"I expected it to be easy": Herbs, nutrition & lifestyle strategies when TTC with Liane Moccia

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We spend so many of our cycling years trying NOT to get pregnant - whether that's on hormonal contraception, non-hormonal IUD's, using barrier methods or with Fertility Awareness Method.

So, when we finally decide that we want to try to conceive, we just assume it will be easy -- particularly if we're younger, healthy and have no obvious conditions that would get in the way of pregnancy.

But more and more we're seeing fertility challenges. And unfortunately, it's something that many people feel embarrassment or shame around so it's not widely talked about (except in TTC communities).

I've talked to a friend and a client recently who are both currently TTC. One is 27, overall healthy and has an uncomplicated picture (but doesn't have much fertile cervical fluid and her cycles are longer than optimal). The other is 40 and has a current partner whose sperm count and motility is  sub-optimal. 

Everyone has a different story, and while there's no guarantee, there is so much that is possible to support optimizing fertility. 

But where do you get good information to determine what actually works and what doesn't? How does stress actually impact fertility? What are the MOST important nutritional considerations to encourage egg and sperm health?

Liane Moccia, author of The Herbal Fertility Handbook, shares about all this and more on today's episode.

She experienced her own fertility journey while TTC which ended up in failed IVF cycles and eventually, after some nutritional and lifestyle tweaking, a successful cycle and her now 17 year old twin daughters!

And now she's written a book blending her embodied experience, years of fertility-focused clinical practice and current research to offer insights into what works and what doesn't to support fertility holistically. 

Whether you're interested in getting pregnant someday, just curious about how to support your hormones overall or exploring assisted fertility, this conversation is perfect for you!

Resources:

• Today's shownotes: Get links to Liane's book and website
• Free - Start tracking your cycle with FAM guide
• Episode 35: A fertility story: from endo to pregnancy with Sarah Shapiro
• Episode 80: Cultivating receptivity 
• Interested in Natural Contraception? Sign up for the Fall 2025 VIP list here

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DISCLAIMER: This podcast is for educational purposes only, I am not providing any medical advice, I am not a medical practitioner, I’m an herbalist and in the US, there is no path to licensure for herbalists, so my role is as an herbal educator. Please do your own research and consult your healthcare provider for any personal concerns.

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