For decades, women were handed a birth control prescription and sent home. Side effects were minimized. Questions were met with reassurance instead of real information. That left a vacuum, and into that vacuum poured a wave of claims that hormonal birth control is toxic, wrecks your hormones, causes infertility, and takes years to recover from.
The truth? Birth control isn't as simple as "good" or "bad." It's nuanced, and nuance is exactly what the algorithm can't deliver in a 60-second video.
In this episode, Dr. Natalie Crawford is joined by Dr. Fran Haydanek, a board-certified OB/GYN, residency faculty member, and one of the most trusted physician voices in women's health on social media. Together, they unpack the biggest birth control myths and viral health claims, separating what's supported by evidence from what's misunderstood, oversimplified, or simply untrue.
No agenda. No fear. Just evidence-based medicine and two physicians who believe women deserve honest information to make the best decisions for their own bodies.
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:
* Whether hormonal birth control is actually harming your hormones or fertility
* Why so many birth control myths continue to spread online
* Which viral hormone claims are backed by evidence and which aren't
* How different birth control methods affect fertility, PMOS, and egg freezing
* What every woman should know before choosing, stopping, or changing birth control
* Why better conversations with your doctor can completely change your care
Whether you're choosing a birth control method, planning for pregnancy, managing PMOS, or simply trying to separate fact from fiction online, this episode will help you better understand your body and make more informed decisions with confidence.
Topics covered: hormonal birth control, birth control myths, birth control pill, fertility, infertility, PMOS, post birth control syndrome, hormonal IUDs, IUD insertion pain, Depo-Provera, Nexplanon, tubal ligation, salpingectomy, egg freezing, Dutch Test, estrogen dominance, adrenal fatigue, women's hormones, reproductive health.
00:00 Why birth control misinformation spread so fast
05:13 The list of doctors who will tie your tubes
08:52 Can you get your tubes untied later?
10:13 Does removing your tubes lower your ovarian cancer risk?
11:32 Does the pill treat PMOS or just mask it?
15:40 Does the pill ruin your hormones?
17:10 Do you need to detox from the pill?
17:50 When to stop the pill if you want to get pregnant
19:30 Annual visit vs problem visit, and why it changes your care
22:05 Does birth control cause infertility?
23:15 Does the pill save your eggs for later?
27:00 Does Depo-Provera cause brain tumors?
29:47 Two doctors disagree about progestin IUDs
32:48 How patients changed IUD insertion pain
36:10 When to take out your IUD before trying
39:56 How your birth control affects an egg freezing cycle
41:50 Do blood draws cause miscarriage?
43:44 Do you need supplements for adrenal fatigue?
45:40 Is estrogen dominance real?
46:34 What is the Dutch test, and why won't most OB/GYNs order it?
FOLLOW DR. FRAN HAYDANEK:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pagingdrfran/?hl=en
Website: https://www.pagingdrfran.com/
You can listen to Dr. Haydanek’s podcast, I Did My Own Research, wherever you get your podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-did-my-own-research/id1879906055
AS A WOMAN WITH DR. NATALIE CRAWFORD:
* Earn FREE CE Credits: https://learnatpinnacle.com
* Watch on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLveZDgg3_HZ9m7Wy3C6Vvyrj_NtEOwj_l&si=1zAekOjCpsCdOgJN
* Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/as-a-woman/id1449553339
* Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/12IYOLH9liu60gk5D0bRPk?si=b1bfdc1998994e7f
* Follow Natalie on Substack: https://nataliecrawfordmd.substack.com
* Follow Natalie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliecrawfordmd
* Follow Natalie on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nataliecrawfordmd
Dr. Natalie Crawford's book, The Fertility Formula, is a science-backed, compassionate guide that helps women understand their hormones, optimize their health, and take charge of their fertility. Get your copy here: https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/book
You can learn more about Dr. Natalie Crawford’s practice here: https://www.forafertility.com
This episode is brought to you by The Pinnacle Podcast Network!
Disclaimer: Natalie Crawford, MD is a doctor but she is not your doctor. Infertility is trying to conceive for 1 year or more without pregnancy (if under age 35) and trying for 6 months or more if you are over the age of 35. If your periods are not regular, you should seek medical evaluation with your gynecologist or fertility doctor regardless of how long you have been trying to conceive.
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