122. Understanding the Importance of the Menstrual Cycle and the Full-Body Short and Long Term Effects of The Pill with The Business of Birth Control and Dr. Nathan Riley, The Holistic OBGYN

So, how does hormonal birth control actually work? And, for that matter, what does “informed consent” really mean? In today’s episode, you’ll be plunged into a deeply educational discussion on the feminine hormonal cycle with my amazing (repeat!) guest, Dr. Nathan Riley. You’ll hear about many of the key hormone players in the dance of your natural rhythms, the societal forces that have historically laid shame on women’s sexuality and the true intelligent nature of your menstrual cycle. We also launch into a discussion on the incredibly important grassroots film, The Business of Birth Control, which you can stream at thebusinessof.life. Dr. Nathan Riley is an allopathic MD who is popularly known as The Holistic OBGYN. Dr. Nathan’s patient-centered approach in medicine is informed by his reverence for the human body, mind and spirit– a perspective that is unfortunately lost on the impersonal, business-centered hospital institutions of our world today. As an OBGYN and provider of Hospice and Palliative Care medicine, Dr. Nathan’s holistic practice is uniquely grounded in profound experiences of birth and death. As you’ll come to know in this episode, Dr. Nathan is wholeheartedly committed to understanding human physiology and helping his clients heal at the source rather than “medicating away” presented symptoms. If you missed it, I highly recommend tuning into Nathan’s first appearance on the show, Episode 89. If you love Nathan and his approach to wellness, go check out his podcast, The Holistic OBGYN Podcast, of which I am a subscriber and total fan. You can also learn more about Dr. Nathan at his website, belovedholistics.com or visit him on Instagram @nathanrileyobgyn. The information in this podcast is absolutely critical for all women (and men!) to know. Please share this episode with anyone who you think would benefit from true knowledge of the menstrual cycle, fertility and birth control. And if you’re looking to stream The Business of Birth Control with a discount, use Nathan’s code, “beloved50” at checkout. TIME STAMPS 00:08:18 Connecting With Authenticity 00:13:46 The Dehumanization Of Medicine 00:16:11 Defining “Informed Consent” 00:25:35 Episode 89 With Dr. Nathan Riley 00:26:23 The Business Of Being Born and the Business Of Birth Control 00:28:43 Episode 120 With Sara Charmoli 00:30:44 Synthetic Endocrine Disruptors 00:38:39 Amy’s Experience On The Pill 00:42:10 Menstruation As A Vital Sign 00:53:13 The Cyclical Nature Of The Feminine 00:58:03 Remnants Of Historical Shame 01:01:53 The Period As Your Personal Biotracker 01:03:02 Menstrual Cycle 101 01:07:22 How Birth Control Works 01:12:30 Cosmological Worship Of The Feminine 01:18:04 Nathan’s Thoughts on thebusinessof.life  01:27:09 Nathan’s Podcast