Welcome to the Circle+Bloom Blog

Simply page down for our chronological blog postings, or click on the categories to read what we have to say:

Guest Blog by Marcela De Vivo, a freelance health & wellness writer from Los Angeles. She covers everything from skincare and supplements, to fitness, holistic wellness, and special needs issues.

Those looking to have a baby can help encourage the cause by eating right, exercising and avoiding things such as alcohol and smoking.

Unfortunately, although a majority of couples trying to have a child are already aware of these things, they’re still not able to conceive successfully.

If you are currently in this situation, there are a variety of vitamins and supplements that can help both the man and the woman increase their fertility and improve their odds of becoming pregnant. Since it’s just a matter of buying a vitamin supplement, most of which are natural and have few–if any–side effects, it’s definitely worth a try.

Best Vitamins and Herbs for Women

There are some supplements that both men and women should take up front. In addition to these supplements, there are some others that are uniquely helpful to women and men individually.

We’ll start with a few supplements that are specifically helpful in terms of increasing fertility in women:

  • Calcium — Doctors recommend that women who are pregnant or are trying to get pregnant should consume about 1000 mg of calcium every day. As this is a high amount, it may be difficult getting this much calcium through food alone, therefore, consuming this amount through a multivitamin or prenatal formula is a good idea. Drinking milk and eating dark, leafy greens is also encouraged.
  • Folic Acid — Folic acid is considered a no-brainer, even if you’re just a woman of childbearing age who plans to get pregnant in the future. Folic acid is made up of a B-complex vitamin that helps the body create red blood cells. It will also assist in the production of extra blood cells during pregnancy. Folic acid may also reduce the risk of certain spinal cord problems for the baby. You can get your daily intake of daily folic acid by eating citrus fruits, grains and dark leafy greens. Folic acid in capsule form is also another option.
  • Omega 3 Free Fatty AcidOmega 3 Fatty Acids are not naturally produced by your body, therefore you will have to get these nutrients through food or a supplement. Studies have shown that this particular supplement helps with embryo development and quality.

What these vitamins will essentially do for women is better prepare their bodies to be pregnant, which can help with the process of conception, both directly and indirectly. If your diet is healthy and you’re paying attention to when you are ovulating, taking the proper supplements should be enough to give your body just one more nudge in the right direction.

Best Vitamins and Herbs for Men

Statistically speaking, a man has about a 1 in 10 chance of having a low sperm count, which can negatively impact his fertility. If a couple is having trouble getting pregnant, this could definitely be the culprit. It is a good idea to get the sperm count checked; that way, you can at least rule it out as the underlying problem.

Regardless of whether or not a low sperm count is the problem, the following supplements can help increase fertility in men:

  • Vitamin E — Vitamin E is an excellent source of antioxidants and, in many studies, it has shown to improve sperm quality.
  • Vitamin C — Like Vitamin E, vitamin C provides much-needed antioxidants, having the same positive effect on a man’s sperm. You can get vitamin C through fruits, like oranges and strawberries, or you can just take a supplement.
  • L-carnitine — This is something you’ll need to get in a supplement form, but in many cases, it can enhance sperm’s motility.

Vitamins that Work for Both Men and Women

In addition to what we have already covered, these supplements can help treat infertility in both men and women. It is recommended that they should be taken regularly by couples who are trying or planning to get pregnant:

  • Zinc — Both partners should be getting plenty of zinc in their diet as it helps ovulation and fertility in women. It also increases semen and testosterone production in men.
  • Coenzyme Q10 — Usually shortened to “CoQ10”, this supplement has shown in studies to both increase sperm count in men and increase egg quality in women.

By improving the quality of your diet, exercising regularly and taking the recommended supplements, couples trying to conceive may be able to increase their chances of becoming pregnant.

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“Rock bottom became my solid foundation.” – JK Rowling

How are you on this fine Thursday? I hope you are feeling happy, full of energy and have a smile on your face!

What’s that?!? You aren’t feeling happy, full of energy or have a smile on your face? Are you feeling as if you are in a rut…that nothing is going your way…and it seems like everything is just plain pissing you off?

And, of course, we have Mother’s Day right around the corner, which for a LOT of us, isn’t necessarily the happiest of days. For me, I get to reflect on the passing of my Mom more than 18 years ago.

I believe that it is the human condition to feel the full range of emotions and absolutely no one is happy all of the time.

But, here’s the key to actually harnessing the power of these negative emotions.

Yes, I do believe there is a power behind them. Call it the yin-yang energy that underlies our universe.

Allowing your emotions just as they are and “lean in.” This could be your personal paradigm shift.

But how can we “lean in” to capture this power? Here are three suggestions:

1. Allow yourself to just be

  • Even when you are saying to yourself “I feel like sh*t!” – accept it, and let yourself stay in that unhappy, dark place as long as you want. It’s absolutely futile to push those sad feelings out of your life because it’s impossible to completely change your outlook on command. Plus they serve a purpose. These sad, distraught, questioning emotions allow you to consider new options, take a step back from life and reevaluate, and to recuperate your mind and body from a stressful time.

2. Try not to label your sour feelings as “bad”

  • When you think about these down feelings in the context of allowing you to recuperate, or to learn something about yourself, would you label that as “bad?” Maybe there is no such thing as good and bad when talking about the emotional state we find ourselves in. And when we don’t use such labels, we become free of the restrictions they impose.

3. Try to center yourself on your life goals

  • Knowing you are in a “down” state, it’s important to stay focused on your life goals, intentions and desires in life. This will be your short-cut back into a more optimistic state. And I do believe what you think about, you bring about. So, intending and reaffirming what you truly want out of life, even if you are “faking it until you make it” – is so important and will always be the solid foundation from which to grow.

So, accept the truth inside, and always have your guiding star with your dreams, desires and intentions lighting the way… And find the juicy bits that keep life exciting.

Now it is your turn to take action now. Comments below and answer one of these easy questions: “What one word describes your you are feeling today?” or “What one word describes your thoughts about Mother’s Day?”

With love and gratitude,

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We are thrilled to share with you this AMAZING deal being offered by our wonderful affiliate Donielle Baker–the Natural Fertility ebook Bundle! We are offering our Fertility Relaxation Program as part of the bonus material you will receive when you purchase this incredible offer, and you will have a chance to win our Natural Cycle for Fertility Program as part of the huge giveaway you will be entered in automatically with your purchase.

We know preparing for pregnancy can be confusing, and if you’re trying to overcome infertility, it can definitely add to this confusion as well. We all want to be healthy, to have balanced hormones, and to have more stable moods, but finding good, solid information can be tricky.

And it can get expensive.

That’s why Donielle decided to contact some of her favorite ebook authors and fertility and health supporters and put together this fantastic bundle of information for you so that you can save over 92%.

It’s everything you need to know to get your body ready for pregnancy, whether you’re just starting a family, want to add to your brood, or are looking for ways to overcome hormone imbalance and infertility. This bundle is everything I wish I would have had access to many years ago when I first began thinking about trying to conceive.

Instead of paying over $450.00 for all of these ebooks, you’ll pay just $34.95 for:

  • 30 ebooks, spanning fertility information, matters of the heart, real food and recipes, and pregnancy and baby information
  • 1 week long meal plans
  • bonus FREE content
  • and you’ll receive an entry to win a grand prize worth over $1130.00!

Just the bonus offerings would cost $30.00! We are so happy to be able to participate, and want to send a huge THANK YOU to Donielle for bringing together all of these amazing resources in such an affordable manner for this community we care so much about. Click here to view more details and buy the bundle.

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Guest Blog by Sharon on behalf of Hadassah Medical Center, visit them for more information on IVF treatment in Israel.

For those unable to conceive naturally, in vitro fertilization (IVF) has been a gift from heaven. Otherwise, couples, or even single parents, would have no hope of achieving the dream of parenthood without adopting. With IVF, people have an excellent chance of becoming parents to offspring born from at least one of the parent’s DNA.

As is to be expected, together with advances in medical technology and greater experience performing IVF procedures and adapting it to different problems associated with conceiving, IVF has come a long way since the first successful birth of a “test tube baby” 35 years ago.

Increasingly, traveling abroad for fertility procedures has become an appealing option, mainly because individuals can pay thousands of dollars less than what they’d spend at home. While going abroad for fertility treatment requires research – not just about the overseas fertility clinics, but also on topics including safety standards, ethical and legal issues and multiple births – high success rates and costs are a powerful draw.

Perhaps the leading country in this field is Israel. Not content with being a giant in the field of hi-tech, the tiny country of Israel is arguably the world’s leading destination for those seeking successful IVF treatment. A confluence of factors has led to this. Israel, the Jewish state, places an incredible priority on families and family life. This rationale stems from both a religious perspective and an existential one as the state wants to encourage the birth of Jewish families to maintain a Jewish majority population.

The government supports IVF treatment is Israel financially by subsidizing women under the age of 45 to give birth to up to two IVF children irrespective of the number of procedures required. The IVF treatment is available to women, married or single, irrespective of religion or sexual preference. Consequently, Israel has the highest per capita rate of IVF procedures in the world.

A first rate medical system, excellent doctors, sensitivity to parents seeking their own children, and a supportive government makes Israel ground zero for IVF treatment. Yet it is not only Israelis who can avail themselves of the experience gained from performing many more IVF procedures than other countries – only 1% of children were born via IVF in the U.S. in 2010 versus 4% in Israel.

Israeli hospitals offer their expertise to foreigners seeking their own IVF child. The government does not subsidize these procedures, however the expertise attained by doctors performing numerous procedures is available to anyone willing to pay – and the cost is often much less than IVF procedures in countries such as the U.S. or U.K.(the average cost of IVF treatment in the U.S. is USD12,400)

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Guest Blog by The Bridge Centre, one of the UK’s leading fertility, gynaecology, genetics and IVF clinics. With IVF success rates among the best in the country, The Bridge Centre can provide the expert support couples and individuals need to help them overcome their difficulties resulting from infertility.

In what will be a world first, the UK has moved another step closer to becoming the only country to allow the creation of babies from three people.

The latest step in the creation of a baby using this method has been buoyed by research from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HEFA), which has presented the government with its recommendations which explain that there is no evidence to suggest this form of IVF is unsafe.

The final decision as to whether the advanced IVF procedures will become a reality for British women rests with government ministers. If the procedure is approved then it is anticipated that a handful of families will benefit every year.

The technique is being developed as a method of countering serious ‘mitochondrial disorders’, which currently affect one in 6,500 children. Whilst research suggests that using mitochondria from a donor egg would eliminate the risk of debilitating and potentially fatal disorders, there are concerns about the risks associated with babies carrying DNA from two parents, as well as a very small proportion from a third donor.

As you would expect from such a proposal, it is not only the safety of such a treatment that has raised concerns, but also the ethical issues involved in this form of genetic modification. Despite the apprehension raised by some parties, public consultations conducted on the issue thus far have revealed a largely positive response to the proposals, with the majority of the public believing the potential benefits to outweigh the ethical implications.

What are mitochondria?

Mitochondria are analogous to tiny biological battery packs, which supply energy to almost every cell in the human body. Defects in the mitochondria can have the effect of starving the body of energy, with the consequences including blindness, heart failure and even death.

The mitochondria itself is passed from mother to child, and is not derived by the father’s sperm. This means that by taking genetic information from one egg, and placing it in a donor’s egg with healthy mitochondria, the risk of these defects can be eliminated. However, as some genetic information is contained in the mitochondria, the baby will then share the genes of three people.

The way forward

If the new techniques are approved by government ministers, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority recommends that any children created using this method of treatment should be monitored closely, as should their offspring after that.

In a recent open meeting held by HEFA, there were also concerns raised regarding the identification of the healthy egg’s donor. As the law stands, the donor is currently identified when either sperm or an egg is donated. Whilst HEFA believed the child has no reason to know the identity of the donor in this case, public opinion on the matter is mixed.

The next stage in making three-person IVF legal in the UK is a vote in the House of Commons, followed by a deciding vote in the House of Lords. With mitochondrial diseases having such a devastating impact on British families, it is widely hoped the new treatment will receive official support sooner rather than later.

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During National Infertility Awareness Week we wanted to take the time to recognize some of the people and organizations we admire the most. They are all doing incredible work to raise awareness about infertility and encourage the public to understand their reproductive health, as well as supporting those struggling with the disease and TTC. Not only have they been tremendous supporters of us here at Circle + Bloom, but they give wonderful encouragement, advice, resources, and love to a community we care so much about. Thank you for all you do!

Davina Fankhauser- Fertility Within Reach:
Fertility Within Reach is a nonprofit organization that focuses on educating the infertility community on how to advocate for access to family-building benefits, including infertility treatment. Davina, the co-founder of FWR, believes that when individuals are armed with information and best-practice suggestions, they become their own best advocate to ensure their family-building needs are met and reproductive health is preserved. Davina and FWR provide step-by-step instructions, a strategic approach and supportive materials to empower individuals to effectively communicate with doctors, legislators, insurers and employers (all core groups that can have a major impact on your fertility journey). How great is that?!


Keiko Zoll:
Keiko Zoll is a leading infertility and women’s health writer. Writing since 2009, she has chronicled her personal journey with infertility as she and her husband seek to build their family through assisted reproductive technology. Keiko’s blog, The Infertility Voice, has become a powerhouse in the online infertility community. A tireless advocate for both infertility-sensitive legislation and cultural empowerment for infertility patients, Keiko has made a big impact in the infertility community through her writing and advocacy. She is also Director of Communications and Social Media for RESOLVE New England, Digital Marketing Director for Fertility Planit and a regular writer at the Disney Baby blog–she does it all, and we are so lucky she does!


Dr. Ann Lee- Health For Life Clinic, Inc. :
Health For Life Clinic, Inc. provides patients with comprehensive, personalized healthcare through acupuncture, naturopathic and holistic medicine, nutrition, homeopathy, herbs, and lifestyle improvement. Dr Ann Lee, naturopathic doctor & acupuncturist with a specialty in infertility and natural fertility, is incredibly connected and warm with those trying to conceive and provides a source of accessible information. She takes the time to explain just how all your symptoms are connected, get you answers, and lay out concrete steps to take towards health. She’s a great example of how even just one individual on a local level can make an impact. Not only are her patients lucky to have her, but Circle + Bloom is lucky for all of the support she shows us!



Lisa Drouillard- My Hopeful Journey:
My Hopeful Journey is a web-based and mobile calendar, task list and journal for women that are trying to conceive. It is customized for infertility treatment, is easy to use, and helps manage everything you need to track on a daily basis, including appointments, medication, tests, procedures and natural tracking–it truly is an amazing resource! It also connects women with all types of fertility resources–from clinics to companies to services to products. The founder of My Hopeful Journey, Lisa, had personal experience with infertility and used that as an inspiration to help others going through the same challenges. Circle + Bloom was thrilled to be one of the pilot members of their Corporate Program, and it has been amazing to see the positive impact these tools have been making in the lives of women. Along with every Circle + Bloom purchase we were able to include a six month free subscription to My Hopeful Journey. Customer’s have found that using our programs, along with the added benefit of what My Hopeful Journey has to offer, has helped women going through the tough and challenging journey of infertility to successfully decrease the stress of TTC and improve their fertility. It has been a wonderful partnership!



Latham Thomas- MamaGlow:
Latham Thomas is a maternity lifestyle maven, wellness & birth coach, yoga teacher, and author on the vanguard of transforming the maternal wellness movement. She is also the founder of MamaGlow, which provides amazing support and resources to help teach moms-to-be how to optimize their experience by adopting a plant-based diet, making time for yoga, meditation and journaling and incorporating natural ways to boost energy and manage morning sickness, as well as help pregnant women prepare for labor and deal with their fears. We love her work that bridges the gap between optimal wellness, spiritual growth, and self care, and fully support the idea of creating a community for women who are empowered to live a modern holistic lifestyle during pregnancy and beyond!

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National Infertility Awareness Week® is April 21 – 27, 2013. The goal of NIAW is to raise awareness about the disease of infertility and encourage the public to understand their reproductive health.

Be part of the infertility movement! Anyway you can raise awareness will help increase public understanding about the disease of infertility. We urge anyone who cares about the infertility community to help with NIAW efforts.

1. Infertility is a disease that affects 1 in 8 couples of reproductive age.
2. Acknowledge that there are many ways to build a family.
3. Understand that the disease of infertility impacts the physical, emotional, and financial health of those that are facing it.
4. To those trying to conceive know when to seek the advice of a specialist.

We at Circle + Bloom are offering a 35% discount on all of our mind-body programs in honor of NIAW week. Enter code NIAW35 at checkout.

It is so important to get the support you need, both during the emotional roller-coaster associated with your fertility journey as well as the financial commitment it inevitably requires. We are honored to play a small part in providing this support, and we hope you continue to share your favorite resources and support systems with others who are also along on this journey.

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Guest Blog by Courtney Bloom, a yoga teacher and naturopath who writes for a variety of health and exercise blogs from her home in Maine.

When preparing for pregnancy, a healthy diet and good night’s sleep are essential – and maybe more so than you think. Lifestyle choices and eating habits can affect your chances of conception as well as your future baby’s health and wellbeing. If you’re trying to conceive (TTC), keep these tips in mind:

Understand Your Sleep Schedule

Sleep deprivation affects your health and can lead to reduced immunity, weight gain, moodiness and an inability to cope with stress, according to Web MD. Stress, a poor diet and being overweight can increase a woman’s risk of infertility, according to the CDC. When you’re TTC, you want your body to be at its best. Help it help you by getting the rest you need.

There are two main types of sleep: Non-REM (NREM) sleep and REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. The former consists of four stages, each deeper than the last. The latter is when you do most of your active dreaming. Together, these stages form a complete sleep cycle, which typically lasts about 90 minutes and repeats four to six times during the night, according to HelpGuide.org. If you are feeling sleep deprived, it may be because you are waking up during the middle of your cycle. Try setting your alarm to wake you up at a time that’s a multiple of 90 minutes from when you fall asleep. For example, if you go to bed at 11 p.m., set your alarm for 6:30 p.m. Chances are you’ll wake feeling more refreshed because you were at the end of your sleep cycle rather than in the middle of it.

photo RelaxingMusic

Increase the Quality

Light affects how much melatonin — a hormone that makes you sleepy — your body produces, according to Web MD. For this reason, it’s helpful to regulate light when you’re trying to sleep or trying to awaken. Consider using window blinds to block out bright city lights at night yet allow light to filter in in the morning.

The quality of your sleep can be disrupted by other factors, such as traveling across time zones, working the night shift, stress or too much exposure to artificial light at night, according to HelpGuide.org. When you’re TTC, maintain a consistent sleep cycle to allow your body to be rested, healthy and at its best.

Know Your Nutritional Needs

There isn’t a specific diet known to promote fertility or increase the chances of conception, notes the Mayo Clinic, but a healthy diet is still important. When preparing for pregnancy, the Mayo Clinic suggests adjusting your diet to include the basic nutrients you’ll need when you’re pregnant:

  • Folate and folic acid: 800 micrograms a day. Good sources include leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits and dried beans and peas. Prevents birth defects.

  • Calcium: 1,000 milligrams a day. Good sources include milk, yogurt, cheese, juice, spinach and salmon. Strengthens bones.

  • Vitamin D: 600 IU a day. Good sources include fish, juice, milk, asparagus and eggs. Builds bones and teeth.

  • Protein: 71 grams a day. Good sources include lean meat, fish, eggs, poultry, dried beans, peanut butter and cottage cheese. Promotes growth.

  • Iron: 27 milligrams a day. Good sources include poultry, fish, red meat and dried fruit. Prevents anemia.

Have a Healthy Pre-Pregnancy Diet and Lifestyle

Exposure to toxic substances can negatively affect the reproductive systems of men and women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Contact with these materials can make it more difficult to get pregnant and can lead to disease. Protect your fertility by avoiding synthetic chemicals, bug spray, fertilizer, cat or rodent feces, alcohol, tobacco and street drugs. Your partner should do the same. Exposure to lead, heat, radiation and chemicals as well as the use of drugs (legal and illegal) and cigarettes can lead to male reproductive problems, such as lowered sperm count, and abnormal or altered sperm shape according to the CDC.

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Want To Save Money While Trying To Conceive? We Thought So!

by mroth April 11, 2013

We just re-branded and re-launched our awesome Your Fertility Deals website! We have over 25 free offers and coupons from all kinds of awesome fertility companies across the hemisphere, and the list is always growing and changing – so check it out. And make sure to subscribe today so you will be up to date [...]

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The Unique Impacts of Stress on Fertility

by mroth April 1, 2013

Guest Blog by Stacey Roberts, The Babymaker BSPT, Q Herbalist, Naturopath of Sharkeys Healing Centre Stress, it’s a nasty 6 letter word. No one wants to be stressed, but if you look around, it appears a lot of people are. Take Sue who I saw for fertility issues. She wants to have a baby but [...]

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Common Misconceptions about Minority Women and Infertility

by mroth March 26, 2013

Guest Blog by Mitra Khaksari Misconception: Minority women have children earlier, so they don’t experience fertility problems. Reality: While the media often portrays the stereotype of very young minority women having children (think Precious: Based on the novel Push by Sapphire), there are minority women who are pursuing education and careers who wait to have [...]

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The One Program So Important We Are Giving It Away For Free

by mroth March 21, 2013

Today I want to share a special story. Be forewarned, it’s not a happy story, but important for me to share with you and hopefully important enough for you to share with others. I truly hope that you can’t fully understand this, that you haven’t gone through this yourself, but you might have. The M-word. [...]

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How to deal with jealous and negative thoughts

by mroth March 21, 2013

The feelings of frustration, anger, and jealousy you experience when you see someone who is pregnant can be a confusing, painful and emotional rollercoaster. This is especially true when you feel like they have not had to undergo the struggles you have undergone and yet easily became pregnant. Scrutinizing every stranger on the street with [...]

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Most common types of male infertility can easily be corrected and treated without surgery

by mroth March 12, 2013

Guest Blog Post by Ron Thompson, MD, the creator of ToConceive Typically thought of as a woman’s problem, infertility affects four to six million men in the United States each year. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, one-third of cases of infertility occur because of problems in the man and one-third because of [...]

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3 Lessons from Forks Over Knives

by mroth March 5, 2013

I didn’t know what to expect when sitting down to watch the film Forks Over Knives, directed by Lee Fulkerson. I didn’t know if a movie about a vegan, whole foods diet would have much relevance to my life, but oh boy was I wrong! The premise is extremely simple, but eye opening as to [...]

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Circle + Bloom Announces Partnership With Ovuline

by mroth February 25, 2013

We are thrilled to partnering with the fabulous Ovuline, the only complete conception process designed by Harvard doctors and proven to reduce time to pregnancy by 50%. They’ve got everything covered, from fertility supplies to fertility tracking, and they give you one easy online and mobile tool to access your fertility forecast, data entry, reminders [...]

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Some tips for having a better conversation with your IVF Lab

by mroth February 20, 2013

This is a guest blog post by Carole C. Wegner, PhD, HCLD featured on Fertility Within Reach (“FWR”) blog, a nonprofit organization that focuses on educating the infertility community on how to advocate for access to family-building benefits, including infertility treatment. Davina, the co-founder of FWR, believes that when individuals are armed with information and [...]

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A Moment of Clarity by Greg Malouf

by mroth February 12, 2013

Guest Blog by Greg Malouf, founder of Epsilon Healing Academy I came to a point in my life where I felt like something was not working the way I wanted it to. I struggled with addiction, stress and anxiety, and had to go through a painful divorce. Once I was finally ready to make a [...]

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Why Does Nutrition Matter?

by mroth February 4, 2013

Did you ever think about the fact that we can be overfed and yet undernourished? It comes down to what we are eating, not how much we are eating. Most processed foods have been stripped of nutritional value with added flavorings and chemicals for a longer shelf lives. These foods may be quicker and cheaper [...]

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How to Stay Positive in the Face of Uncertainty and Fear

by mroth January 31, 2013

There are many times in one’s life where it seems utterly impossible to feel good and peaceful in the storms that dust up and seem to overwhelm us. On a very personal note, I am having one such occasion now. It involves a great period of uncertainty and it is very scary. I find myself [...]

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Following Your Yellow Brick Road

by mroth January 28, 2013

This is a guest blog post by Fertility Within Reach (“FWR”), a nonprofit organization that focuses on educating the infertility community on how to advocate for access to family-building benefits, including infertility treatment. Davina, the co-founder of FWR, believes that when individuals are armed with information and best-practice suggestions, they become their own best advocate [...]

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Review Of “Things We Don’t Talk About”: Woman’s Stories From The Red Tent

by mroth January 22, 2013

“Things We Don’t Talk About”: Woman’s Stories from the Red Tent is a recent documentary by filmmaker Isadora Gabrielle Leidenfrost that focuses on the Red Tent and the emerging Red Tent Movement. Here are 5 surprising things you can learn from the film: A Red Tent is a safe, woman-only space that fosters a supportive [...]

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The Fertility Diet: Research Illustrates Effects Of Diet And Other Natural Factors On Ovulation And Fertility

by mroth January 14, 2013

All of us here at Circle + Bloom have developed a greater interest in the dietary side of infertility. What we put into our body has a huge influence on our health and well-being, including fertility. In the upcoming months we plan to offer more blogs and recipes that focus on nutrition and fertility. To [...]

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5 Ways to Make Sure Your Resolutions Stick in 2013

by mroth January 6, 2013

From Joanne My daughter needed to write a funny haiku tonight for her homework assignment so I helped her out. Given that resolutions are top of mind right now, and everyone is in full gear to institute big change in their lives, we thought of a funny anecdote to make reference to the fact that [...]

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7 New Years Resolutions to Improve Your Fertility and Health

by mroth December 31, 2012

It’s that time of year again – New Years resolution time. Use your New Years resolution to focus on improving a few key elements that affect your well being! It doesn’t take much, just focus on making a few simple changes and you can boost your health and fertility. 1. Quit smoking – Smoking negatively [...]

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Samantha’s Success Story: Pregnant After Being Diagnosed With Endometriosis

by mroth December 24, 2012

Samantha shares with us her exciting news. After being diagnosed with endometriosis with laproscopic surgery scheduled for December 20th, Samantha decided to listen to our Natural Cycle program in October and November. She found out in early December that she conceived and is now 5 weeks pregnant. Congratulations to Samantha! We are so thrilled to [...]

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Cosmetic Surgery and Fertility: How it can Impact You

by mroth December 17, 2012

It’s not uncommon for women to undergo plastic surgery after giving birth, but did you ever think about what effects plastic surgery could have on your fertility before having a baby? Guest blogger Shoshana Davis, contributor to AboutPlasticSurgery.com let’s us know about some of the most popular procedures and what effects they can have on [...]

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How to Be Mindful During the Holidays in 350 Words

by mroth December 9, 2012

This post will help not just those who have the added stress of infertility, but for every one who wishes to not get too caught up in the enormous amount of busyness that has come to define the holiday season. Not only do you have the stress of shopping and finding that perfect gift, but [...]

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6 Tips for Surviving the Two-Week Wait

by mroth December 3, 2012

‘Did I get pregnant this month?’ ‘Will this be the month when my period is late?’ “Will the pregnancy test finally be positive?” If you have endured the two-week wait, guaranteed these questions have crossed your mind more than you would care to admit. The two-week wait, which is the time between ovulation and your [...]

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Happy Holidays from Circle + Bloom!

by mroth November 23, 2012

We are thrilled to announce that once again we will be running a 35% discount on all of our doctor recommended mind+body audio CDs and Mp3 programs for the holidays! The programs make great gifts for women who lead or want to lead a healthy life or who are trying to conceive. The discount also [...]

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Book Review of 999 Reasons to Laugh at Infertility

by mroth November 12, 2012

One of our favorite infertility bloggers, Naomi from 999 Reasons to Laugh at Infertility, has turned her hit blog into a book! The ‘Best of 999 Reasons to Laugh at Infertility‘ is now available on Amazon, and it includes an introduction by the hilarious Naomi herself, her tips on how to conceive (without going insane), [...]

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Introducing 3 NEW Titles on CD Format

by mroth November 5, 2012

Now our Frozen Embryo Transfer Program, Egg+Embryo Donation Program for the Hopeful Parent, and Egg Donation Program for the Donor are available on CD. Our FET program is a 11 session audio regimen that will guide you specifically through each stage of the FET procedure – from the first part of the regimen when you [...]

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Announcing The Fertility Planit Show!

by mroth October 29, 2012

We wanted to share with you some exciting news! Introducing, Fertility Planit! Fertility Planit is for helping people explore all options for having children and creating a family, and for all services that support them. It’s in essence a social marketplace that serves as a global meeting place for exchanging views and reviews, purchasing goods [...]

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999 Reasons to Laugh at Infertility

by mroth October 22, 2012

This special guest post is from one our fav infertility bloggers – Naomi from 999 Reasons to Laugh at Infertility. One of our earliest blog supporters, we heart Naomi and think she is one of the wittiest writers who doesn’t fear to cross the line. Respect! In the infertility world, I like to think my [...]

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Free 6 Month Membership from My Hopeful Journey

by mroth October 15, 2012

We are so excited to announce our new partnership with My Hopeful Journey!!! We will now include a free 6 month membership to My Hopeful Journey with any purchase of our programs. My Hopeful Journey is a web-based calendar, task list and journal for women that are trying to conceive. It is customized for infertility [...]

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You asked, we answer! The top 8 Q&As about Circle + Bloom

by mroth October 10, 2012

Hello! We wanted to take the opportunity to share some of our most commonly asked questions about Circle + Bloom with you. For more questions and answers, check out our FAQs page at circlebloom.com/faqs or email any of us with specific questions. We hope that this will give you a clearer understanding of how our [...]

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Award winning infertility advocate, Keiko has lots to say about our programs

by mroth October 1, 2012

Keiko Zoll from The Infertility Voice reviewed our Egg+Embryo Donation Program for the Hopeful Parent. Keiko Zoll is a leading infertility and women’s health writer. Writing since 2009, she has chronicled her personal journey with infertility as she and her husband seek to build their family through assisted reproductive technology. What started as an anonymous [...]

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Recognizing the Man’s Emotional Struggle with Infertility

by mroth September 24, 2012

Infertility is an emotional journey, no matter who you are. But often we forget to focus on the emotional struggle men face when dealing with infertility. Sometimes this struggle is not as apparent, since male counterparts in infertile couples often try to remain strong and optimistic for their partner. In addition, women sometimes take much [...]

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Find Your Talent

by mroth September 17, 2012

Guest Blog by Katrina McKee, Energy & Empowerment Coach, who specializes in Wellness for Women and holds certifications in Foot Reflexology, Hot and Cold Stone Therapeutic Massage and Natural Health Fundamentals. Thus encompassing balance in Mind, Body and Spirit. Have you seen the movie Tinkerbell? As she arrives at Fairy Hollow a huge ceremony is [...]

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The 13 Key Questions to Ask Your Reproductive Endocrinologist

by mroth September 10, 2012

You know that saying “Knowledge is power”? Well turns out it’s actually true. The more you know the less nervous you’ll be when dealing with a new situation, and you will have greater control over what happens. Fertility treatment certainly presents many overwhelming, confusing, and intimidating situations to overcome. For example, when you meet your [...]

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Birth Control’s Affect on Fertility

by mroth September 4, 2012

Can your choice of birth control impact your fertility in the future? When it comes to figuring out what effect your birth control has on your fertility, you have to wade through a lot of myth and misinformation. All of the contradictory responses about how contraceptives such as the Pill, the IUD (intrauterine device), and [...]

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How to Become Open to Life

by mroth August 28, 2012

Guest article written by Leo Babauta from ZenHabits We love the blog ZenHabits. It’s chuck-full of inspiring posts designed to help you build new long-lasting habits while living a purpose-driven life. We were especially delighted to read this, his latest post, and thought we would share it with you. And thank you Leo for your [...]

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Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET)

by mroth August 27, 2012

Frozen Embryo Transfer (FET) – sounds like a crazy science experiment, doesn’t it? But for those dealing with infertility, FET can be a very real, very promising way of having a child. So what exactly is FET? Well, the description kind of sounds like a bit complicated, but the concept is relatively simple. When a [...]

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The Affordable Care Act – What It Means For Infertility Health Care

by mroth August 20, 2012

Recently, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Affordable Care Act is constitutional. While reactions to this news varied, many people celebrated the decision with a smile on their face. But what does this mean for infertility health care? Should you be celebrating too? The answer is, maybe. The biggest impact the affordable health [...]

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The mind body connection and fertility

by mroth August 15, 2012

Guest Blog by Lenore Pranzo, a CT Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and co-founder of Fertility Wellness Group, LLC. Fertility Wellness Group, LLC offers on-line fertility enhancing workshops and private coaching sessions that will help empower women to write about their own fertility struggles, which will lead to positive endings. You can learn more about [...]

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Finally Seeing Infertility as a Journey

by mroth August 13, 2012

Guest post by Amanda L. Johnson, a nutrition and wellness coach specializing in natural fertility guidance and enhancement, as well as supporting the health and wellness of clients during the process of advanced fertility treatment. At the fairly young age of 26 I started my journey trying to conceive knowing that I had polycystic ovarian [...]

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Become Empowered! How to Communicate with your Legislator to Achieve Fertility Health Care and Family Building Legislation

by mroth August 10, 2012

During my time working for a state senator, I was continually amazed by how personal letters, emails, and calls from constituents made such an impact on the office. For some reason, I had assumed that someone in such a position of power would be unable to actually take the time to listen to or care [...]

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Chinese Medicine and Circle and Bloom

by mroth August 2, 2012

Guest Blog by Cecil Horwitz R.Ac D.Ac CH, acupuncturist of Whole Family Health, and Acupuncture for Fertility & Pregnancy. Cecil Horwitz graduated with honours from Grant MacEwan University’s School of Acupuncture in 2008. While practicing acupuncture he developed a passion for alternative, natural treatment options for women with pregnancy-related issues. He decided to specialize in [...]

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Speak Up! How to Receive the Infertility Coverage You Need From your Employer

by mroth July 31, 2012

It’s unlikely that you considered a company’s fertility benefits when you chose your job. Especially when you think about the economy, choosing a job while keeping in mind its implications for your fertility needs is implausible. Or maybe you already knew about your infertility treatment plan when considering a company, but don’t know what questions [...]

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How to Beat the Big Bad Insurance Company to Get the Infertility Treatments You Need and Deserve

by mroth July 26, 2012

Insurance. I bet half of you just tensed up, and the other half’s eyes have already started glazing over. Hang in there, this is important! If you can get past your initial apprehension about having to deal with the often bureaucratic nightmare that is insurance coverage, you are in a position to really help yourself [...]

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