17 - Infertility While Using NFP: Why It’s So Hard - and What Helps

Are you navigating infertility or have questions about how to know if you're infertile? Are you struggling to know what to say to a friend who is navigating infertility? Are you tired of being told birth control is the only option and you're worried it may impact your health long-term? Bridget sits down with Mary Bruno, founder of White Lotus Blooming, Creighton Practitioner, and co-founder & Executive Director of the non-profit, FAbM Base, to discuss a topic that often gets overlooked or met with awkward silence out of fear of saying something wrong: infertility. Mary shares her own story, including her late diagnosis of endometriosis and her even later diagnosis of adenomyosis. Mary's late diagnoses inspired her to improve fertility awareness and they discuss the approach of "one size fits all" in women's health care, the power of women charting their cycles to uncover medical conditions that require treatment & care, changes to women's health care around this diagnosis, what to say to a friend navigating infertility, and so much more! Additional resources discussed: Fabmbase.org: https://fabmbase.org/resources/external-resources/#hfaq-post-711 White Lotus Blooming: https://marygbruno.wordpress.com/ “The Upside of Infertility” by Dr. Susan Caldwell: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.drsusancaldwell.com/post/the-upside-of-infertility&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1644962408670374&usg=AOvVaw35TrozFcdzjNb9QPKfSh0m Facts About Fertility: https://www.factsaboutfertility.org/ Interviewee bio: Mary grew up right outside of New Orleans and married a Southern Louisiana boy in 2013. After 12 years of severely painful periods, she was finally diagnosed with endometriosis, followed by an adenomyosis diagnosis 7 years later. Now infertile, she and her husband have a beautiful adopted daughter who is now 5 years old, and they are waiting to adopt again. Mary's late diagnoses inspired her to improve fertility awareness and women's health education and access through speaking, writing, and social media. She is a Creighton Practitioner, founder of Taking Back the Terms, and co-founder & Executive Director of the new non-profit organization, FAbM Base.