Pelvic Health, Hormone Chaos & Fertility: A Urogynecologist Explains It All | Dr. Betsy Greenleaf

Is leaking when you cough or sneeze "just a normal part of aging"? Could everyday toxins be sabotaging your hormones and fertility? And how do you maintain intimacy and "sexy sizzle" when you're stressed out and trying to conceive?

In this episode of the Gutsy Fertility Podcast, Mandy sits down with the amazing Dr. Betsy Greenleaf, a pioneering leader in women's health and the first female in the U.S. to be board-certified in Urogynecology.

Dr. Greenleaf pulls back the curtain on the often-misunderstood world of pelvic health, explaining the vital, "belly button down, thighs up" connections between our bladder, pelvic organs, hormones, and fertility. She shares why stress is the ultimate anti-fertility signal and how you can shift your nervous system from "fight or flight" (running from a lion) to "rest, digest, and sex."

If you're navigating infertility, pelvic pain, incontinence, or hormone issues, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

🕒 In This Episode, We Discuss:
00:00 - Meet Dr. Betsy Greenleaf

01:51 - Dr. Betsy’s journey to becoming a pioneering Urogynecologist

05:32 - What is Urogynecology? (It covers more than you think!)

07:38 - The biggest barrier to women's pelvic health: Lack of awareness

07:57 - Truth Bomb: Incontinence (leaking urine) is common, but NOT normal

10:06 - The wide range of solutions for an overactive bladder (from diet to Botox)

11:40 - What is pelvic organ prolapse (rectocele, cystocele)?

15:12 - The Fertility Connection: Endometriosis, PCOS, and endocrine disruptors (toxins, plastics)

17:17 - The Mind-Body Connection: The "Three-Legged Stool" of Wellness (Body, Mind, Spirit)

19:03 - Fight-or-Flight vs. Rest-Digest-Sex (Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic nervous system)

20:39 - Why you CANNOT get pregnant or aroused when you're stressed (The "Lion" analogy)

22:07 - The importance of normalizing body parts (e.g., "vagina")

23:33 - How to keep the "sexy sizzle" in a long-term relationship

24:40 - Your brain is your most important sex organ

25:34 - Why novelty is key to long-term arousal

28:11 - The "Rosemary Besson" model: Why desire can follow arousal for women

30:26 - Use it or lose it: Why sex and self-pleasure are crucial for pelvic health