As a Woman

When we face challenges with getting pregnant, it’s easy to feel like a passenger in a car with no control over the destination. In this episode, Dr. Natalie Crawford breaks down why fertility isn't just a matter of luck or age, but a reflection of your body’s fundamental physiologic foundations. By shifting the focus from quick fixes to the biological "radio static" that disrupts our hormones, Dr. Crawford empowers you to take the wheel through five non-negotiable lifestyle pillars. This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt like the fertility industry simplified their body down to a single number and wants to reclaim their agency.

What You’ll Learn:


The hidden "radio static" within your internal environment that causes the brain and ovaries to misfire.


The critical metabolic distinction between chronological age and the cellular competency of your reproductive system.


How a specific type of physical resistance serves as a "secret key" for glucose transport and hormonal balance.


The physiological domino effect of chronic stress that triggers a survival-mode fuel dump in the bloodstream.


The profound connection between the "vault" of eggs you are born with and the modern environmental triggers that accelerate genetic wear and tear.

Resources:


Order The Fertility Formula! ⁠https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/book⁠


Newsletter: nataliecrawfordmd.com/newsletter


Instagram: @nataliecrawfordmd


Youtube Channel: Natalie Crawford MD


Interested in becoming a patient?: Fora Fertility


Earn FREE CE/CME: Learn at Pinnacle App

This episode is brought to you by The Pinnacle Podcast Network. 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Natalie Crawford, board-certified OB-GYN and REI, answers your fertility questions.


What is your current interpretation of the scientific evidence on DHEA supplementation for women with low ovarian reserve and advanced maternal age who are preparing for IVF?


Can you use retinol skincare products while trying to conceive, or should they be avoided during TTC?


For someone in their early 30s who has been trying to conceive for over two years with no positive pregnancy tests and has completed multiple IUIs without success, what would you recommend as next steps or further evaluation?


What does it mean if someone notices type 4 cervical mucus occurring twice in a cycle, including again right before their period?


For a male partner taking finasteride for several years, is there evidence that it affects sperm quality or fertility outcomes, and should it be stopped when trying to conceive?


In lean PCOS, what additional steps can be taken before trying to conceive to help regulate ovulation and hormone balance, especially when cycles are irregular and progesterone is being used to induce a bleed?


How do varicoceles impact fertility outcomes even when a standard semen analysis appears normal, and what should patients understand about “normal” lab results versus actual sperm quality?


Is there anything that can be done to prevent varicoceles, and what causes them to develop in the first place?


When a semen analysis is reported as normal, how should patients and clinicians interpret that result, and what deeper factors might still need to be considered?

Order Dr. Crawford's debut book, The Fertility Formula, out now! https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/book

Want your questions answered on the next episode? ⁠Ask them here! https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/qa-submissions
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this solo episode, Dr. Natalie Crawford pulls back the curtain on why the current fertility system asks women to “fail first” before offering help and why she’s no longer accepting that as the norm. Drawing from both her professional experience and personal journey through infertility and pregnancy loss, she shares the deeper “why” behind her new book, The Fertility Formula. This conversation isn’t about fear, it’s about giving women the information they were never taught and the power to make decisions before time makes them for them. If fertility is finite, then understanding it sooner isn’t optional, it’s essential.

What You’ll Learn:


The surprising shift in reproductive statistics that makes the traditional "wait 12 months" rule a dangerous relic of the past.


The specific 90-day biological window where your daily choices directly influence egg and sperm quality before conception.


Why your menstrual cycle is actually a "top vital sign" and what its nuances reveal about your long-term longevity.


The invisible biological mechanism where chronic inflammation "hijacks" your reproductive potential and how to lower that burden.


The critical difference between genetic "luck" and the metabolic factors you can actually control to change your fertility outcome.

Resources:


Order The Fertility Formula! ⁠https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/book⁠


Newsletter: nataliecrawfordmd.com/newsletter


Instagram: @nataliecrawfordmd


Youtube Channel: Natalie Crawford MD


Interested in becoming a patient?: Fora Fertility


Earn FREE CE/CME: Learn at Pinnacle App

This episode is brought to you by The Pinnacle Podcast Network. 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Natalie Crawford, board-certified OB-GYN and REI, answers your fertility questions.


I’ve been on the progesterone-only pill for three years due to other medical concerns, and I recently stopped taking it because my husband and I are ready to start trying to conceive. What should I expect when coming off this type of pill? Are there any body changes to look out for, and how long does it typically take for cycles to regulate after stopping?


My husband and I have been trying to conceive for a year. I’m 30 and he’s 32. He was diagnosed with a varicocele, and his only borderline parameter is motility at 36%. I’ve been diagnosed with mild PCOS and had an HSG that suggested possible adhesions in one tube. Our fertility doctor recommended holding off on varicocele surgery and starting a medicated cycle. In cases like this, is surgery worth pursuing, or are treatments like medicated cycles or IUI typically sufficient?


I’m 38, have been trying to conceive for nearly two years, and have mild PCOS with regular cycles. I’ve had two chemical pregnancies and recently moved forward with IVF with PGT-A. I’m currently in the two-week wait after transfer but am experiencing brown spotting again during the luteal phase. With normal labs and no structural issues, what could be causing this recurring spotting?


I’m 33 with a history of severe endometriosis and large fibroids. I’ve had surgery that resulted in the loss of one ovary and tube. My AMH is 0.38, and there may be tubal blockage, though I haven’t had an HSG yet. I also froze eggs five years ago. How do you approach decision-making between continuing to try naturally, completing further testing, or moving directly to IVF in a case like mine?


I’m 43 and hoping to have a child through IVF. I have regular cycles, a history of miscarriage, ovarian cysts, and fibroids—one of which protrudes into the uterine cavity. My doctor has recommended laparoscopic surgery with a six-month recovery. Would you recommend pursuing egg retrieval and fertilization before surgery? And what are your thoughts on PRP for ovarian or uterine rejuvenation after surgery?

Pre-order Dr. Crawford's debut book, The Fertility Formula, now!https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/book

Want your questions answered on the next episode? Ask them here!https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/qa-submissions

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whether you’re just starting to think about your future family or you’ve been navigating the frustrating "one out of eight" (now one out of five) statistics for years, this conversation is for you. Host Dr. Natalie Crawford sits down with Emily Whitlock to peel back the curtain on the science of conception and the launch of Natalie’s new book, The Fertility Formula. This episode is all about moving past the "eyes glazed over" medical jargon to give you a clear, actionable roadmap for your reproductive health - because you can’t make empowered decisions on data you don’t actually have.

We talk about:
• What the first chapter is about and why it is the start of the book

• Important study findings

• Why infertility rates are increasing

• My personal favorite way to track my cycle

And more!

What You’ll Learn:


The Weather and the Runway: Why a specific "biological hailstorm" might be the hidden culprit behind communication breakdowns between your brain and your ovaries.


The Modern Inflammatory Storm: Exploring the shift in infertility rates and how our current environment dictates everything from sperm counts to miscarriage risk.


The 20% Accuracy Trap: Why relying solely on a period tracking app might be leading you astray and the "gold standard" combinations for fertility awareness.


The Biotin Blindspot: The surprising reason this common "hair, skin, and nails" supplement could be completely sabotaging your hormone lab results.


Kitchen-First Detox: The high-impact strategy for reducing endocrine disruptors and forever chemicals by changing how you handle heat and storage in your own home.

Resources:


Pre-Order The Fertility Formula ⁠https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/book⁠


Newsletter: nataliecrawfordmd.com/newsletter




Instagram: @nataliecrawfordmd


Youtube Channel: Natalie Crawford MD


Interested in becoming a patient?: Fora Fertility


Earn FREE CE/CME: Learn at Pinnacle App

This episode is brought to you by The Pinnacle Podcast Network.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices