Understand Your Cycle Podcast

What happens when you spend years trying to build a family — and decide to stop?In this episode, we sit down with Aisha Balesaria, an advocate and coach who turned her experience of endometriosis, infertility, and loss into a life of purpose and joy without children.After 15 years of being dismissed by doctors, Aisha was finally diagnosed with endometriosis and adenomyosis — only after struggling to conceive. What followed was a decade-long fertility journey: IVF cycles, miscarriages, hope, heartbreak, and eventually, the decision to stop.Aisha shares what it took to rebuild herself after letting go of the dream of motherhood, how therapy and community transformed her healing, and why she now dedicates her work to helping others find fulfillment beyond parenthood.We talk about the silence surrounding infertility, the cultural pressure to become a mother, and what it really means to find peace in a world that often measures women by whether they have children.This is a story of resilience, grief, and ultimately, freedom.We cover:🩸 What it feels like to be medically gaslit for over a decade before diagnosis🩸 The physical, emotional, and financial toll of IVF; and knowing when to stop🩸 How therapy and community can help reframe life after infertility🩸 The intersection of culture, womanhood, and the expectation to have children🩸 Why “childless” and “childfree” don’t always fit, and what language gets wrong🩸 How Aisha built a life of advocacy, joy, and meaning beyond motherhoodWhether you’ve experienced fertility struggles yourself, know someone who has, or simply want to better understand the nuances of womanhood, loss, and identity, this conversation is deeply moving, honest, and healing.Find Coni:Instagram: @mindbodyrevival_coachWebsite: www.mindbodyrevivalcoach.comSubscribe and follow to not miss an episode! 🩸To learn more, go to www.understandyourcycle.comSign up for our FREE cycle-synced newsletter here: Learn Your Menstrual Cycle

What happens when your body enters menopause before you’ve even turned 30? In this episode, Becky from Fertility Matters at Work shares her deeply personal story of navigating early perimenopause, infertility, IVF, and ultimately, motherhood through egg donation.We talk about what it actually feels like to have your hormones drop unexpectedly in your twenties — from 12-day cycles and night sweats, to the emotional shock of being told you may never have biological children. Becky opens up about the heartbreak of miscarriage, the mental load of IVF, and the long-term journey of parenting after donor conception.But this conversation goes far beyond fertility treatment. We explore how work, identity, and womanhood are all intertwined with our reproductive health — and why more workplaces need to care.We cover:🩸What early perimenopause really looks like🩸The truth about IVF (it’s not a guarantee)🩸What hormone tests can (and can’t) tell you🩸The emotional weight of “failing” as a woman🩸Miscarriage, grief, and hidden losses at work🩸Why fertility support should be a workplace issue🩸What it’s like to raise children from egg donation🩸The hard truths behind donor anonymityWhether you’ve experienced fertility struggles yourself, or want to understand what someone close to you might be going through, this episode brings empathy, nuance, and insight to a topic that’s still far too hidden.Please note: as Becky highlights, infertility is a medical condition that affects 1 in 6 people — and many face it even though they’re otherwise perfectly healthy. Fertility is not necessarily a lifestyle issue, and it’s never your fault.Find Becky:Fertility Matters at Work - www.fertilitymattersatwork.com / https://www.instagram.com/fertilitymattersatwork/Paths to Parenthub - www.pathstoparenthub.com / https://www.instagram.com/paths_to_parenthub/DefiningMum Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/definingmum/Subscribe and follow to not miss an episode! 🩸To learn more, go to www.understandyourcycle.comSign up for our FREE cycle-synced newsletter here: Learn Your Menstrual Cycle

In this episode, Michelle opens up about her personal journey through infertility — a struggle faced by 1 in 6 couples globally. We dive into why fertility isn’t just a “future you” problem, but something worth understanding in your 20s.From decoding cervical mucus to understanding hormonal imbalances, we cover the basics of how to get curious about your reproductive health. We talk about the often-overlooked transition off contraception, the key role your liver plays, and the surprising nutrient deficiencies that many women silently face.We cover:🩸Understanding Fertility in Your 20s🩸Coming Off Contraception🩸The Role of Your Liver in Hormonal Health🩸Male Fertility Is 30% of the Equation🩸Tips to support egg health🩸How alcohol impacts fertility🩸Why 30% of infertility cases are male-factor🩸 And why your menstrual cycle is more than just your periodWhether you're trying to conceive now or simply want to feel empowered about your body — this one’s for you.Please note: as highlighted in this episode, many people experience infertility even though they are perfectly healthy. Sometimes, there is no other solution than being medically assisted.A short definition of Fertility Awareness Method: a natural way of tracking your cycle to understand when you're most and least likely to get pregnant. You pay attention to things like your temperature, cervical mucus, and cycle length — basically, your body’s own clues — to either plan or avoid pregnancy (without hormones). Think of it as body literacy meets contraception.Find Michelle on LinkedIn hereSubscribe and follow to not miss an episode! 🩸To learn more, go to www.understandyourcycle.comSign up for our FREE cycle-synced newsletter here: Learn Your Menstrual Cycle

In this episode, Kirstie shares her deeply personal journey through breast cancer, surgical menopause, and what it really means to rebuild your life after both.At just 35, Kirstie was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. What followed was a whirlwind of treatments: chemo, a double mastectomy, and the removal of her ovaries—plunging her into surgical menopause overnight. She tells us what it felt like to go from full hormone health to zero, the mental health toll it took, and how she found strength, purpose, and even joy on the other side.We cover:🩸 Six months of non-stop bleeding after the wrong HRT🩸 The BRCA gene and deciding to remove her breasts and ovaries🩸 What surgical menopause actually feels like (and why no one warns you)🩸 Hair loss, wigs, and the emotional rollercoaster of chemo🩸 The big mental health toll—and how she got help🩸 Rebuilding life after treatment, and becoming a coach for breast cancer survivorsThis episode is honest, raw, and packed with wisdom. Whether you’ve faced breast cancer or want to better support someone who has, you’ll come away with insight—and hope.How to check your breasts resource: https://coppafeel.org/breast-cancer-info-and-advice/how-do-i-check/Find Kirstie at: Website: www.breastcancercoaching.co.ukInstagram: @breastcancercoachingFacebook: the beyond breast cancer coachSubscribe and follow to not miss an episode! 🩸To learn more, go to www.understandyourcycle.comSign up for our FREE cycle-synced newsletter here: Learn Your Menstrual Cycle

"It was quite difficult managing menstruation and education..."Aaliyah from Bloody Good Period has joined me to discuss how period poverty is more common than you think, how it is affecting our young women in schools and what they are doing at BGP to help one day dissolve this issue. Everyone who bleeds has a right to clean facilities and free menstrual products.We Cover:🩸What is period poverty exactly?🩸What is the scale and impact of period poverty? 🩸What do Bloody Good Period do?🩸How can governments work towards eliminating period poverty?🩸How does Bloody Good Period break taboos around periods?🩸What keeps you hopeful?PS: 10% of all Understand Your Cycle profits go to Bloody Good Period! Find Bloody Good Period here:https://www.bloodygoodperiod.com/https://www.instagram.com/bloodygoodperiod/Subscribe and follow to not miss an episode! 🩸To learn more, go to www.understandyourcycle.comSign up for our FREE cycle-synced newsletter here: Learn Your Menstrual Cycle

"The first ever pad that was manufactured still hasn't broken down."In this episode, Emily joins us to talk all things period products—from the first tampons we tried as teens to the eco-friendly innovations we're loving today. She shares her personal journey, a few strong opinions (aka hot takes), and plenty of surprising facts along the way.Get 10% off Mooncup products with discount code: CYCLEPODCASTWe cover:🩸 Emily's period product journey—from cardboard applicators to menstrual cups🩸 The full range of period products out there today (and how to pick what's right for you)🩸 New trends in period care and why they matter🩸 The plastic problem in pads:→ Each of us uses roughly 11,000 period products in our lifetime→ A mainstream pad can take at least 800 years to decompose→ Period products are washing up on EU coastlines more than plastic bags🩸 What actually causes that period smell (spoiler: it's not you)🩸 How your menstrual cycle can impact your yoga practiceWhether you're curious about trying something new, wondering about the environmental impact of your current go-to, or just love a good period chat—this one's for you.Find Emily on:LinkedInInstagram🎉Discount code for Mooncup coming soon!!Subscribe and follow to not miss an episode! 🩸To learn more, go to www.understandyourcycle.comSign up for our FREE cycle-synced newsletter here: Learn Your Menstrual Cycle

"Endometriosis doesn’t just affect your body—it affects every part of your life."In Part 2, Alice dives deeper into the realities of living with endometriosis, tackling the tough topics no one talks about enough. She shares her thoughts on fertility, breaks down how to reduce inflammation caused by endo, and explains why movement is one of the most powerful tools for managing symptoms.We also explore the biggest misconceptions about the condition, how to approach conversations at work, and the advice she wishes she had when she first started her journey.We cover (PART 2):🩸 Fertility and endo—how Alice thinks about it and why everyone’s experience is different🩸 Reducing inflammation and her pillars in managing endo (without the overwhelm)🩸 How movement can be a game-changer for managing symptoms🩸 The biggest myths about endo—and the truth behind them🩸 Talking to work about endometriosis and advocating for yourself🩸 Alice’s advice for anyone living with or suspecting they have endoThis episode is part of UYC's Endometriosis Awareness Month Campaign. Listen to Jasmin's story, as well as Part 1 of Alice's story, on our podcast! Find Alice on Instagram:Mindset CoachingWomen's Health SpecialistSubscribe and follow to not miss an episode! 🩸To learn more, go to www.understandyourcycle.comSign up for our FREE cycle-synced newsletter here: Learn Your Menstrual Cycle

"It’s not just a bad period—it’s living with pain no one can see."In this episode, we sit down with Alice, who shares her raw and honest journey with endometriosis—from navigating the emotional toll of a delayed diagnosis to undergoing surgery and challenging the one-size-fits-all approach to treatment.Alice opens up about how endometriosis runs in her family, how COVID affected her menstrual cycle, and why the usual advice to "just go on hormonal contraception" doesn’t always cut it.Expect candid conversations, personal insights, and a deeper understanding of how endo shows up differently for everyone.We cover (PART 1):🩸 What endometriosis really feels like for those living with it🩸 How endo symptoms can shift with your menstrual cycle (or break the pattern entirely)🩸 Alice’s personal endometriosis story—from early symptoms to surgery🩸 The genetic side of endometriosis and how it affects her family of three sisters🩸 How COVID disrupted her cycle and worsened her endo🩸 What it’s really like to have surgery for endometriosis🩸 Hormonal contraception as a common "treatment" for endometriosis —and Alice’s honest take on itSubscribe and follow to not miss Part 2! This episode is part of UYC's Endometriosis Awareness Month Campaign. Listen to Jasmin's powerful endometriosis journey, through diagnosis, fertility to perimenopause, on our podcast as well.Find Alice on Instagram:Mindset CoachingWomen's Health SpecialistSubscribe and follow to not miss an episode! 🩸To learn more, go to www.understandyourcycle.comSign up for our FREE cycle-synced newsletter here: Learn Your Menstrual Cycle