Are ovulation predictor kits enough to time intercourse? Can an app really tell you when you're fertile? And what if your body has been giving you the answers all along?

In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine is talking to fertility awareness pioneer Dr. Toni Weschler, author of Taking Charge of Your Fertility, and her niece, software engineer Sabrina Nowicki. These three women explore how women can confidently track ovulation, understand cervical fluid, and take charge of their reproductive health with both education and technology.

Dr. Weschler shares the powerful origin story behind her decades of paper charting and why she once resisted fertility apps altogether. She believed that a thermometer, a pen, and knowledge of your own body were enough.

Sabrina explains how that philosophy evolved into Cyclicity, an educational cycle tracking app designed as the perfect companion to the book. Unlike predictive period apps that rely on algorithms and "average" 28-day cycles, Cyclicity follows the sympto-thermal method exactly as taught in Toni's work.

It will finally make sense why basal body temperature confirms ovulation but doesn't predict it, how cervical fluid signals approaching fertility, why ovulation predictor kits can miss critical timing, and how improper app use can delay fertility diagnosis or lead to unintended pregnancy.

This conversation is a masterclass in reproductive education and body literacy while blending science, privacy, and modern technology.

In this episode you'll hear:

• [0:39] Meet the guests: Dr. Toni Weschler and Sabrina Nowicki
• [2:36] Why track your cycle?
• [4:03] Understanding ovulation and health
• [6:49] Sabrina's personal journey
• [10:29] Toni's period tory
• [13:10] The push for technology
• [14:52] Early software resistance
• [18:35] The perfect team forms
• [22:03] Creating Cyclicity
• [27:07] Using book and app together
• [31:41] Temperature vs cervical fluid
• [32:53] Checking cervical fluid
• [35:19] OPKs
• [39:29] Additional app insights
• [42:03] Community support features
• [47:57] Closing thoughts

Resources mentioned:

cyclisity.com

tcoyf.com

@cyclisity on IG

@cyclisityapp on TikTok

@wanderingsabrina on IG | on TikTok

Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations

Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books

Did you have a C-section and now notice spotting that won't quit? Are you dealing with pelvic pain, confusing symptoms, or trouble getting pregnant, and wondering if they're connected? Has anyone ever mentioned the word isthmocele to you… or is this the first time you're hearing it?

In this episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine explains a condition many patients are never warned about after a C-section: an isthmocele. She tells us what an isthmocele is, how it can form in a prior C-section scar, and why it can sometimes lead to unexpected bleeding, pain, or fertility challenges.

You'll learn the five key symptoms that may signal an isthmocele, how this condition can affect fertility and future pregnancy plans, and the pros and cons of monitoring versus treating. Dr. Shahine also talks us through when surgical repair may be helpful, and the exact questions to ask your doctor so you can advocate for informed, personalized care.

If you've had a C-section and feel like something isn't quite right, this episode offers knowledge, reassurance, and a clear path forward.

In this episode you'll hear:

• [0:46] Understanding C-section scars: Isthnocele
• [2:21] What is an isthmocele?
• [3:24] How common?
• [4:18] Getting diagnosed
• [6:06] Symptoms
• [7:36] Treatment options
• [9:21] Observation vs. surgical management
• [14:01] Important questions to ask your doctor
• [14:57] Conclusion & final thoughts
  

Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations

Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books

How do you make an embryo stick? Is there anything you can do to improve embryo transfer success? And how do you know which advice is science-backed versus fertility folklore?

In this special solo Q&A episode of Brave & Curious, Dr. Lora Shahine answers the questions patients ask most often when preparing for an embryo transfer.

What really matters during an IVF embryo transfer? Using real questions from Instagram, YouTube, and her own practice, she walks listeners through fresh vs. frozen embryo transfer, what happens on transfer day, whether you need a full bladder, lying down afterward, Valium use, pineapple cores, French fries, genetic testing, ERA testing, and how uterine lining preparation actually works.

Listeners will come away with a clearer understanding of embryo transfer success rates, frozen embryo transfer protocols, and implantation timing, and get their real questions answered.

In this episode you'll hear:

• [1:27] What should I expect on transfer day?
• [8:00] What happens post-transfer?
• [9:35] Funny myths: pineapple cores & McDonalds french fries
• [13:46] Fresh vs. frozen transfer myths
• [20:18] Pre-transfer testing and ERA
• [24:37] Natural vs. medicated transfer protocols
• [28:30] Conclusion & final thoughts

Links and Resources:

Embryo Transfer: What to Expect on YouTube

Does the Embryo Fall Out: Embryo Transfer Tips on YouTube

Fresh vs. Frozen Transfers: Pros and Cons on YouTue

Studies Mentioned:

Randomized Controlled Trial for FET Protocols: PMID: 38944045

Retrospective analysis Perinatal Outcomes with FET protocols PMID:33926401

Randomized Controlled Trial for ERA before FET PMID: 36472596

Randomized Controlled Trial Bedrest after embryo transfer: PMID:31520259

Dr. Shahine's Weekly Newsletter on Fertility News and Recommendations

Follow @drlorashahine Instagram | YouTube | Tiktok | Her Books