
Menstrual Mastery
By Brandy Oswald

Menstrual MasterySep 21, 2020

4 MAJOR Condom Mistakes to Avoid
Today on Menstrual Mastery we’re talking all about how most people are using condoms incorrectly. At best some of us were taught how to put a condom on a banana in health class or by our “cool mom”, and at worst most of us fumbled around in our early sexual experiences embarrassed AF trying to figure out how the heck to use a condom.
When it comes to something as important as using a condom, it’s not a great idea to be self-taught or pretend like once the condom goes on the “banana” that the work is done.
I cringe when I think about my early days using condoms. Some condom from a 21 year old guy’s nightstand table with wrinkled packaging from God knows when. Looking away when he put it on because I was embarrassed, so I didn’t even know if he put it on correctly. Not applying lube to the condom prior to initiating sex so it was dry AF and then not-so-surprisingly it breaks 20 minutes later after some not so satisfying dry intercourse. Ugh, my poor 19 year old self.
Today’s episode is for everyone who wants to have good sex while using condoms. For everyone who has a story that sounds remotely like mine. Let’s take a look at the 4 most common mistakes people make when using condoms!

Why getting your period is important
Today on Menstrual Mastery we’re talking about something that saddens me to my core - the fact that we’ve been taught that our periods are not important. That they exist for no other reason than at best to be a nuisance and at worst to bring us agonizing pain. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
Tune into today's episode to learn...
> Why doctors are now saying that the menstrual cycle is the 5th vital sign for health in our bodies
> How your period can tell you if something is wrong in your body
> Why getting a monthly period is a sign that your body is healthy
> Why the period you get on the birth control pill, nuva ring, & other forms of hormonal birth control is not *actually* a real period
> Why getting a period is STILL important even if you don't want to get pregnant
Disclaimer: Brandy Oswald, Sauvage Wellness LLC, and her employees are not doctors, nurses, physicians, psychotherapists, or in anyway licensed medical practitioners and information presented here is to serve as an educational resource and not to be interpreted as: (1) medical advice; (2) a 100% effective birth control option; (3) 100% pregnancy achievement support or (4) nutrition or health guidelines. By reading this you acknowledge that you understand that as a specialized form of consulting, coaching is not the same as professional or licensed therapy or medical advice and intervention; and recognize that it is your responsibility to seek such services from a licensed professional. Brandy Oswald is not a medical provider and cannot give medical advice. All information provided by Sauvage Wellness LLC and Brandy Oswald is of a general nature and is intended only for educational purposes to help with your personal health improvement goals and should not be relied on as medical advice. Always consult a physician with any health concerns and prior to changing your diet, lifestyle, supplements,birth control, or prescription medicine routine. Should you choose to use the information provided by Brandy Oswald it is of your own volition and you recognize that neither Brandy nor Sauvage Wellness LLC is not held liable for any intended or unintended outcomes.

Can you get pregnant on your period?
Today on the Menstrual Mastery podcast I’m answering a question most of us have frantically typed into the Google search bar… Can you get pregnant on your period?
The age old question. The one that everyone loves to shout about on the internet, in the comments section, & at the doctor's office.
Well, let's learn the truth...
From a Certified Fertility Awareness Educator - aka someone who is ACTUALLY trained in how the menstrual cycle & fertility cycle work.
For questions as important as this one, it's time we STOP polling the internet and listening to scary stories about a friend of a friend who got pregnant on her period.
Getting pregnant on one's period can happen BUT only in specific circumstances that DO NOT apply to every person's cycle. It's crucial to know how YOUR specific cycle works, when your fertile window begins, & how to track your cycle using fertility awareness methods so that you can ACTUALLY know if YOU can get pregnant on YOUR period.
Let’s take a closer look at when you CAN and CAN’T get pregnant on your period…

The Moon & Your Menstrual Cycle w/ Guest Mandy Sciacchitano
Today on the podcast I have a very special guest Mandy Sciacchitano. Mandy is a certified life coach and breathwork facilitator who specializes in helping people come home to their truest selves by uncovering the magic and miracles and healing power inside their bodies and in nature. In her membership community, The Deep End, she marries breathwork and the cycles of the moon to empower people who are on self-growth and self-healing journeys. Mandy and I have been friends in the online entrepreneur community for YEARS now and I am so excited to have her here with us today for an inspiring conversation on the power of breathwork and connecting to the moon cycles. We’ll also dive into the connection between the moon & our menstrual cycles and if syncing our periods with the moon is really a thing!
Episode Links:
http://www.mandysciacchitano.com/membership
http://www.mandysciacchitano.com/
https://www.instagram.com/mandy.shock/

What temperature tracking tells you about your cycle
Today on the Menstrual Mastery podcast we’re talking all about basal body temperature and what the heck it’s actually telling us about our menstrual cycles and fertility.
There are a lot of misconceptions out there about temperature tracking for birth control and pregnancy support. If you’ve ever watched television or movies you’ve likely been led to believe that when temperature rises we have to rush off and start gettin’ busy immediately in order to get pregnant, but that couldn’t be more wrong.
In fact, if you wait until temperature rises to start trying to get pregnant you probably won’t get pregnant.
Tune in to today's episode to learn why we *actually* track temperature and how to use it *correctly* as natural birth control and to get pregnant when you're ready!

How To Notice Cervical Fluid Changes
This week on the Menstrual Mastery podcast we’re talking all about my favorite cycle tracking sign - cervical fluid!
Everyone who comes to me for natural birth control and fertility support has one concern in common… Will I be able to see changes in my cervical fluid? What if I can’t notice anything?
First and foremost - YES, as long as you are not on hormonal birth control you will be able to see changes in your cervical fluid. Even if there’s a hormonal imbalance, even if you have an irregular cycle - there will be changes. The frequency of those changes is what will differ.
Tune-in to today's episode to get the full scoop on what cervical fluid is, why it's so important, and how to notice its natural shifts each month!

Why there's no such thing as "The Fertility Awareness Method"
In today's episode of the Menstrual Mastery Podcast I'm talking all about why there is no such thing as The Fertility Awareness Method and what's really going on instead.
Here's what you'll learn in today's episode...
> The different types of fertility awareness methods, how they work, & why some are more effective than others.
> Why I ONLY use & teach the Sympto-Thermal Double Check Method
> What to consider when choosing a fertility awareness method and find the right fertility awareness instructor for you.
> And, lots more too!

The 5 Biggest Fertility Awareness Myths
From doctors’ offices to health class to our own mothers, we’ve received a lot of misinformation about sex, birth control, and our bodies. One of the most frustrating pieces of misinformation that we’ve received is that there are no natural forms of birth control aside from condoms, the copper IUD, and not doing it. False. So freaking false.
There is, however, a really great option for those who want a truly natural birth control method and that’s fertility awareness methods.
Today I wanted to take a minute to clear up the 5 biggest fertility awareness myths once and for all because you, girl, deserve to know the truth about your body, your birth control, and all the options that are available to you!

How to use cycle tracking to uncover hormonal imbalance
One common misconception about cycle tracking is that unless you’re using it for natural birth control or to help you get pregnant, there’s no reason to track your menstrual cycle. And, well, I couldn’t disagree more. In fact, cycle tracking helped me personally spot a dangerous and painful hormonal imbalance even while doctor after doctor said I was fine. On today’s episode of Menstrual Mastery we’re exploring why cycle tracking is an important hormonal health tool for all women regardless of birth control or fertility goals and how it can actually help you uncover hormonal imbalances in your cycle.
Here's what you'll learn in today's episode...
-- How tracking cervical fluid + temperature can help uncover hormonal imbalances
-- You'll also learn how cycle tracking can help you get more out of your doctor visits and finally become an active participant in getting the health and healing you deserve!
-- Lastly, you'll get 3 action steps you can take to start using cycle tracking to spot potential hormonal imbalances in your cycle too!
Links from today's episode:
https://sauvagewellnessbooking.as.me/free-info-session
www.sauvagewellness.com/subscribe
Make sure to follow the Menstrual Mastery podcast wherever you listen to podcast and leave a review! To receive brand new episodes of the Menstrual Mastery Podcast straight to your inbox, subscribe to the podcast at: www.sauvagewellness.com/subscribe
It was such a pleasure to be here with you all for another episode Menstrual Mastery. I am your host Brandy Oswald, I’ll see you next week!
Disclaimer: Brandy Oswald, Sauvage Wellness LLC, and her employees are not doctors, nurses, physicians, psychotherapists, or in anyway licensed medical practitioners and information presented here is to serve as an educational resource and not to be interpreted as: (1) medical advice; (2) a 100% effective birth control option or (3) nutrition or health guidelines. By reading this you acknowledge that you understand that as a specialized form of consulting, coaching is not the same as professional or licensed therapy or medical advice and intervention; and recognize that it is your responsibility to seek such services from a licensed professional. Brandy Oswald is not a medical provider and cannot give medical advice. All information provided by Sauvage Wellness LLC and Brandy Oswald is of a general nature and is intended only for educational purposes to help with your personal health improvement goals and should not be relied on as medical advice. Always consult a physician with any health concerns and prior to changing your diet, lifestyle, supplements,birth control, or prescription medicine routine. Should you choose to use the information provided by Brandy Oswald it is of your own volition and you recognize that neither Brandy nor Sauvage Wellness LLC is not held liable for any intended or unintended outcomes.

How she overcame her fears around using natural birth control
Have you been reading about using cycle tracking as natural birth control and feeling riddled with worry, hesitation, and resistance?
What if I get pregnant? What if I f*ck it up? What if I can't do it? What if it's too hard/too confusing/doesn't work?
You are not alone. In fact, many women who have been using natural birth control with ease and confidence for years first started out with the same fears and hesitations you’re experiencing now.
Joining me today is Alicia Short - a former Sauvage Wellness client who has been using cycle tracking as natural birth control and is here to share how she overcame the biggest and most common fears & hesitations when it comes to using the sympto-thermal method of natural birth control.
When I first met Alicia she had been on hormonal birth control since high school and was tired of worrying about its impact on her health. She wanted a natural birth control option that didn’t alter her natural hormone production. HOWEVER, she was terrified of unplanned pregnancy, dreading using condoms all the time, and trusting a method that wasn’t the hormonal methods that are so commonly used.
I am so excited to have Alicia here today because she so beautifully overcame these initial fears that I see SO many women struggling with and has been using the sympto-thermal method of natural birth control successfully for a year now!
Here's what you can expect in today's episode...
>> The most common fears & hesitations that women experience around using cycle tracking as natural birth control
>> Why EDUCATION is the KEY to overcoming worry and fear about using the sympto-thermal method of natural birth control
>> How to deal with resistance from partners, friends, & family members who just don't get it
>> Alicia's advice for anyone who's interested in switching to the sympto-thermal method of natural birth control but feeling nervous
If you’re ready to learn more about natural birth control, I want to help! Let’s chat 1-on-1! You can set up a free info session with me here.
To receive brand new episodes of the Menstrual Mastery Podcast straight to your inbox, subscribe to the podcast at: www.sauvagewellness.com/subscribe
Disclaimer: Brandy Oswald, Sauvage Wellness LLC, and her employees are not doctors, nurses, physicians, psychotherapists, or in anyway licensed medical practitioners and information presented here is to serve as an educational resource and not to be interpreted as: (1) medical advice; (2) a 100% effective birth control option or (3) nutrition or health guidelines. By reading this you acknowledge that you understand that as a specialized form of consulting, coaching is not the same as professional or licensed therapy or medical advice and intervention; and recognize that it is your responsibility to seek such services from a licensed professional. Brandy Oswald is not a medical provider and cannot give medical advice. All information provided by Sauvage Wellness LLC and Brandy Oswald is of a general nature and is intended only for educational purposes to help with your personal health improvement goals and should not be relied on as medical advice. Always consult a physician with any health concerns and prior to changing your diet, lifestyle, supplements,birth control, or prescription medicine routine. Should you choose to use the information provided by Brandy Oswald it is of your own volition and you recognize that neither Brandy nor Sauvage Wellness LLC is not held liable for any intended or unintended

Why you can't cycle track on hormonal birth control
On today’s episode of Menstrual Mastery, we’re talking all about cycle tracking on hormonal birth control and why it just doesn’t work.
Quite often I’ll hear from women who tell me that they’ve just downloaded my cycle tracking starter guide and are excited to track the changes in their cycle. I LOVE hearing this. I am a huge fan for women everywhere knowing how to track their menstrual cycles. However, many times women will follow this up by sharing with me that they are on hormonal birth control, and then I have to break the bad news -- you can’t cycle track when you’re on hormonal birth control.
In today’s episode we’re going to cover…
>> Why you can’t cycle track when you’re on hormonal birth control
>> What you can, and should, keep track of on hormonal birth control
>> The first 3 steps for transitioning off of hormonal birth control and learning how to track your cycle
Links from today's episode:
Your free copy of my Cycle Tracking Starter Guide!
Schedule your free consult call with me!
Make sure to follow the Menstrual Mastery podcast wherever you listen to podcast and leave a review! To receive brand new episodes of the Menstrual Mastery Podcast straight to your inbox, subscribe to the podcast at: www.sauvagewellness.com/subscribe
It was such a pleasure to be here with you all for another episode Menstrual Mastery. I am your host Brandy Oswald, I’ll see you next week!.

Easing Endometriosis Naturally
Joining me today is former Sauvage Wellness client and jewelry designer Audrey Beaumier. Audrey came to me with hopes of easing endometriosis symptoms naturally. Chronic pain and debilitating menstrual symptoms were derailing her days. Audrey is here to share her experience using mindset magic and brain retraining tools to decrease endometriosis-related pain and menstrual symptoms so that she could get back to her favorite activities, launch her jewelry business, and reclaim her power! ((Think - No period cramps, no painful ovulation, no headaches, no chronic pain!))
Resources from today's episode:
So Beau Studio - www.sobeaustudio.com
Hardwiring Happiness, Rick Hanson (I got his name wrong on the recording - Oopsies!)
Dynamic Neural Retraining System, Annie Hopper
Beating Endo by Iris Kerin Orbuch, MD and Amy Stein, DPT
Dr. Andrew Cook of Vital Health Endometriosis Center
Desire Map, Danielle LaPorte
www.sauvagewellness.com/coaching
www.sauvagewellness.com/subscribe
Sources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/endometriosis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354656
https://www.vitalhealth.com/endo-blog/what-it-really-means-to-have-endometriosis/
Disclaimer: Brandy Oswald, Sauvage Wellness LLC, and her employees are not doctors, nurses, physicians, psychotherapists, or in anyway licensed medical practitioners and information presented here is to serve as an educational resource and not to be interpreted as: (1) medical advice; (2) a 100% effective birth control option or (3) nutrition or health guidelines. By reading this you acknowledge that you understand that as a specialized form of consulting, coaching is not the same as professional or licensed therapy or medical advice and intervention; and recognize that it is your responsibility to seek such services from a licensed professional. Brandy Oswald is not a medical provider and cannot give medical advice. All information provided by Sauvage Wellness LLC and Brandy Oswald is of a general nature and is intended only for educational purposes to help with your personal health improvement goals and should not be relied on as medical advice. Always consult a physician with any health concerns and prior to changing your diet, lifestyle, supplements,birth control, or prescription medicine routine. Should you choose to use the information provided by Brandy Oswald it is of your own volition and you recognize that neither Brandy nor Sauvage Wellness LLC is not held liable for any intended or unintended outcomes.

Cycle Tracking with Irregular Periods
On today’s episode of Menstrual Mastery, we’re talking all about cycle tracking + natural birth control for babes with irregular periods.
“I can’t use natural birth control because I have irregular periods.”
If I had a dollar for every time I heard this, you could call me Jean Ralphio because I would be fluuuushed with cash. For real though, I hear this all the time and the truth is that this isn’t true. If you’re interested in using the sympto-thermal method of natural birth control and you have irregular periods, you absolutely can
In today’s episode we’ll cover…
>> What causes irregular periods and why you shouldn’t ignore them
>> Why hormonal birth control does NOT fix irregular periods or regulate your cycle
>> Why I think it’s important for women with irregular periods to practice cycle tracking
>> How to use natural birth control if you have irregular cycles
Links from this episode:
Your free copy of my Cycle Tracking Starter Guide!
Schedule your free consult call with me!
Make sure to follow the Menstrual Mastery podcast wherever you listen to podcast and leave a review! To receive brand new episodes of the Menstrual Mastery Podcast straight to your inbox, subscribe to the podcast at: www.sauvagewellness.com/subscribe
It was such a pleasure to be here with you all for another episode Menstrual Mastery. I am your host Brandy Oswald, I’ll see you next week!.

The partner's perspective on using natural birth control
On today’s episode of Menstrual Mastery, we have a VERY special guest - My real-life fiance Hannes! Hannes is joining me today to give you an inside look at what it's like being the partner of a woman who chooses to use cycle tracking as natural birth control.
In today’s episode we’ll cover…
-- The biggest fears, worries, & hesitation male partners experience in regards to using the sympto-thermal method of natural birth control
-- Why asking questions and stepping up as an active participant in birth control conversations is KEY to men feeling confident and comfortable with their partners using cycle tracking as natural birth control
-- The answer to the question everyone loves to ask... Does he finish inside me without a condom?
-- Hannes' top 3 tips for men to feel confident & comfortable engaging with a woman who uses cycle tracking as natural birth control
Links from today's episode:
www.sauvagewellness.com/coaching
Make sure to follow the Menstrual Mastery podcast wherever you listen to podcast and leave a review! To receive brand new episodes of the Menstrual Mastery Podcast straight to your inbox, subscribe to the podcast at: www.sauvagewellness.com/subscribe It was such a pleasure to be here with you all for another episode Menstrual Mastery. I am your host Brandy Oswald, I’ll see you next week!.

Cycle tracking after hormonal birth control
On today’s episode of Menstrual Mastery, we’re talking all about what to expect when you start cycle tracking after going off of hormonal birth control. This is a topic I love talking about because I work closely with many clients who are newly off of hormonal birth control. When we’re newly off of hormonal birth control, our ability to get pregnant may return quickly or may take awhile. Regardless, one thing we almost always see is irregular cervical fluid and temperature shifts. What this means is that using the sympto-thermal method of natural birth control can be a little tricker.
In today’s episode we’ll cover…
>> What the menstrual cycle looks like after going off of hormonal birth control and the differences we see in cervical fluid and temperature
>> How we accommodate for these differences when using the sympto-thermal method after going off of hormonal birth control
>> How long it takes for the cycle to normalize and see regular cervical fluid and temperature shifts
>> My top 3 tips for anyone looking to cycle track post hormonal birth control
Links from today's episode:
Cycle Tracking Starter Guide (It's free!)
The Natural Birth Control Academy
Make sure to follow the Menstrual Mastery podcast wherever you listen to podcast and leave a review! To receive brand new episodes of the Menstrual Mastery Podcast straight to your inbox, subscribe to the podcast at: www.sauvagewellness.com/subscribe
It was such a pleasure to be here with you all for another episode Menstrual Mastery. I am your host Brandy Oswald, I’ll see you next week!.

How the sympto-thermal method works as natural birth control
On this episode of Menstrual Mastery, we’re doing a deep dive into the sympto-thermal double check method that I teach here at Sauvage wellness and how it works as natural birth control.
Today we’re going to cover…
>> How the sympto-thermal double check method is different from simply cycle tracking. Even I use these terms interchangeably for the sake of using language that most folks are familiar with, however more accurately the sympto-thermal double check method is a form of cycle tracking - BUT not all cycle tracking is the sympto-thermal method and we’ll explore why that is
>> And we’ll also cover what symptoms you need to keep track of when using the sympto-thermal method, how to track them, and how these symptoms give us all the info we need to prevent pregnancy naturally
For some of you who’ve been in the Sauvage Wellness community for a while, this episode is a great refresher and for those who are new to our community - Welcome. This episode might just blow your mind!
Links from today's episode:
What is the sympto-thermal method?
The Natural Birth Control Academy
Cycle Tracking Starter Guide (It's free!)
Make sure to follow the Menstrual Mastery podcast wherever you listen to podcast and leave a review! To receive brand new episodes of the Menstrual Mastery Podcast straight to your inbox, subscribe to the podcast at: www.sauvagewellness.com/subscribe
It was such a pleasure to be here with you all for another episode Menstrual Mastery. I am your host Brandy Oswald, I’ll see you next week!.

Natural Birth Control - Is it doctor approved?
Today I'm talking to Naturopathic Doctor Nicole Kearney all about wtf doctor's think about natural birth control - Does it work? Is it safe? Who should try it? We'll also uncover some of the lesser known, but seriously frustrating, side effects and impacts of hormonal birth control including depression, anxiety, and low sex drive. And, Nicole will share with us the biggest difference she sees in patients who use natural birth control vs. those who don't!
Curious about my Natural Birth Control Academy course? Get all the deets here: www.sauvagewellness.com/natural-birth-control-academy
Want to get brand new episodes of Menstrual Mastery straight to your inbox every Tuesday? Subscribe here!

How cycle tracking helped her ditch the grind, change careers, & get her life back!
Joining me today is herbalism apprentice and one of the wildest women I know - Siobhan Mendicino. She is here to share all about how cycle tracking allowed her to reconnect to herself, live in alignment with her body, and finally feel empowered to ditch the grind & follow her dreams.

How she went from 2 periods a month to an easy 4 day flow with no PMS!
Okay, okay, so you can't actually have two periods a month, but you can have so much spotting that it feels like you're having two periods each month. Joining me today is pelvic floor physical therapist Shanna Duffy to share how she used cycle tracking and the sympto-thermal method of natural birth control to go from bleeding two weeks out of every month to an easy 4 day period with little spotting or PMS! It's as good as it sounds.
Spoiler Alert - Shanna swears that using natural birth control is SO MUCH EASIER than she thought and is mad she didn't start sooner!
Are you interested learning more about cycle tracking as natural birth control & period support? Join me for the next class of my signature Natural Birth Control Academy to get insider access to all the tools, tips, & resources that I shared with Shanna to create this empowering (& FREEING!) transformation in her own cycle and sexual health. The next class begins November 5, 2020. Get all the details & early enrollment bonuses for the Natural Birth Control Academy right here!
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