Listen now!
Fertility preservation for those undergoing gender-affirming transition is an important area of reproductive medicine. In this episode, Anne and Ruby are talking with Dr. Lynn Davis about how fertility options may be dependent on age, the gametes involved (i.e. sperm or eggs) and the stage of gender-affirming care.
A diagnosis of cancer or other serious condition is bad enough — dealing with tests, treatments, insurance, uncertainty, as well as the illness — but knowing that the condition or its treatments can also cause infertility…. It just feels so horribly unfair.
The good news is for many, that diagnosis doesn’t have to equal the end of fertility. The landscape for patients has changed. In this episode, Ruby and Anne talk with fellow Seattle Reproductive Medicine provider and reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Lynn Davis about options for preserving fertility.
The founder of Rosefinch Health, Dr. Lee is an award-winning doctor of acupuncture and a leader in the field of integrative reproductive medicine. She blends compassionate care with over two decades of clinical experience specializing in fertility, IVF support, pelvic and vulvovaginal pain, and cancer-related support.
In this episode, we hear from OL Reign players Lu Barnes and Nikki Stanton on the joys and challenges of being a professional athlete.
As nutrition often isn’t included in fertility advice or treatment in many places (looking at YOU, USA), this episode can be particularly useful for those who want to optimize their health and physical condition to support a healthy pregnancy.
In this episode, Ruby and Anne talk with Dr. Amy Criniti, another member of the Seattle Reproductive Medicine team, about some of the questions (and myths) out there about ectopic pregnancies.
What do you do when you’re facing so much, and the one person you turn to in difficult times is dealing with their own concerns? What do you do when the person who is usually a big part of your solution is suddenly a big part of your problem? (or so you think…)
Content warning: there are mentions of abortion, incest, and rape in this episode.
Advocacy is on the menu for today’s episode — and to quote our Season One guest Lara Hayden in episode 13, listen up to learn how we can all “be prepared, not scared.”
Content Warning: This episode focuses on pregnancy loss and termination of pregnancy for medical reasons. If you’re not in the right headspace to hear this episode, we suggest you skip ahead and come back if and when you’re ready. Please take care of you.
Worst-case scenarios suck. There’s no way around that. But one way to make it suck slightly less is to be sure everyone involved is invited into the tough conversation about termination of pregnancy (TOP) for medical reasons. When the bad news is fresh is a really tough time to make a decision; having a planned path can at least remove some of the pressure.
In this episode, Dr. Casperson talks with Ruby and Anne about how couples can work together toward good, satisfying, enjoyable sex. As the doc says, you don’t say, “I don’t like movies” when you only watch horror films, right? So maybe it’s time to try some different varieties.
Content Warning: There is discussion of animal testing some listeners may find difficult.
So, what actually happens in the lab with the sperm and eggs and embryos? Well, life in the lab has changed as technology has evolved.
Seven long years and nine devastating losses before finally having a daughter inspired Mollie to help military and first responders with family building. Why this population in particular? First, her daughter’s story includes ties to the military, and second, this population tends to suffer infertility at higher rates than civilians. And often fertility treatments — even for our military and first responders — are not covered (or fully covered) by insurance.
Many people believe that pelvic floor issues are limited to people who have had multiple pregnancies, but that’s just not true. Everyone can benefit from being in tune with that part of their body and checking with a PT for the right way to keep the pelvic floor healthy (hint: not just Kegels, and NOT CRUNCHES).
Using Humor to Cope with Infertility with Meirav Zur
Ruby and Anne are having this critical nature/nurture conversation with Kent Thornburg, PhD, Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, School of Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU).
Is sperm from sex “donated”? Welcome to a crossover episode with podcaster Ellen Trachman, host of I Want to Put a Baby in You. Lawyer by trade, reproductive technology advocate at heart, Ellen Trachman is the founder and managing attorney at Trachman Law Center LLC.
In this episode, Ruby and Anne are talking with one of SRM’s genetic counselors: Rachel Donnell. Rachel is a certified genetic counselor with 7 years of clinical experience in the infertility setting and a whole lot of experience explaining genetics and genetic testing to patients.
In this conversation with Dr. Kristen Chambliss, Ruby, Anne, and Dr. Chambliss tackle many of the misconceptions rooted in our culture when it comes to a diversity of neurotypes.
Luckily we have two experts from the nonprofit organization Family Equality here to talk about the hard work their organization is doing to move toward both legal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ families. In this week’s episode we are chatting with Shelbi Day and Rebecca Willman.
Ruby and Anne take apart these notions of women and hysteria, that great uber-diagnosis that explained All The Things. Except it didn’t.
What a year it’s been! So much has happened in 2022, and Ruby, Anne, and The Whole Pineapple team are so grateful you’ve shared it with us. This podcast began with the idea of sharing the science behind fertility treatments and overall wellness, and the team are all thrilled with how it’s grown and where it’s headed in 2023.
Today we’re talking research! But don’t “change the channel” — you’re going to find this both fascinating and easy to digest.
In this conversation with Eleanor Stevenson, PhD, RN, FAAN, Ruby and Anne talk about the science behind fertility and why it’s so important to patient safety and outcomes to keep up with the science.
Why is counseling necessary? As Ruby, Anne, and Melanie discuss, all fertility treatment can be an emotional roller coaster for the hopeful parents. And with third-party donation, it’s important for everyone involved to understand the process and repercussions and be prepared for the emotional journey.
Dr. Will Bulsiewicz (hereafter “Dr. B”) is a clinician, researcher, author, gut health expert, and Ruby and Anne’s guest for episode 22.
If you’re operating under the belief that fibrous foods taste about as good as the paper Dr. B’s books are written on, listen on. There’s so much good here, in information AND flavor.
Grief Coach Wendy Sloneker spoke with Ruby and Anne about why we need help, what that support can look like, and where to find it.
In this episode, hosts Ruby Booras and Anne Judge talk with reproductive specialist Dr. Lora Shahine about the many causes of pregnancy loss — and the many reasons to hope.
Anatomy, genetics, environment, physical health: there are so many factors that can lead to pregnancy loss.
Registered Dietitian Rachelle Mallik gets questions about gluten and dairy A LOT, and those who have PCOS or are having challenges with fertility may have some reason to ask.
But mostly, there’s just a lot of misinformation out there when it comes to food and nutrition. In this episode, hosts Ruby and Anne, and guest Rachelle are demystifying food and fertility so listeners are able to make better-informed decisions.
Ruby and Anne talk with Regina about her path to parenthood and the extra burdens and barriers she faced as a Black woman.
In this episode of The Whole Pineapple, Ruby and Anne talk with Dr. Ioan Hanes about sex, the human sexual response, and the need to talk more openly about sex and human biology in general.
Because so many uterine issues may not present with symptoms — or the symptoms may disguise themselves as irregular periods or other variability — many people don’t realize there’s a problem until they have difficulty conceiving or carrying a pregnancy.
What can go wrong? What symptoms might you be experiencing? How can problems be addressed? Anne, Ruby, and Dr. Lin tackle the big concerns that can make fertility a real challenge.
In this episode, Ruby and Anne talk with Dr. Johnson about the historical and continuing disparities in health care and how we might understand and solve them.
Periods can be a pain, disrupting your plans, pimpling your face, and REALLY messing with your moods.
But if they’re causing a lot of actual pelvic pain, or if the pain is persistent and not only cyclical, that may indicate a problem that’s more than “normal” cramps.
Lara is a licensed independent clinical social worker who’s passionate about working with LGBTQIA+ folks looking to grow their families. In their conversation, Lara, Ruby, and Anne discuss the importance of harm reduction and investing in health equity work, knowing that it benefits all patients. They talk about the range of experiences people have surrounding gender affirming hormones and fertility, and how we can preserve queer and trans joy in the family building process. And they have notes for navigating sperm banks, good questions for LGBTQIA+ folks to ask a potential fertility clinic, how fertility clinics can be safer and more inclusive, how fertility journeys can be more comfortable, and how to see through the rainbow washing.
In today’s conversation, Ruby, Anne, and Jaimie dig into the nuances of queer parenting and fertility journeys – from trips to the clinic, to donor siblings, to decisions about where to get sperm, to insurance coverage biases. It’s informative, honest, and funny, all rolled together.
What can you expect from a urology visit? What can a semen analysis tell you? Is there actually a correlation between sperm count and virility? What should you eat to optimize penile and sperm health? What should you do if you’re experiencing erectile dysfunction? There’s a load to talk about.
In today’s episode, we’re looking back in time for the stories behind the pharmaceuticals.
Who discovered hormones? How was Clomid first synthesized? When and how were injectables introduced?
There used to be lead in lipstick? REALLY?? In this episode, learn what substances may be affecting your health and the health of your family. And learn steps you can take to make your environment healthier.
Dr. Natalia Grob is an expert on endocrine disrupting chemicals, the effects of environmental toxins on fertility and overall health, and how we can all make healthier consumer choices.
In this episode, Ruby and Anne talk with Dr. Michelle Tollefsen about food, fertility, and overall wellness.
Dr. Michelle Tollefson is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist in Denver, CO, and a Professor in the Health Professions Department at Metropolitan State University of Denver where she created and oversees the Lifestyle Medicine Program and the Wellness Coaching and Lifestyle Medicine Pathway.
If you’ve had fertility treatment, chances are you filled out some sort of intake form that asked questions about the foods you eat, how much you sleep, medications you take, and so on.
Did any of those forms ask about eating disorders?
Turns out, asking about eating disorders is really important – always – but especially when it comes to fertility. Nutrition and overall health are certainly reasons to ask about eating habits, but there are also questions of control, body dysmorphia, fear of weight gain, and even an over-emphasis on healthy eating that can lead to disordered eating.
Insights on Functional Medicine & supplements with Sarah de la Torre
What exactly are “insulin resistance” and “metabolic wellness,” and why are they part of a fertility discussion?
In this episode, Anne and Ruby tackle these topics with expert Brea Seaburg.
Yoga has come a long way from a bit of a “fringe” activity to a popular way to get and stay fit. But can it help with fertility?
In this episode, Ruby, Anne and guest Dr. Nichole Barker demystify that first visit: when it’s time to make the appointment, what will likely happen at the clinic, how you can prepare beforehand, and more.
A little stress isn’t a bad thing: it can motivate us to do what needs to be done.
But too much stress is definitely NOT good — not for our sleep, mood, life choices, health, or fertility.
In this episode, Ruby and Anne talk with Jamie Mammenga, MS, LMHC, and mental health provider at Seattle Reproductive Medicine, about how to manage stress for better health.
How did pineapples become a symbol of infertility?
In this first episode, Nurse Practitioners and fertility experts Ruby Booras and Anne Judge talk about how this fruit and fertility came to be associated, and do you have to eat the chewy core to help IVF be more successful?
The Whole Pineapple is about helping would-be parents optimize their health and wellness, for themselves and for the family they hope to build.
Ruby Booras (DNP, ARNP, FNP-BC, DipACLM/DipIBLM, she/they) and Anne Judge (DNP, ARNP, WHNP-BCare, she/her) know a lot about fertility and wellness.
And they want to help you be as ready as possible when it’s time to start or extend your family.
Meet the team who will share information on physical and emotional wellness, including nutrition, exercise, sleep, stress, and more — all viewed through the lens of fertility.
Coming soon! Every week Ruby & Anne will dive into in-depth conversations with experts about nutrition, exercise, sleep, hormones, and so much more.