the pill because it was easy and I didn’t want to fall pregnant. Today, I (and many other women in our program) use the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM). FAM is amazing. It helps you get in tune with your body and cycle, and you can use it to prevent pregnancy. Nina is a FAM and hormone coach. In a previous life, she was a middle school choir teacher, she has an amazing voice I made her sing on the podcast ?In this episode, Nina and I chat about:➡️Nina’s health journey➡️What is the Fertility Awareness Method (FAM)➡️What is the issue with hormonal birth control?➡️The issue with progestin (the synthetic version of progesterone)➡️The effects of IUDs➡️How do you do FAM➡️What ovulation looks like and why it's important ➡️How your cervix changes throughout your cycle➡️When is your fertile window➡️How your body temperature fluctuates throughout your cycle➡️Books and apps for FAMLINKSTake Nina's FAM Course and get 10% off with discount code Kitty10 ?  Get Course Fertility Awareness Training ? https://nourishedwithnina.com/famtraining/Follow Nina on Instagram ? nourishedwithninaFollow Kitty on Instagram ?  https://www.instagram.com/kittyblomfield/Join our 7 Day Eat More, Train Less, Get Results Challenge ?  https://www.nustrength.com.au/7D-challenge-V1Want to know more about our 16 week Winatlife Accelerator Program? ? Book your callSHOW NOTES06:22 - Nina background and past health struggles10:10 - What is Fertility Awareness Method (FAM)10:33 - Biomarkers that let us know when we can get pregnant and when we can't10:50 - Number of days when you can actually get pregnant11:10 - What's the issue of hormonal birth control?11:23 - The importance of ovulation12:00 - How estrogen affects our mood12:25 - Different forms of birth control13:11 - The issue with progestins - the synthetic version of progesterone13:59 - What happens when you don't make progesterone?15:42 - Coming off the pill17:12 - Different types of IUD's and how they affect the body18:39 - How does FAM work?20:43 - How your cervix changes throughout your cycle24:40 - Fertile window27:35 - Rise in the body temperature and when that happens29:54 - When is the window when you can have sex and not fall pregnant 33:08 - Tools, books, and apps for FAM34:41 - What tests do you recommend to check the hormone surge?35:25 - Ways to check if you're fertile