Everything You Need to Know about Functional Approach to POF/POI

Dr. Anna Cabeca joins us today as we're digging into how to heal naturally if you have premature ovarian insufficiency.

When I was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure/insufficiency (POF/POI) at 28 I was told my only options were donor eggs.

I had no idea that underlying stressors both physical and mental/emotional were contributing to my infertility.

Fortunately, I was able to have both my children with donor eggs – but years later my health really began to suffer.

What I now know for sure is that crucial healing opportunities were missed for me. I see this all the time when we work with clients in our Fab Fertile Coaching program.

It is not about focusing on the POF/POI diagnosis.

Conventional medicine offers very few solutions for POF/POI. It's either IVF (we're given a very low chance of success) or donor eggs.

The functional approach addresses the healing opportunities (they are different for everyone and very individualized) and restores balance to the body. Because if your body is under attack it wants to survive not to procreate.

I'm excited to welcome Dr. Anna Cabeca, Emory University-trained and triple board-certified in gynecology and obstetrics, integrative medicine, and anti-aging and regenerative medicine. Dr. Cabeca was diagnosed with POI and was able to reverse the condition and get pregnant naturally with her daughter.

On this podcast you'll learn:

1) Why POF/POI is not early menopause. Even if you have not had a period for more than 12 months we discuss if it is possible to restart the period again.

2) A POF/POI diagnosis is emotionally devastating – how to how to stay optimistic (especially when well-meaning doctors are telling you that you'll never conceive with your own eggs.)

3) Common issues we see with POF/POI (i.e. food sensitivities, gut infections, mineral imbalance, long term birth control use, autoimmunity, and thyroiditis).

4) We discuss the autoimmune disease and POF/POI and we break down the studies.

5) Why insulin, cortisol, and oxytocin matter and why balancing these is essential for hormone health and POF/POI.

6) When to supplement with bioidenticals. What to do about hot flashes (what do they mean?) Plus help for painful sex/urinary leakage and dryness.

TIMESTAMPS: 06:08- INTRO AND DR. ANNA CABECA'S BIO 07:26- DR. ANNA CABECA'S STORY WITH INFERTILITY 09:38- WHY POI (POF) ISN'T EARLY MENOPAUSE

• Menopause is said to have started when there is not a period for 12 months, why is this not the case for POI?
• Is it possible to regain your period?
• Dr. Cabeca regaining her cycle at 54
• "There are so many things that can affect our hormones"

15:16- HOW ARE YOU ABLE TO STAY POSITIVE AFTER A DEVASTATING DIAGNOSIS?

• "Part of my healing was keeping the earth moving below my feet."
• Focusing on success stories
• Understanding the importance of healing cell to cell communication
• How trauma and grief can affect your nervous system, "Physiology drives behavior."
• Finding hope and not allowing despair to take hold of us, "We can never give up hope."
• "If you see it you can experience it."
• The hormonal disruption caused by trauma
• Why you should establish a "cheer word"

28:25- WHAT ARE SOME COMMON ISSUES YOU ARE SEEING WITH POI?

• Hormonal deficiencies and the feeling that your body is "betraying you"
• Healing the gut, increasing heart rate variability, and other functional approaches to healing
• "When we support the adrenals we support the ovaries."

32:05- WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE AND POI?

• "You cannot separate your mental atmosphere from our physiological atmosphere."
• The tie of autoimmune disease and emotions, "Organs hold emotions."
• How improving one area improves another
• Understanding the toxins in not only our foods but in our lifestyle

37:50- DETOX RECOMMENDATIONS

• Focusing on healthy greens, removing grains, etc
• Common food sensitivities and why to eliminate them on a detox
• Considering the source and how we eat "what we ate, ate"

39:45- HOT FLASHES AND POI

• Supporting our hormones from the bottom up
• Insulin resistance and the harm of snacking

41:55- THOUGHTS ON POI BEING AN AUTOIMMUNE ISSUE, TO BEGIN WITH

• How much we have to learn about the issue and how complex it is

42:45- WHEN WOULD YOU USE BIOIDENTICAL?

• How we cannot rely on bioidenticals alone and the importance of addressing the root cause
• Recommendations for DHEA and why she believes to "start low, go slow"

47:15- THE IMPORTANCE OF ADDRESSING HEART RATE VARIABILITY

• The importance of compassion and a simple exercise you can do
• Heart math and Muse

49:20- PAINFUL SEX AND VAGINAL DRYNESS

• The importance of nourishing your pelvic floor
• Leaking bladder

54:00- INFORMATION ABOUT FREE TRIAL FOR JULVA

---

If you are struggling with painful sex, vaginal dryness, urnine leaks or simply want to deepen your passion and intimacy grab your FREE 7 day Trial of Julva here (seriously it is a game changer): https://drannacabeca.com/products/julva-trial-pack/?rfsn=5507956

---

Learn more about Mighty Maca here: https://dranna.grsm.io/sarahclark473-MightyMacaFull

---

Text For US residents text FERTILE to 55444 to access your free fertility yoga video. Message & data rates may apply. Terms & Privacy: https://txtf.co/consumer-terms.

For the non-US residents go to www.yogafreebie.com to access your free fertility yoga video. In this 20-minute intro video, we focus on a calming and peaceful practice to connect back to our heart. These simple yoga poses can help quiet negative thoughts and make you feel more in control.

---

Book your Free Supercharge Your Fertility Discovery Call here: https://intakeq.com/booking/cZ7XW6

---

Sponsored by: BLUBlox (Sleep+ is the world's most advanced blue and green light blocking glasses addressing the exact frequencies of light required after dark to optimally produce melatonin for restorative sleep and health)

Visit BLUBlox website at: http://bit.ly/BLUBlox

Use coupon code: getpregnantpodcast to receive 15% discount. Free shipping worldwide.

---

Got questions? Join the Fab Fertile Support Group for motivation, support, and education so that you can prepare for pregnancy success.

---

Connect with Sarah on social media and learn more about functional fertility solutions that will help you have your baby.

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fabfertile/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sesacoaching/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/fabfertile
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahclarkfertilitycoach/

--- HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW! Love the show? You'll really love Sarah's resources page - filled with handpicked products/books/devices - get exclusive discounts and support the show by making purchases SHOP here: https://fabfertile.com/resources/ Other ways to support: Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-pregnant-naturally/id1329414094 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/36NoCIuODqlo3bQcVDOO02 Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/sarah-clark/get-pregnant-naturally Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC97zsClWDEbgmECB6uLUuiA Player FM: https://player.fm/series/get-pregnant-naturally Listen Notes: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/get-pregnant-naturally-sarah-clark-82DYJtZnFAa/ Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/usiv9-629c6/Get-Pregnant-Naturally-Podcast iHeart Radio: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-get-pregnant-naturally-30947830/ LEAVE APPLE PODCAST REVIEW: http://bit.ly/getpregnantreview SHARE: Spread the word! Tell someone else about the show! Together we are strong. Related episodes: Functional Medicine 101: https://fabfertile.com/blog/functional-medicine-101-and-your-fertility/ Why You Need To Know This if You Have POF/POI and low AMH: https://fabfertile.com/blog/why-you-need-to-know-this-if-you-have-pof-poi-and-low-amh/ How To Get Pregnant Naturally with low AMH, DOR or POF/POI: https://getpregnant.libsyn.com/website/how-to-get-pregnant-naturally-with-low-amh-diminished-ovarian-reserve-or-pof