Topics  >  Patient Self-Advocacy

Patient Self-Advocacy

Two people walking together, one has their hand on the other's shoulder providing a form of mental health support.

Sometimes, support is necessary to deal with mental health issues

A person looking out a window and wondering how to manage depression

Managing depression in everyday life: Helpful routines

At what point should I call the doctor about depression?

Woman speaking intently with another woman

Substance Use Resources

Digital graphic of candle, someone sleeping, a yoga mat, and other items that help reduce stress.

Stressless Fest recap

People practicing yoga to increase fertility and conceive.

Can yoga help me conceive?

A women in gynecologist office talking to doctor about genital infections.

Everything you need to know about yeast infections, UTIs, and bacterial vaginosis

A women at computer reading about what she should've learned in sex ed class.

Five things you should have learned in Sex Ed

A person posing in several positions with their body while practicing self love for her body.

How to fall more in love with your body

Graphic showing the 3 versions of the reproductive system in a female that represents different types of artificial insemination.

Different types of artificial insemination available

Graphic that represents a type of birth control method.

Finding the right birth control for you 

Graphic of a type of birth control for women.

Debunking birth control myths

Graphic showing three types of long acting reversible contraception options.

Why are Long Acting Reversible Contraception options so popular?

Graphic showing three different types of birth control to talk to your doctor about.

Consider this before you talk to your healthcare provider about birth control

Person shaking the hand of their new healthcare provider.

Switching healthcare providers: What you should know

A person holding a pregnancy test.

Taking a pregnancy test: Facts and fiction

Image of fried fish and asperagus.

Nutrition to boost male fertility

Image of potentially unsafe household cleaning products.

Nail polish, bug spray, house paint, and more: Just what’s safe?

Image of a woman making healthy snack alternative.

Healthy snack food alternatives

A woman speaking with healthcare provider.

Being your own health care advocate

A primary health provider giving their patient an examination.

Making sure your PCP is right for you

Image of one pregnant woman and her friend talking over a cup of coffee.

Building and maintaining a strong support network while TTC

Different types of reproductive healthcare providers

Image of person getting their blood pressure checked at their primary care provider (PCP) appointment.

What to expect at an appointment with your primary care provider

Image of chicken and vegetables chopped up next to a knife on a cutting board.

Foods to fix iron-deficiency anemia

Image of a forest.

Five things that might happen after pregnancy loss

A person looking at their pregnancy test.

The best time to take a home pregnancy test

A person looking out the window with a sad expression.

Trying again

A person in a support group.

Finding support after a pregnancy loss 

Two people sitting by a window and talking.

How to cope after a pregnancy loss

A person leaning against the wall and looking away.

When will my cycle go back to normal?

A couple laying on their bed and giving each other back rubs.

The details about sex after miscarriage

Image of a pile of tampons.

Can tampons affect your fertility? 

Graphic of the poison symbol.

Why do you keep hearing about “toxins”?

A person doing yoga on a mat.

Alternative therapies for fertility

A person laughing while on their phone and drinking out of a mug.

Clearing up common fertility misconceptions

A person smiling while texting on their phone.

Smoking and fertility

A person talking to their male partner about fertility.

Talking to a male partner about his fertility

A couple sitting on the couch and looking at their tablet.

Male fertility myths busted

A vegetarian soup.

How fertility and vegetarian diets work

“Is it safe to skip my period?” and other common birth control questions

A person reading a book.

The ABCs of TTC: The acronyms you need to know when trying to conceive

A woman sitting with dog.

Managing anxiety while TTC

Graphic that states: "Women’s history through her healthcare" for Women's History Month 2021

Observing Women’s History Month 2021 through her healthcare

Two people kissing.

How to best support your future fertility – even before you start trying

A pile of different colored condoms.

Things condoms can’t always prevent

A healthcare provider examining a patient.

Finding the healthcare provider who’s right for you

A person calculating their budget if they get pregnant without health insurance.

Off the grid: don’t have insurance while TTC?

A person putting out their cigarette and wondering how smoking may affect fertility.

Fertility tips: quit smoking

A barista serving coffee to a customer and wondering about shift work and fertility.

Fertility tips: What’s the danger of shift work?

A couple in the kitchen about to have the fertility talk.

The talk: your partner and fertility

A person sitting cross-legged practicing a breathing meditation.

Take a deep breath: How simple breathing can help you start meditating 

A person sitting on couch.

Early signs of implantation

A group of friends with children.

The TTC blues: friends with kids

A couple smiling for a picture.

Lights, camera, conception! A pre-pregnancy checklist

A woman drinking water.

Fertility tips: The importance of water

A woman buying healthy foods.

Fertility tips: Go organic

A couple riding bikes through a forest.

Doing you: protecting your emotional health while TTC

A baby bird standing next to three eggs in the grass.

When to count your eggs

A happy couple hugging each other.

Spicing up TTC sex

A person checking their phone.

Should I use an ovulation predictor kit?

A plate of chicken and vegetable skewers.

Four nutrition tips to improve male fertility

A bucket of household products that may affect fertility.

Household items that could affect fertility

A person looking up symptoms of sperm allergy on their laptop.

Could you have a sperm allergy?

Several woman in yoga class to help reduce stress for fertility.

Can yoga help me conceive?

A close up representation of several sperm throughout their lifespan.

What’s the lifespan of sperm after ejaculation?

Pills and tablets on a teal background to represent prenatal vitamins.

Should you be taking a prenatal vitamin when TTC?

A glass with a green drink that has many nutrients to help with fertility.

The most important nutrients to include in your preconception diet

A person with sunglasses on walking and holding a cigarette.

Seven things to avoid while TTC

A woman looking at vitamins and other supplements that may help boost her fertility.

Five herbal supplements used to boost fertility

A woman doing yoga in the park as a way to prepare for pregnancy.

Five of the best ways you can prepare your body for pregnancy right now

A woman holding phone looking up information on how to track fertility.

Self-tracking devices and fertility: everything you need to know

Two people lie on their stomachs on a bed smiling at each other

Trying to conceive in a bigger body

Man and woman look at each other in the kitchen

Trying to conceive in a smaller body

A woman sitting on couch wondering if antidepressants affect fertility.

Are antidepressants safe when trying to conceive?

A woman sitting with underwear by her ankles.

Can I douche while I’m TTC?

A woman drinking tea while looking up information on her computer about herbal remedies for fertility during ovulation.

Can herbal remedies help me get pregnant?

Several Clomid fertility pills in a package

Can Clomid help me get pregnant?

A person dealing fortune cards.

The 24 weirdest fertility myths

A person using their laptop and wondering if it may impact male fertility.

Will my laptop hurt my fertility?

A person checking their heart rate while exercising.

Will exercising too much hurt my fertility?

A couple laying together on the couch.

Can saliva hurt sperm?

A woman holding a pregnancy test

Common emotions when TTC

A couple in bed smiling and holding each other.

Should I wait a day between sex when fertile?

A sink with running faucet.

How can cervical fluid problems affect conception?

A person talking on the phone while using their laptop to represent stress when trying to conceive.

Am I too stressed to get pregnant?

A couple in bed holding each other close.

Will having orgasms help me conceive?

12 different drawings of lightbulbs to represent tips on how to get pregnant fast

18 tips to get pregnant faster that actually work

A couple smiling while laying in bed and holding hands.

What are the best sex positions for conceiving?

A couple laying in bed and looking at a pregnancy test.

Getting pregnant after diagnosed infertility

A woman looking at her pregnancy test and wondering how to take it.

How to take a pregnancy test

Many flowers sitting in the sun to represent new beginnings, or lifestyle changes to make that may boost fertility.

Lifestyle changes that may boost your fertility to improve your chances of conceiving

How to use your fertility chart

A person looking up information on their phone on how to conceive fast.

Are you TTC? How Ovia can help you conceive faster

A person on their cell phone looking up causes of infertility.

Causes of infertility

A person reading a book and using their laptop to look up information about their infertility consultation.

What to expect at your first infertility consultation

A patient coordinator writing down something on a piece of paper.

Your initial conversation with a patient coordinator

A person using the calculator on their phone to calculate fertility treatment costs

Fertility costs and insurance coverage

A fertility specialist writing on a piece of paper.

Why seek a fertility specialist

A happy couple holding each other lovingly to represent getting pregnant after 35.

Trying to conceive when 35 and older

Waiting For Second Baby. Side View Portrait Of Happy Pregnant Black Woman And Her Little Daughter Bonding Together At Home, Copy Space

What you need to know about birth spacing

A sad woman lying with her head in her partner's lap.

Miscarriage: what it is, why it happens, and how it can affect future pregnancies

A couple and one is kissing the other on the forehead to people that have been trying to get pregnant for over a year.

Over one year of TTC

A smiling couple.

Other options

A couple talking to a medical professional with a clipboard about infertility testing.

Trouble conceiving? Get tested for infertility

A woman cutting up vegetables in the kitchen to represent eating healthy to help fertility.

A healthy lifestyle today can lead to a healthy pregnancy tomorrow: what you can do now

A person consulting with their healthcare provider.

Why you need a trusted healthcare provider when trying to conceive

A couple working on finances to represent costs of having a baby

Finances of having a baby

A couple talking about the effects of smoking and drinking on fertility.

How smoking and alcohol can affect fertility

A person using a spoon to eat from a bowl of oats and strawberries to represent foods to eat while trying to conceive.

Nutrition to promote fertility

Couple dances in the kitchen, smiling at each other

Keep it sexy: How to stay satisfied and not stressed when you’re trying to get pregnant

Multiple people working out to represent exercise and fertility.

Exercise and fertility

Fertilized egg colored half in blue, half in pink to represent how to choose sex of your baby.

Choosing your baby’s sex: Is it possible?

Vials of blood in front of a medical form to represent genetic testing before pregnancy.

Why you might want to get genetic testing before getting pregnant

A smiling couple to represent how to talk to your partner about kids.

You’re ready to have a baby, but is your partner?

An illustrated birth control methods to represent how long it may take to get pregnant stopping it.

Getting pregnant after birth control

A person running because good physical health affects fertility.

From superfoods to smoking: what can help and hurt your fertility

A couple looking at their phone looking up information on how to track the fertile window.

Tracking fertility to get pregnant faster

A person sitting outside on their cellphone looking up information about ovulation and the fertility window.

When exactly can you get pregnant? All you need to know about the fertile window

Ovia Fertility Calendar with fertile window.

Conception planning and your fertile window

woman speaks to her provider

7 stubborn fertility myths we’re ready to retire

Many clocks to represent how long should it take to get pregnant.

Getting pregnant: How long should it take?

woman sits at the kitchen counter looking at her phone

How you can benefit from tracking your fertility if you’re TTC

Woman sitting on the couch, blowing her nose with the flu during flu season.

Do you know when the flu season comes around?

A woman on foam roller.

Four common workout injuries and how to avoid them

A couple hugging each other representing to how to maintain a healthy relationship.

Maintaining a healthy relationship takes work

A woman lifting weights and practicing their strength training.

The importance of strength training

Woman, seated on couch, looks at her phone

Investigating the 2,000 calorie diet

A woman cooking and eating in kitchen.

Five “superfoods” that might not be so super

Woman practicing self advocacy at doctors office because she is talking about her healthcare.

How to advocate for yourself as a patient to get the care you deserve

A person making healthy drink to represent tracking food and drink when trying to conceive.

Tracking your food and drink intake with Ovia

Coconuts and coconut oil.

Coconut oil: the (controversial) crowd-pleaser

Image of a person exercising at home near their staircase.

Exercises you can do in your living room

A person looking out a window and wondering how to manage depression

Managing depression in everyday life: Helpful routines

A person on their computer looking up quick stretching routines they can do at home.

Sit at a desk all day? Easy stretches to do on your next break

A person stretching.

Tracking your activity with Ovia

A woman asleep in her bed because she learned how to sleep better.

Five small changes that can help you sleep better than ever

A woman on her phone in bed, representing an activity she should avoid before bed.

Before bedtime no-nos: Stuff to avoid that won’t help you sleep

Two people walking together, one has their hand on the other's shoulder providing a form of mental health support.

Sometimes, support is necessary to deal with mental health issues

A person watching a meditating video on their laptop while meditating.

The basics of meditation

A person practicing a type of meditation in their bedroom.

Mindfulness to mantra: Different kinds of meditation

A person meditating outdoors as part of their daily routine.

Seven strategies for getting started with a meditation practice

A person meditating in a room .

Seven misconceptions about meditation, debunked

At what point should I call the doctor about depression?

A person at the grocery store trying to pick what they're going to buy.

Wild vs. farmed fish: unraveling the truth

How the HPV vaccine can help prevent cancer

Two women smiling while talking about how to be an advocate for their healthcare.

Advocate for your health by bringing a support person with you to appointment

Women interviewing healthcare providers to decide if they are responsible.

When not to settle: choosing the healthcare provider who is responsible

A couple learning how to have better sex by being more affectionate and touching each other's faces in bed.

Have better sex by connecting with yourself and your partner 

Woman in bed trying to increase her deep sleep by reading and drinking tea.

Bedtime goodies that may help you boost that deep sleep already

A woman who understands the importance of sleep taking a day time nap in her bed.

Restful nights can make happy days: Are you getting enough sleep?

A couple's feet while they lay in bed and talk about the importance of consent.

Consent: What is it and why is it so important?

This image represents a person talking about sex with their partner while laying in bed.

Learn to communicate better in the bedroom and really connect

A couple laughing and cuddling in bed to represent having consent for sex.

The sexy side of consent: Learn to talk about it

A couple standing close together and smiling while discussing the definition of consent.

Clear communication is the backbone of consent

A person checking their phone while also using her laptop to research information about the BRCA gene.

Learn about the BRCA gene and why it’s important

A person jogging during their cardio routine.

Cardio helps with your health: Great reasons to start a routine

Two women running outside.

A beginner’s guide to exercise: starting at square one

A woman looking down at her drink wondering whether there are signs of an unhealthy relationship with her partner.

Feeling unsafe? Recognize these unsafe behaviors

A graphic of a leaf growing to represent the Ovia Fertility application.

How Ovia can help you be your healthiest, happiest self

An egg traveling in fallopian tubes to indicate ovulation signs.

All about ovulation: One egg’s epic journey

A doctor talking to their patient about what to expect from a future Pap smear with a clipboard in their hand.

Are you getting a Pap smear? Here’s the process.

A person traveling checking their map to represent the question: 'how does travel affect ovulation?'

When your cycle’s out of sync: how travel can affect ovulation

Three people talking and getting ready to go for a run as part of their exercise routine.

How to start an exercise routine – and stick with it

Image of a plate of food containing rice, tomatoes and fish.

From food pyramids to “MyPlate”: USDA food guides and what they mean for you

People shopping for oil at the grocery store.

Oils are awesome: From olive to argan, the best oils you didn’t realize

Image of dairy products and nuts.

So you’ve decided to give up dairy…

Image of spoons with different seeds in them.

What’s the deal with gluten?

Image of a person with several multivitamins in their hand.

Good for you or good for nothing? What you should know about taking a multivitamin

Image of a persons reproductive eggs in a microscope.

Pros and cons of freezing your eggs

Image of leafy greens that could be included in a new, healthy diet.

Six meals to boost your greens

Image of abstract cycles to represent a normal or irregular period cycle.

Menstrual cycle length: Just what’s normal? 

A pile of low-dose aspirin.

Low-dose aspirin: What’s the deal?

A person stretching in the middle of their run.

How important is stretching…or is it?

A person using a big sun hat as protection while they sit outside on a sunny day.

Tips to keep yourself safe from sun damage

A person checking their watch while holding their phone.

Obvious and not-so-obvious benefits of exercise

Woman getting a mammogram screening from her doctor.

Understand your mammogram screening

A person using their phone to track moods when trying to conceive

Tracking your moods with Ovia

Image of three multi-colored tampons .

Managing your period as a trans, genderqueer, or non-binary person

A person working from home on a laptop.

Your new WFH guide: How to work from home the right way

A person holding the area near their uterus to represent endometriosis.

Endometriosis

Graphic of a person's uterus to represent the menstrual period.

You do uterus: How to be kind to yourself during your period

A person sitting with their hands clasped wondering where to get an abortion.

Where can I access an abortion clinic?

Sperm swimming towards an egg in a microscope to represent what conception is.

Learn about conception: Babymaking 101

A graphic of a drop on an ovulation test to represent the importance of tracking your ovulation test with Ovia Fertility.

Tracking your ovulation tests with Ovia

Graphic of underwear to represent cervical fluid tracking.

Tracking your cervical fluid with Ovia

A thermometer to indicate tracking basal body temperature.

Tracking your basal body temperature with Ovia

A bed to represent how sleep and fertility are connected.

Tracking your sleep with Ovia

A healthy salad with dressing on it.

Nutritious salad dressing options

Fish, nuts, and seeds to represent foods in a diet that contain omega 3 and 6.

Are you getting your omegas? 

A cellphone, pen, bag, and other items on a bed to represent using Ovia Fertility versus other tools to track your ovulation.

Using Ovia to track your ovulation – even with an irregular cycle

Image of avocados, nuts, and fish, representing foods that contain healthy fats.

The good, the bad, the misunderstood: What you need to know about fats

Person circling a day on the calendar with a pink marker to represent how to track your period.

When’s your period? How to track yours with Ovia, and how we predict when it will come next

A person using the Ovia Fertility tracker on their cellphone device.

From cervical fluid to sleep: How tracking your body’s signs and symptoms can identify when you ovulate

Vegetables tomato and avocado arranged in a plate to help them look tasty.

Five vegetables for people who hate vegetables

A couple discussing how effective the pull-out method is.

Is the pull-out method safe?

Image of the feet of several people walking on a treadmill.

Five exercise myths busted

Scientist examining a patient's blood sample in a lab.

What you should know about the Zika virus

A health symbol to represent tracking physical symptoms of ovulation with Ovia Health.

Aches, cramps, and swollen breasts: why you should track your physical symptoms

A person looking up signs of PCOS on their cellphone.

Could I have PCOS?