CHARLOTTE MULLER, FERTILITY YOGI

Atelier Nubio - 09/10/2019

On January 29, 2019, for our #6 talk at the Atelier Nubio concept store, we hosted Charlotte Muller, who teaches "fertility yoga," and Dr. Debache, an obstetrician-gynecologist, infertility specialist, and former medical director of the Clinique de la Muette.

This talk was dedicated to the holistic treatment of infertility.

Interview with Charlotte Muller

How did you discover your infertility?

In 2012, at 27, after years abroad, first in Asia, then in the USA, I left a law firm in Qatar to take a Legal Counsel position in a major CAC40 group.

This return to France was the first step in a quest for a "better life." Coming back to France, I had to find my bearings: new home, new neighborhood, new doctors, etc.

At the time, I had what I call a "neighborhood gynecologist." We all have such a doctor, chosen for convenience (a few streets from home or work), not for affinity, and even less for their reputation.

After 10 years on Diane 35 and Jasminelle birth control pills, this gynecologist and I decided it would be good to take a break and let my cycles self-regulate. A concept that intrigued me because before the pill, my cycles had never been regular.

I grew up in Paris and lead an active urban life: I exercise, go out a lot, travel. Being pragmatic and rational by nature, not having periods for several months had always seemed very practical, especially in the summer.

At 27, this worried me a little, and I searched for a list of gynecologists specializing in hormonal disorders and infertility.

Dr. Debache's name stood out as an obvious choice: former Medical Director of the Clinique de la Muette, France's leading IVF center in terms of the number of IVF cycles performed per year, known for its seriousness and benevolence.

An appointment in his office, an immediate ultrasound of my ovaries, and the diagnosis was almost instantaneous: I had Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), subsequently confirmed by blood tests.

On the ultrasound, my ovaries looked like raspberries with many small follicles that never matured. In other words, I wasn't ovulating because my body wasn't producing the adequate hormones.

PCOS is a hormonal disorder (and not a single disease) with variable symptoms: amenorrhea, skin imperfections, spots, weight gain, hair loss, hirsutism, etc.

When I was diagnosed in 2013, it affected 1 in 13 women.
In 2019, it affects up to 1 in 5 women in some countries.

What can you say about your experience with fertility treatment?

Between the ages of 23 and 27, I depended on four healthcare systems (Singapore, USA, Qatar, France).

I observed a very clinical approach (symptom → treatment), especially in the United States and France.

In the United States, IVF is not reimbursed and costs between $12,000 and $15,000, which limits access. However, there is no discrimination (couples, PGD, surrogacy, etc.).

In France, coverage is 100% (up to 4 IVF cycles before age 43), but reserved for heterosexual couples, with restrictions (PGD, surrogacy, egg freezing).

Treatments are highly supervised: injections, blood tests, regular monitoring. It is essential to choose a doctor you trust.

Is there a medical treatment? Does lifestyle play a role?

In France, between 1 in 5 and 1 in 10 women are affected by a PCOS diagnosis.

Lifestyle and diet play a major role.

Causes can be:

• hereditary
• environmental (endocrine disruptors)
• stress-related
• aggravated by an inflammatory diet

I had to re-learn how to listen to my body.

Stress is not just mental; it can be physical. Intense sports (like HIIT or marathon running) increase cortisol, adrenaline, and androgens, which disrupts ovulation.

The body prioritizes vital organs — ovaries are not among them.

How did you discover fertility yoga?

I discovered yoga in 2008 in Singapore.

After 9 years of practice, I became a Hatha yoga teacher in 2017, leaving law to launch my startup.

I studied the effects of yoga on fertility:

• a Harvard study: 20% → 55% IVF success rate
• a study in India: 40% → 63%

Fertility yoga:

• reduces stress
• adapts physical activity to the cycle
• improves chances of conception

I trained with international specialists.

This practice:

• combines Hatha yoga
• uses Apana energy
• stimulates ovaries via breathing
• includes meditation and relaxation

Goal: calmness and positivity.

Who are the women you support?

I teach 3 types of yoga:

• fertility
• pre/postnatal
• hormonal / menopause

My students:

• adolescents with irregular cycles
• women undergoing IVF treatment
• women planning pregnancy
• women in perimenopause or menopause

How to adapt exercise to the cycle?

Fertility yoga follows 2 phases:

Follicular phase (Day 1 to Day 14)

• high energy
• dynamic exercise recommended

Luteal phase (Day 15 to Day 28)

• dominant progesterone
• gentle practices recommended

Avoid:

• twists
• contractions
• breath of fire

Nutrition and fertility

During menstruation:

• contractions linked to prostaglandins
• also impacts intestines

➡️ Avoid:

• inflammatory foods
• hard-to-digest foods

A juice cleanse is ideal before periods

What good practices should be adopted?

• Talk openly about it
• Get gynecological follow-up
• Plan ahead from age 30
• Avoid stress
• Get enough sleep
• Limit endocrine disruptors
• Prefer natural products
• Adopt a simple, unprocessed diet
• Engage in appropriate physical activity