Period Recovery and Fertility Podcast

Lindsey Lusson
  • 4.9 (78)
  • Nutrition
  • Updated Biweekly

Welcome to the Period Recovery and Fertility Podcast! Here we discuss the challenging, rewarding, and life changing process of recovering your period and finding freedom with food and exercise. Whether you’re hoping to regain your cycle and get your health on track or you're ready to become a momma- this podcast is for you. While the recovery process isn't always rainbows and butterflies, it’s my hope to bring you both information and inspiration during your own recovery journey. I’m your host, Registered Dietitian and fellow HA woman Lindsey Lusson.

  1. 3d ago

    Episode 113: Ovulatory Dysfunction & The HA Spectrum

    If your period shows up every month like clockwork, it's easy to assume your hormones are fine. But a regular cycle is not the same thing as healthy ovulation. In this episode, Lindsey continues the All About Ovulation series and introduces what she calls the HA Spectrum, a framework for understanding that ovulatory dysfunction is not a light switch. It's not simply "ovulating" or "not ovulating." There is a whole range in between, from a completely healthy cycle all the way to full hypothalamic amenorrhea (HA), and most women have no idea where they actually fall on it. Many women rule themselves out of this conversation entirely. They picture HA as something that only happens to underweight women, athletes, or people with an eating disorder, and since that's not them, they assume it doesn't apply. But you can be much closer to the HA end of the spectrum than you think, even with a period that looks completely regular on paper. If you're curious whether you fall closer to HA or PCOS, Lindsey has covered that distinction in several past episodes: 48, 74, 102, and 108. In this episode, we cover: What ovulatory dysfunction actually is, and why it exists on a spectrum rather than a yes-or-no state The four points on that spectrum: ovulatory eumenorrhea, subclinical ovulatory disturbances, oligomenorrhea, and hypothalamic amenorrhea Why a "totally normal" 29-day cycle can hide the same root issue as a missing period Why subclinical ovulatory disturbances matter, including their link to bone loss, mood, sleep, and cardiovascular health Why normal labs don't rule out an ovulation problem The real root cause of functional ovulatory dysfunction: your brain deciding now isn't a safe time to reproduce The main drivers: low energy availability, overtraining or under-fueling around exercise, psychological stress, and dieting history Why you do not have to be underweight, have an eating disorder, or be a competitive athlete for this to apply to you Self-check questions to help you figure out where you might fall on the spectrum What recovery actually requires beyond "eat more" — training load, digestion, stress, blood sugar, sleep, and your relationship with food Why recovery isn't linear, and why guessing at one change at a time often drags the timeline out longer This episode is part two of the All About Ovulation series. If you haven't listened to Episode 112 yet, where Lindsey covers progesterone and why bleeding isn't the same thing as ovulating, start there first, since today's episode builds directly on it. The biggest takeaway: ovulatory dysfunction isn't a light switch, it's a spectrum, and you can be a lot closer to the HA end of it than you think, even with a cycle that looks completely regular. A period is a good sign, but it isn't proof your body is fully hormonally healthy or fertile. If today had you nodding along, or you've been piecing this together on your own for months without much to show for it, that's not a sign you're doing something wrong. It's a sign you're missing a plan built around your actual body, not just general advice. Links & Resources Free Training: How to Get Pregnant with a Missing Period Episode 112: All About Ovulation, Part 1 Episode 108: HA vs. PCOS Episode 102: HA vs. PCOS Episode 95: with Dr. Christiana Shufelt Episode 74: HA vs. PCOS Episode 48: HA vs. PCOS

  2. Jul 13

    Episode 112: All About Ovulation: Why Your Period Is Not Proof You Ovulated

    Most women are taught that getting a period is the main event of the menstrual cycle. But the truth is, ovulation is the main event. In this episode, Lindsey kicks off the All About Ovulation mini series and breaks down why ovulation matters for fertility, hormones, and long-term health. She explains why bleeding does not always mean you ovulated, why progesterone matters far beyond pregnancy, and how hormonal birth control can suppress ovulation while masking underlying hormonal issues. In this episode, we cover: ● Why ovulation is the main event of the menstrual cycle● Why getting a period does not always mean you ovulated● How ovulation leads to progesterone production● Why progesterone matters for mood, sleep, bones, heart health, and fertility● Why hormonal birth control suppresses ovulation● Why a pill bleed is not the same as a true period● How birth control can mask missing, irregular, or painful periods● What to know about birth control, nutrient depletion, AMH, SHBG, gut health, and thyroid markers● Why missing cycles after coming off the pill are a sign to look deeper● Why labs are helpful, but do not always show the full picture Ovulation is not just about getting pregnant. It is a monthly sign that your body has enough safety, energy, and hormonal communication to support reproductive health. And if you are not ovulating, you are not making meaningful amounts of progesterone — a hormone your brain, bones, heart, mood, sleep, and fertility all depend on. Hormonal birth control can be helpful and necessary for many women, but women deserve informed consent around what it does in the body. The goal is not just to bleed. The goal is a healthy, ovulatory cycle that supports your fertility, hormones, and long-term health. If you are missing your period, coming off birth control, or trying to understand your labs, Lindsey is hosting a $27 live training on July 16th called https://www.foodfreedomandfertility.com/read-between-the-labs-webinar-registration/https://www.foodfreedomandfertility.com/read-between-the-labs-webinar-registration/

  3. Jun 29

    Episode 111: How Do You Know You’re Actually Recovered?

    If you’ve gotten your period back after hypothalamic amenorrhea, it can feel like the finish line. And honestly, it is a huge milestone. Getting a bleed again can be such a powerful sign that your body is responding to more nourishment, more rest, and a safer internal environment. But getting your period back and being fully recovered are not always the same thing. You may have gained weight, started eating more, stopped tracking calories, gotten a few cycles, or reintroduced some fear foods and still feel like food, exercise, and body image are taking up way too much mental space. Or maybe you feel more mentally free, but your cycle is still missing, irregular, inconsistent, or showing signs that ovulation and progesterone are not fully restored yet. In this episode, Lindsey breaks down what full recovery from hypothalamic amenorrhea actually looks like physically and mentally. Because the goal is not just getting a bleed. The goal is a fully hormonally healthy body, regular ovulation, and a life where food, exercise, and your body no longer dictate your decisions all day long. In this episode, we cover: ● Why getting your period back does not always mean you are fully recovered● The difference between physical recovery and mental recovery● Why some women get one bleed but struggle to get consistent cycles after● What regular, predictable cycles should look like after HA recovery● The role of fertile cervical mucus as a sign of hormonal health● Why minimal PMS can be a marker of improved cycle health● Why mental recovery is just as important as physical recovery● How disordered eating, food rules, and perfectionism often show up in HA recovery● Why food should take up less brain space over time● What it looks like to feel flexible around restaurants, travel, social plans, and fun foods● Why being able to rest, skip workouts, and let life interrupt exercise is a major recovery milestone● How exercise can shift from body control to enjoyment, energy, and support● Why bad body image days do not have to become diet plans● How full recovery helps your identity expand beyond food, exercise, and your body If your period is back but you still feel trapped by food rules, exercise anxiety, body checking, or constant mental negotiation, you are not failing. Physical recovery and mental recovery do not always happen on the same timeline. But both matter. Because the goal was never just a period. The goal is freedom — building the life and family you want while being fully present and at peace enough to actually enjoy it. If you are ready for that level of recovery, we would love to support you inside the Food Freedom Fertility Society. The program application is linked in the show notes. Temp Drop Affiliate Link

  4. Jun 15

    Episode 110: Client Story: From Missing Period to Natural Pregnancy After Years of “Doing Everything Right”

    When you’ve been told that you’re “so healthy,” but your period is still missing, it can feel confusing, frustrating, and incredibly lonely. You may be eating well, exercising, seeing doctors, running labs, trying to “do the right thing,” and still not getting answers. And when every provider tells you nothing is wrong but your body still isn’t ovulating it can leave you wondering if IVF, medications, or fertility treatments are your only option. In this episode, Lindsey is joined by Alex, a former client who is now 21 weeks pregnant after recovering her period and ovulation naturally. Alex shares her story of losing her period during a stressful season of school, intermittent fasting, weight loss, and intense exercise and how years of being told she was healthy kept her stuck in confusion. After seeing multiple providers, trying to piece together recovery on her own, and wrestling with the fear of body changes, Alex eventually joined the program and began learning what her body truly needed to feel safe again. This conversation is an honest look at the emotional, physical, and mindset work of period recovery. Alex opens up about food rules, body image, surrendering control, navigating miscarriage, continuing to fuel her body after getting her period back, and the power of having support instead of trying to figure it all out alone. This episode is a powerful reminder that getting your period back is not always about simply “eating more and exercising less.” It is about understanding your body, addressing the beliefs and habits that are keeping you stuck, and learning how to nourish yourself consistently enough to support ovulation, fertility, and pregnancy. In this episode, we cover: Alex’s story of losing her period during dental school, stress, intermittent fasting, weight loss, and exercise Why being told “you’re so healthy” can keep women stuck without answers The frustration of seeing multiple providers and still not getting to the root cause Why Alex felt in her gut that fertility medications and IVF were not the first answer for her How she tried to recover her period on her own before realizing she needed more support Why eating breakfast and “eating more” still was not enough at first How high-protein, low-carb, clean eating can still leave the body under-fueled The fear of adding more carbs, fun foods, and flexibility into her diet Why surrendering control around food became one of the biggest turning points How body changes and weight gain impacted Alex emotionally The mindset shift that helped her stop doing recovery at 60% and fully commit How Alex got her period back around the 90-day mark after going all in If you are missing your period, struggling to ovulate, or feeling like you’ve been doing everything “right” without getting answers, Alex’s story is such an important reminder: your body is not broken. There is a reason your period is missing. And even if recovery feels uncomfortable, even if your body changes, even if surrendering control feels scary you do not have to figure it out alone. Your body can heal. Your cycle can come back. Ovulation can return. And with the right support, nourishment, and consistency, pregnancy may be possible naturally. There is always a reason your period is missing, and it is possible to support your body in finding its way back to ovulation and fertility. Watch Lindsey’s free training, How to Get Pregnant with a Missing Period, to learn how healthy, active women can restore ovulation naturally and create the conditions for pregnancy.

  5. Jun 1

    Episode 109: Orthorexia Deep Dive: Why “Clean Eating” Can Tank Your Hormones

    If you’re eating all organic, high-protein, “clean” foods but your period is still missing, it can feel confusing to know what your body actually needs. You may be tracking ingredients, avoiding processed foods, following wellness influencers, and doing everything you’ve been told is “healthy.” But what happens when those healthy habits start creating more stress, rigidity, food fear, and under-fueling? And what if clean eating isn’t the full story? In this episode, Lindsey takes a deep dive into orthorexia and how the pursuit of healthy eating can quietly become fear-based, especially for women struggling with missing periods, hormone issues, or fertility challenges. Many women with orthorexic tendencies do not identify as having an eating disorder. They genuinely believe they are just being healthy, optimizing hormones, reducing inflammation, healing their gut, balancing blood sugar, or improving fertility. But over time, the pursuit of health can quietly become fear-based instead of nourishing. And physiologically, your body does not care whether restriction came from trying to lose weight or trying to be healthy. Under-fueling is still under-fueling. Chronic stress around food is still stress. This episode is a powerful reminder that looking healthy on the outside does not always mean your body feels safe on the inside, and that the right support depends on understanding what is actually driving your missing period, hormone symptoms, or fertility struggles. In this episode, we cover: What orthorexia is and why it can be so hard to recognize Why many women with orthorexic tendencies genuinely believe they are just being healthy How wellness culture can normalize rigid, fear-based food rules Why eating clean does not always mean your body is adequately fueled The difference between intentional nourishment and obsession Why thinking about food all day can be a red flag, even if the foods are “healthy” How feeling morally better for eating clean can point to a deeper issue Why going out to eat, eating fun foods, or breaking food rules may still feel stressful How food rules can evolve over time while the same fear and control remain underneath Why trying to eat perfectly enough can backfire for hormones and fertility How chronic food stress impacts cortisol, the HPA axis, GnRH, LH, ovulation, estrogen, progesterone, and fertility What true food freedom and true health can actually look like Clean eating may be part of your story. Under-fueling may be part of your story. Food rigidity, perfectionism, and chronic stress around food may be part of your story. But your body is not broken, and needing more nourishment, flexibility, and support does not mean you have failed. Sometimes the missing piece is not another supplement, more control, or stricter nutrition, it is understanding what your body has been asking for all along. There is always a reason your period is missing, and it is possible to support your body in finding its way back to ovulation and fertility. Watch Lindsey’s free training, How to Get Pregnant with a Missing Period, to learn how healthy, active women can restore ovulation naturally and create the conditions for pregnancy.

  6. May 18

    Episode 108: PCOS or Under-Fueling? How to Know What’s Really Keeping Your Period Missing

    If you’ve been diagnosed with PCOS but your period is still missing, it can feel confusing to know what your body actually needs. You may be told to eat fewer carbs, exercise more, take Metformin, start Letrozole, or move straight to fertility treatments. But what happens when those recommendations don’t work? And what if PCOS isn’t the full story? In this episode, Lindsey walks through three real client case studies of women who were told PCOS was the reason they weren’t ovulating but after looking deeper at labs, lifestyle history, under-fueling, overtraining, food restriction, stress, and hormone patterns, the picture became much more nuanced. Some clients were misdiagnosed with PCOS when the real driver was hypothalamic amenorrhea. Others truly did have PCOS, but chronic under-fueling and overexercising were still major roadblocks to restoring ovulation and getting pregnant. This episode is a powerful reminder that missing periods are not always explained by one diagnosis, and that the right support depends on understanding what is actually happening in your body. In this episode, we cover:  Why PCOS can be a misleading diagnosis when under-fueling is not fully assessedThe difference between PCOS/PMOS and hypothalamic amenorrheaWhy many women with HA can meet PCOS diagnostic criteriaWhat labs can reveal about whether PCOS or under-fueling is driving a missing periodWhy low estrogen, normal LH:FSH, low testosterone, and normal androgens may point away from PCOSHow restrictive eating, fear of weight gain, and overexercise can suppress ovulationWhy “managing PCOS” too aggressively can sometimes make fertility harderHow under-fueling can exist even when someone looks healthy, fit, or has a normal BMIWhy fertility medications may not work well if the body is still under-supportedHow three clients restored cycles, ovulation, and pregnancy by addressing the real root cause PCOS may be part of your story. Under-fueling may be part of your story. And for some women, both can be true at the same time. But your body is not broken, and a diagnosis does not mean you are out of options. Sometimes the missing piece is not another medication, more control, or stricter nutrition, it is understanding what your body has been asking for all along. There is always a reason your period is missing. And with the right support, your body is capable of finding its way back to safety, nourishment, ovulation, and fertility. Join Missing Period Lab Recovery Waitlist Ep 12: Do I have HA or PCOS Ep 19: When your PCOS turns out to be HA Ep 32: Dieting at as a child, PCOS Misdiagnosis, and HA recovery when fertility isn't a goal Ep 48: PCOS and HA? Navigating nutrition when you have both Ep 74: HA or PCOS? You may not know, and it may not matter Episode 102: Your Body Isn’t Broken: The Missing Piece in HA & PCOS Recovery

  7. May 4

    Episode 107: Low AMH and No Period: Why IVF Wasn’t Her Only Option

    If you’ve been told your AMH is low, it can feel like the clock is suddenly ticking faster. You may hear things like: “You should freeze your eggs,” “You may need IVF,” or “You’re running out of time.” But AMH is one of the most misunderstood fertility markers especially if you’re not ovulating regularly. In this episode, Lindsey walks through Kaitlyn’s story: a fit, active woman in her early 30s who hadn’t had a period in over a year, was told her AMH was extremely low, and was encouraged to freeze her eggs immediately. But instead of jumping straight into fertility treatment, Kaitlyn focused on restoring ovulation first and eventually conceived naturally. This case study is a powerful reminder that low AMH does not always mean low fertility, and that missing periods, under-fueling, overtraining, and stress physiology can all impact how your body shows up in labs. In this episode, we cover: What AMH actually measures and what it does not tell you Why AMH can look falsely low when you’re not ovulating regularly How hypothalamic amenorrhea, under-fueling, and overtraining can suppress follicle development Why low AMH does not automatically mean IVF is your only option Why restoring ovulation should often come before panicking over lab results How consistent nourishment, exercise reduction, recovery, and targeted support helped her body feel safe again The role of Vitamin D, egg quality support, and foundational fertility nutrition Why “normal” labs are not always optimal for fertility Low AMH does not mean your body is broken.It does not mean natural pregnancy is impossible.And it does not always mean you need to rush into IVF or egg freezing. Sometimes, the most powerful first step is understanding why ovulation is missing in the first place and giving your body the support it needs to feel safe, nourished, and fertile again.

  8. Apr 20

    Episode 106: 5 “Healthy” Food Habits That Stall Ovulation

    If your period is missing… and you feel like you’re doing everything “right” with food… this episode might shift everything. Because many habits that look healthy can actually signal stress or underfueling to your body keeping ovulation turned off. In this episode, Lindsey breaks down the 5 most common food habits that disrupt hormone signaling and delay ovulation and what your body actually needs instead. In this episode, we cover: • Why ovulation stops when the body senses low or inconsistent energy• How fasting or skipping meals impacts hormone signaling• Why low carb intake can suppress reproductive hormones• The hidden risks of “clean eating” and food rigidity• How tracking calories/macros can lead to underfueling• Why comparing your food intake to others keeps you stuck Your body isn’t broken, it's responding to the signals it’s receiving. Ovulation happens when your body feels safe, nourished, and consistently fueled. Ready to Understand What Might Be Affecting Your Ovulation? If your period is missing, irregular, or you’re unsure if you’re ovulating consistently, take Lindsey’s Fit Girl Fertility Quiz.  It will help you uncover what’s blocking your fertility.

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Welcome to the Period Recovery and Fertility Podcast! Here we discuss the challenging, rewarding, and life changing process of recovering your period and finding freedom with food and exercise. Whether you’re hoping to regain your cycle and get your health on track or you're ready to become a momma- this podcast is for you. While the recovery process isn't always rainbows and butterflies, it’s my hope to bring you both information and inspiration during your own recovery journey. I’m your host, Registered Dietitian and fellow HA woman Lindsey Lusson.

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