Brave & Curious with Dr Lora Shahine

What if inflammation is quietly affecting your fertility? What if the key to improving egg quality and hormonal balance isn't just medical treatment, but the everyday choices you make? And what if understanding your body earlier could change your entire fertility journey? 
In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine welcomes fertility specialist Dr. Natalie Crawford to explore how inflammation influences reproductive health and what women can do to support fertility from the inside out.
Dr. Natalie Crawford is the author of The Fertility Formula, and she is here to share how her own experience with infertility and pregnancy loss shaped her passion for empowering patients with science-based fertility education. 
Together, she and Dr. Shahine discuss the growing role of chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, environmental exposures, and lifestyle factors in fertility challenges. Dr. Crawford explains why fertility medicine often reacts too late in the process and why understanding hormones, ovarian reserve, and reproductive health earlier can help people advocate for themselves and make informed decisions.
In this episode you'll hear:
[2:32] Dr. Natalie Crawford's fertility journey
[7:00] Chronic inflammation and fertility
[20:59] Insulin resistance impacts hormones, ovulation, & egg quality
[26:34] The connection between stress, cortisol, and fertility outcomes
[28:09] Sleep is an important fertility-supporting habit
[32:41] Strength training to improve hormone health
[41:23] Nutrition basics that work
[48:25] Dr. Crawford's framework: Educate, Advocate, Optimize
[54:26] Connecting with Natalie

Resources mentioned: 
nataliecrawfordmd.com
As A Woman Podcast
@nataliecrawfordmd Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn | YouTube
 
Ep 157 Why Sleep is the Most Powerful Habit You Can't Ignore with Dr. Meredith Broderick



Dr. Shahine's Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations
Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
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This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

Are progesterone shots really necessary for a frozen embryo transfer? Why would your doctor recommend intramuscular injections over suppositories or other less painful options? And could the type of progesterone you use actually affect implantation, miscarriage risk, or live birth rates?
In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine explains the science behind progesterone support in frozen embryo transfer (FET) cycles, especially why intramuscular (IM) progesterone is often recommended in certain programmed cycle protocols. 
Dr. Shahine explains how progesterone supports implantation and early pregnancy, the key differences between programmed or medicated and natural or ovulatory FET protocols, and why not all progesterone options perform the same way. 
Listeners will learn how IM progesterone compares to other forms and when IM progesterone may meaningfully improve FET success. You'll get some practical guidance on how to talk with your doctor about choosing the right progesterone protocol for your body and your treatment plan. 
In this episode you'll hear:
[1:11] Progesterone shot fears
[2:30] Why progesterone matters
[4:22] Why supplement in treatment
[5:22] Programmed vs. ovulatory FET
[7:31] Progesterone options explained
[11:07] Landmark 2021 trial set up
[13:08] Results: live birth miscarriage
[15:14] Next steps
 
Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations
Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!
This episode was produced by Audiotocracy Podcast Production.

Are ovulation predictor kits enough to time intercourse? Can an app really tell you when you're fertile? And what if your body has been giving you the answers all along? 
In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine is talking to fertility awareness pioneer Dr. 
Are ovulation predictor kits enough to time intercourse? Can an app really tell you when you're fertile? And what if your body has been giving you the answers all along? 
In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine is talking to fertility awareness pioneer Toni Weschler, author of Taking Charge of Your Fertility, and her niece, software engineer, Sabrina Nowicki. These three women explore how women can confidently track ovulation, understand cervical fluid, and take charge of their reproductive health with both education and technology.
Toni Weschler shares the powerful origin story behind her decades of paper charting and why she once resisted fertility apps altogether. She believed that a thermometer, a pen, and knowledge of your own body were enough. 
Sabrina explains how that philosophy evolved into Cyclisity, an educational cycle tracking app designed as the perfect companion to the book. Unlike predictive period apps that rely on algorithms and "average" 28-day cycles, Cyclisity follows the sympto-thermal method exactly as taught in Toni's work.
It will finally make sense why basal body temperature confirms ovulation but doesn't predict it, how cervical fluid signals approaching fertility, why ovulation predictor kits can miss critical timing, and how improper app use can delay fertility diagnosis or lead to unintended pregnancy. 
This conversation is a masterclass in reproductive education and body literacy while blending science, privacy, and modern technology.
In this episode you'll hear:
[0:39] Meet the guests: Author Toni Weschler and Sabrina Nowicki
[2:36] Why track your cycle?
[4:03] Understanding ovulation and health
[6:49] Sabrina's personal journey
[10:29] Toni's period story
[13:10] The push for technology
[14:52] Early software resistance
[18:35] The perfect team forms
[22:03] Creating Cyclisity
[27:07] Using book and app together
[31:41] Temperature vs cervical fluid
[32:53] Checking cervical fluid
Resources mentioned: 
cyclisity.com
tcoyf.com
@cyclisity on IG
@cyclisityapp on TikTok
@wanderingsabrina on IG | on TikTok
Ep 50 Over 25 Years of Taking Charge of Your Fertility with Author Toni Weschler



Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations
Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!

Did you have a C-section and now notice spotting that won't quit? Are you dealing with pelvic pain, confusing symptoms, or trouble getting pregnant, and wondering if they're connected? Has anyone ever mentioned the word isthmocele to you… or is this the first time you're hearing it?
In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine explains a condition many patients are never warned about after a C-section: an isthmocele. She tells us what an isthmocele is, how it can form in a prior C-section scar, and why it can sometimes lead to unexpected bleeding, pain, or fertility challenges. 
You'll learn the five key symptoms that may signal an isthmocele, how this condition can affect fertility and future pregnancy plans, and the pros and cons of monitoring versus treating. Dr. Shahine also talks us through when surgical repair may be helpful, and the exact questions to ask your doctor so you can advocate for informed, personalized care. 
If you've had a C-section and feel like something isn't quite right, this episode offers knowledge, reassurance, and a clear path forward.
In this episode you'll hear:
[0:46] Understanding C-section scars: Isthnocele
[2:21] What is an isthmocele?
[3:24] How common?
[4:18] Getting diagnosed
[6:06] Symptoms
[7:36] Treatment options
[9:21] Observation vs. surgical management
[14:01] Important questions to ask your doctor
[14:57] Conclusion & final thoughts

Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations
Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
Join the Learn at Pinnacle app to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode

How do you make an embryo stick? Is there anything you can do to improve embryo transfer success? And how do you know which advice is science-backed versus fertility folklore? 
In this special solo Q&A episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine answers the questions patients ask most often when preparing for an embryo transfer.
What really matters during an IVF embryo transfer? Using real questions from Instagram, YouTube, and her own practice, she walks listeners through fresh vs. frozen embryo transfer, what happens on transfer day, whether you need a full bladder, lying down afterward, Valium use, pineapple cores, French fries, genetic testing, ERA testing, and how uterine lining preparation actually works.
Listeners will come away with a clearer understanding of embryo transfer success rates, frozen embryo transfer protocols, and implantation timing, and get their real questions answered.
In this episode you'll hear:
[1:27] What should I expect on transfer day?
[8:00] What happens post-transfer?
[9:35] Funny myths: pineapple cores & McDonalds french fries
[13:46] Fresh vs. frozen transfer myths
[20:18] Pre-transfer testing and ERA
[24:37] Natural vs. medicated transfer protocols
[28:30] Conclusion & final thoughts
Links and Resources:
Embryo Transfer: What to Expect on YouTube
Does the Embryo Fall Out: Embryo Transfer Tips on YouTube
Fresh vs. Frozen Transfers: Pros and Cons on YouTue
Studies Mentioned:
Randomized Controlled Trial for FET Protocols: PMID: 38944045
Retrospective analysis Perinatal Outcomes with FET protocols PMID:33926401
Randomized Controlled Trial for ERA before FET PMID: 36472596
Randomized Controlled Trial Bedrest after embryo transfer: PMID:31520259


Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations
Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books
Join the Learn at Pinnacle app ⁠to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!