The Women’s Health Playbook

EPISODE 3 — We all know about trimesters one, two, and three, but what about the crucial three to nine months before conception? In this episode of The Women's Health Playbook, host Priya Bathija sits down with Dr. Afrouz Demeri, a licensed naturopathic doctor specializing in endocrinology and natural fertility, as well as the creator of the Trimester Zero course. Together, they explore the importance of checking both partners’ health before pregnancy – much like inspecting a new home before moving in. Dr. Demeri explains why preconception health begins with men, how to impact egg and sperm quality in the 90-day maturation window, which lab tests to request from your doctor, and how to self-advocate when a provider tells you to "just keep trying for a year." In this episode, we walk you through these key topics: Defining Trimester Zero: Why the three to nine months before conceiving serve as the foundational "inspection" window for both partners' long-term health and pregnancy outcomes. Why Preconception Care Starts with Men: Sperm takes roughly 64 to 74 days to regenerate and another two to three weeks to mature—meaning diet, sleep, alcohol, cannabis, and lifestyle can drastically improve sperm DNA fragmentation within 90 days. The 90-Day Egg Maturation Cycle: While women are born with their lifetime supply of eggs, the follicle recruited for ovulation is shaped by the hormonal environment, nutrient availability, and inflammation present in the body over the preceding three months. Navigating the Doctor's Appointment: How to ask your clinician for a true ACOG[1]-recommended preconception counseling baseline rather than settling for a standard obstetric screen (HIV, hepatitis, syphilis). The Clinical Role of Nervous System Regulation: How physiological stress, over-restriction, and anxiety signal reproductive suppression to the ovaries, and why creating a sense of safety is essential for ovulation and conception. Environmental & Habit Shifts: Low-lift swaps to protect fertility, from cutting blue light exposure and eliminating microwaved plastics to prioritizing sleep and plant-forward nutrition. Explore more episodes and get the full breakdown including show notes, tactics, resources, and complete transcript at womenshealthplaybook.com.

EPISODE 2 — Whether you never wanted children, experienced repeated fertility loss, or decided against parenting solo, living without kids in America often means confronting a cultural wall of unsolicited advice, judgment, and expectations. In this episode of The Women's Health Playbook, host Priya Bathija opens up about her personal journey of choosing a childfree life and sits down with Dr. Jessica Zucker, clinical psychologist, author of Normalize It and I Had a Miscarriage, and founder of the viral #IHadaMiscarriage movement. Together, they unpack the trifecta of silence, stigma, and shame that surrounds women's reproductive decisions, how to process the non-linear waves of reproductive grief, and practical strategies for setting firm boundaries with family members who question your path In this episode, we walk you through these key topics: The Reality of Childfree Trends: Acknowledging recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics that 39% of women in their 20s and 57% of women in their 30s without children do not expect to have them. The Trifecta of Silence, Stigma & Shame: How societal pressure pushes women into believing motherhood is an obligatory duty rather than an intentional choice, leading to the assumption that childfree women "dislike kids" or are "less of a woman." Navigating Non-Linear Grief: Why grief—whether resulting from infertility, pregnancy loss, or the cultural friction of walking an unconventional path—is circuitous rather than a problem to be permanently solved. The Trap of "Bright-Siding": Why toxic positivity, clichés, and attempts to "fix" reproductive sadness alienate people, and why holding space for painful emotions is essential. The Evolution of Personal Boundaries: How Bathija and Dr. Zucker view the transition from over-explaining and defending a life choice to simply stating: "I'm good. I like my life." How Parents Can Support Childfree Friends: Why the burden of educating others shouldn't fall exclusively on childfree individuals, and how loved ones can honor different life paths without unsolicited advice. Explore more episodes and get the full breakdown including show notes, tactics, resources, and complete transcript at womenshealthplaybook.com.

EPISODE 1 — Whether you want to have a baby, are committed to living childfree, or are sitting firmly on the fence, deciding whether to grow a family is one of the biggest choices you'll ever make. In this Season 2 opener of The Women's Health Playbook, host Priya Bathija kicks off our step-by-step pregnancy guide by tackling "The Pregame Decision." Priya is joined by Dr. Asima Ahmad, a triple board-certified physician in OB/GYN, reproductive endocrinology/infertility, and obesity medicine – as well as the chief medical officer at Carrot Fertility. Together, they break down the biological clock, fertility preservation options, out-of-pocket costs, and the essential blood tests every woman should ask for… long before she is ready to conceive. In this episode, we walk you through these key topics: Holistic Reproductive Health: Why fertility and hormonal health are part of one continuous story, rather than fragmented, isolated stages of healthcare. The Biological Clock Unfiltered: The clinical difference between egg quantity and egg quality, plus why ovaries and the uterus age at completely different rates. Fertility Diagnostics to Ask For: How an anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) blood test evaluates your ovarian reserve, and why a semen analysis serves as a vital overall health biomarker for men. Fertility Preservation & Costs: Breaking down the financial realities of fertility preservation and how to navigate employer benefit mandates. Medical Reasons for Preservation: How cancer treatments, surgeries, such as like appendectomies, or autoimmune conditions can impact fertility and warrant proactive planning. Explore more episodes and get the full breakdown including show notes, tactics, resources, and complete transcript at womenshealthplaybook.com.

Being a woman of childbearing age in America comes with relentless noise—from societal pressure to family expectations and government policy. In Season 2 of The Women’s Health Playbook, host Priya Bathija cuts through the clutter to deliver the real, unfiltered truth about the biggest decisions you’ll make about your body. From deciding whether to have children or live childfree, to workplace rights, trimesters zero to four, labor and delivery, and the crucial year postpartum, this season equips you with the expert plays needed to navigate healthcare every step along the way. Key Highlights This Season The Decision: Navigating fertility options, societal expectations, and choosing a childfree path without guilt. Workplace & Patient Rights: Knowing your legal protections from conception through postpartum, plus advocating for yourself as the CEO of your body. Equity in Parenting: Setting gender roles aside to build true partnership and shared load with your spouse. Trimesters 0 through 4: A medical roadmap through every phase of pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum recovery. Lifelong Impact: Why your pregnancy history becomes a permanent part of your lifelong health record. Explore more episodes and get the full breakdown including show notes, tactics, resources, and the complete transcript at womenshealthplaybook.com. And, to get additional tips and strategies, subscribe to our Substack at womenshealthplaybook.substack.com. Chapters (00:00:02) - Introduction to Season Two

SPECIAL EPISODE 2 — When host Priya Bathija first read The Pain Gap: How Sexism and Racism in Healthcare Kill Women by Anushay Hossain during a holiday break, she found herself  highlighting the jaw-dropping stats on page after page. In this powerful special episode of Priya's Picks, Priya sits down with Anushay—author, activist, and podcast host—to explore the lethal realities of medical gaslighting and systemic bias in the U.S. healthcare system. After nearly dying during childbirth, Anushay transformed her personal trauma into a crusade to expose the "pain gap," the "knowledge gap," and the systemic refusal to believe women's lived experiences. Together, they discuss why maternal mortality disproportionately impacts women of color, how to navigate doctor burnout, and why putting your own health first is an act of necessity, not selfishness. In this episode, we walk you through these key topics: The Pain Gap Defined: How systemic biases cause healthcare providers to dismiss, misdiagnose, or delay treating women's pain compared to men's pain (e.g., waiting 45 minutes longer in emergency rooms). The Credibility & Knowledge Gap: The history behind why women were excluded from clinical trials until 1993, and why society regularly assumes women are "hysterical," "dramatic," or "drug-seeking" when reporting severe symptoms. Maternal Mortality & Racial Disparities: Unpacking why Black women are 243% (3 to 4 times) more likely to die in childbirth than white women, regardless of income, education, or celebrity status. Perimenopause, PMDD & Hormonal Literacy: How a lack of medical training around female hormones leaves millions of women navigating midlife conditions completely unassisted. Viewing Healthcare as a Team Effort: Why you—the patient—are the most critical member of your medical team, and how finding a collaborative clinician can change your life. Breaking the "Self-Abandonment" Cycle: Why women are socialized to treat their own pain as an inconvenience, and how to start putting on your own oxygen mask first. Explore more episodes and get the full breakdown including show notes, tactics, resources, and the complete transcript at womenshealthplaybook.com. And, to get additional tips and strategies, subscribe to our Substack at womenshealthplaybook.substack.com.