I'm joined in this episode by my colleague and co-teacher, registered herbalist and fertility specialist Liane Moccia, to talk more about the responses to the question, "Are you ovulating?"

We cover what signs to look for, how to interpret tracking data (cervical fluid, LH strips, temperature), and why ovulation is a vital marker of hormonal and overall health even when someone isn’t trying to conceive.

We also discuss practical intake phrasing, common misunderstandings, and introduce our Menstrual Health Intensive: a physiology-focused course with live teaching and case observation groups for clinicians who want to support clients experiencing menstrual health concerns.

Key Takeaways

• Many clients have never been taught to recognize ovulatory signs/symptoms

• Cervical fluid is a reliable, free marker of rising estradiol, though some clients may mistake it for infection

• Having a baseline understanding of ovulation before perimenopause makes later changes easier to interpret and may reduce the need for expensive testing

• Clear, specific wording on intake forms prevents misinterpretation

• The luteal phase length and confirmed ovulation timing help us place premenstrual symptoms accurately on the timeline

Links referenced in this episode:

• Liane's website: https://lianemoccia.com/
• Liane's book, The Herbal Fertility Handbook: https://lianemoccia.com/book/
• Menstrual Health Intensive: https://www.camillefreeman.com/menstrualhealth/

Let's talk about a "normal" menstrual cycle. What counts as "normal," how can we spot concerning signs, and when does it make sense to consider medical referral or further testing? We'll dive into this and more in this brief episode. For more information and clinical strategies to support clients around menstrual health, join the upcoming Menstrual Health Intensive.

Key Takeaways

• Bleeding longer than 8 days warrants referral for possible clotting issues, fibroids, or other concerns

• Heavy menstrual flow is often subjective, but if it interferes with daily life or causes soaking through protection, refer for assessment

• A stable luteal phase is a good sign; significant variation may indicate something else is going on

• Many clients were never taught basic cervical fluid physiology - this is valuable clinical information to share

Reference

Bahamondes, L., & Ali, M. (2015). Recent advances in managing and understanding menstrual disorders. F1000Prime Reports, 7, 33. https://doi.org/10.12703/P7-33

Upcoming

Liane Moccia and I are launching an 8-week Menstrual Health Intensive for Practitioners starting September 15, 2026 (you can join later!). Review the sales page and join us if you're interested in more education on this topic. 20 NPCE available.

It might help to think about this in terms of mindful eating. When you feel the urge to sign up for something, stop and ask: is my practice actually hungry for this?

• If you've decided newsletters are your main marketing focus and you're specifically hunting for newsletter training - amazing. Dive in.

• If you're just responding to a sale email, a fear of missing out, or a vague sense that you "should" know more? Take a step back. You might find the urge is actually about avoiding visibility work, not about needing to know this information right now.

When I'm tempted by a program but my business isn't actually hungry for it right now, I keep a running document with the link, price, and details. About 80% of the time, I realize that I don't need or want to do the program right now. It's a "nice to have eventually" versus a "I need to implement this right away and I think this course will help." Programs and classes are almost always offered again later.

Before you sign up for anything this fall, ask yourself:

• Is this a hunger in my business right now?

• Am I going to implement what I learn, or just collect more information?

• Am I using learning as a way to avoid the harder work of being seen?

We want synergy between what we're taking in and what we're putting out. Make sure there's a balance between the two.

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I'm Camille Freeman, DCN, RH, and I host In the Clinic with Camille, a podcast for herbalists and nutritionists building and growing their private practices. I've been in clinical practice since 2003 with a focus on fertility, pregnancy, and menstrual health.