Perfect for anyone undergoing IVF, this episode explains frozen embryo transfer (FET) protocols, IVF timelines, and how to prepare for transfer day.

Dr. Natalie Crawford, board-certified OBGYN and REI, simplifies the technical roadmap of an embryo transfer so you can feel informed instead of overwhelmed. You’ll learn how doctors optimize timing, safety, and your unique medical history to improve IVF success rates.

What You’ll Learn:

- Fresh vs. Frozen: Why many clinics now favor frozen transfers.

- Transfer Protocols: Comparing "natural" vs. medicated cycles.

- IVF Timeline: The prep work required between retrieval and transfer.

- Transfer Day: A step-by-step guide to the procedure and the two-week wait.

Sponsored by EVLO Fitness: Go to https://evlofitness.com and use code AAW get 6 weeks free!

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.

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

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

Dr. Natalie Crawford sits down with physician and muscle-centric medicine expert Dr. Gabrielle Lyon to explore why skeletal muscle is a powerful driver of hormones, metabolism, fertility, and long-term health, and how women can begin to support it at any age.

Key Topics:

1. Muscle as an Organ of Longevity

- How skeletal muscle influences hormones, metabolism, inflammation, and aging

- Why “muscle span” matters across childhood, reproductive years, and beyond

- Rethinking muscle as essential biology rather than aesthetics

2. Fertility, Pregnancy, and Metabolic Health

- How muscle relates to insulin resistance, embryo quality, and fertility outcomes

- The role of muscle health before and during pregnancy

- Why activity and resistance training are key in hormonally vulnerable seasons

3. Training and Nutrition Fundamentals

- Practical ways women can start strength training at any level

- The importance of stimulus, not perfection, for building and maintaining muscle

- How protein intake and meal structure support muscle and body composition

4. Mindset, Stress, and Long-Term Resilience

- How mindset can hold women back from building strength

- Reframing stress, challenge, and discomfort in training and daily life

- Focusing on what you can gain—in health, function, and confidence—over the long term

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

Website: https://drgabriellelyon.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgabriellelyon/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrGabrielleLyon

Order FOREVER STRONG: https://drgabriellelyon.com/forever-strong/

Order THE FOREVER STRONG PLAYBOOK: https://drgabriellelyon.com/playbook/

Want to receive my weekly newsletter? Sign up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠nataliecrawfordmd.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ to receive updates, Q&A, special content, and freebies

If you haven’t already, please rate, review, and follow the podcast to be notified of new episodes every Tuesday. Plus, be sure to follow along on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliecrawfordmd,⁠⁠⁠⁠ check out Natalie’s YouTube channel Natalie Crawford MD⁠⁠⁠⁠, and if you're interested in becoming a patient, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Fora Fertility.

Join the Learn at Pinnacle app ⁠to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!

This episode is brought to you by The Pinnacle Podcast Network! Learn more about Pinnacle at http://learnatpinnacle.com

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

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

Questions Answered:

1. A 30-year-old in a same-sex couple with anovulatory PCOS managed on metformin, high AMH, and otherwise normal labs moved from failed IUIs to IVF and had 19 mature eggs but only 4 fertilized despite good donor sperm—what could explain low fertilization rates and how should the next steps be approached?

2. 35 and trying for baby number two, and her 40-year-old husband has been on the GLP-1 medication Zepbound for four months—are there known effects of GLP-1s on male fertility, and should men discontinue them while trying to conceive?

3. A patient with PCOS and mildly elevated thyroid levels is experiencing medication interactions and was prescribed 2.5 mg of methylfolate— is this dose appropriate, and should she be taking methylfolate, folic acid, or both?

4. A patient with endometriosis underwent two egg retrievals, one with estrogen priming that triggered an endometriosis flare and resulted in very high estrogen levels and poor egg maturity—are there stimulation protocols better suited for patients with endometriosis undergoing IVF?

5. A 38-year-old planning IUI with donor sperm, normal fertility workup, AMH of 3.3, and a personal history of being a twin is deciding between natural versus medicated cycles— which approach is more successful while minimizing twin risk and preserving future fertility goals?

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

Dr. Natalie Crawford, board-certified OB-GYN and REI, breaks down how your hormones shift across your 20s, 30s, 40s, and beyond, and what you can actually do in each decade to protect your fertility, brain, bones, and long‑term health. Instead of reacting only when there’s a problem, this episode helps you use your cycle, symptoms, and lifestyle as data so you can make informed decisions at every stage.

Key Topics:

1. Foundations in Your 20s

- Why your 20s are the ideal decade to quietly build “future you” health

- How birth control can mask your natural cycle patterns

- Simple ways to start understanding your cycle and ovulation (without obsessing)

2. Protecting Fertility in Your 30s

- What actually changes with egg number and egg quality in this decade

- Why “wait until you’ve been trying for a year” is often outdated advice

- How to think about ovarian reserve testing and when it’s worth asking for it

3. Navigating Perimenopause in Your 40s

- How subtle cycle shifts can be early signs of dwindling egg supply

- The difference between “regular” cycles and normal for you

- Using muscle, nutrition, and sleep to buffer bone loss, brain fog, and weight changes

4. Menopause, Hormones & Longevity in Your 50s and Beyond

- What menopause medically means and why the transition is so individual- How estrogen and progesterone relate to brain health, bones, and sex

- A framework for thinking about hormone therapy (and fear‑based messaging)

Pre-order Dr. Crawford's debut book, The Fertility Formula, now! ⁠https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/book⁠Want to receive my weekly newsletter? Sign up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠nataliecrawfordmd.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ to receive updates, Q&A, special content, and freebies

If you haven’t already, please rate, review, and follow the podcast to be notified of new episodes every Tuesday. Plus, be sure to follow along on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliecrawfordmd,⁠⁠⁠⁠ check out Natalie’s YouTube channel Natalie Crawford MD⁠⁠⁠⁠, and if you're interested in becoming a patient, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Fora Fertility.

Join the Learn at Pinnacle app ⁠to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!

This episode is brought to you by The Pinnacle Podcast Network! Learn more about Pinnacle at http://learnatpinnacle.com

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

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

Questions Answered:

1. I’m 36 with an AMH of 1.1 and want three kids. I’ve lost 50 lbs on a GLP-1 but still have a BMI of 42. Should I try naturally now or focus on optimization first, and what’s the best plan for three healthy pregnancies?

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

Dr. Natalie Crawford is joined by gastroenterologist Dr. Will Bulsiewicz to explain how gut health, inflammation, and hormones are connected—and what simple changes can support your energy, mood, and fertility.

Key Topics:

1. The Gut–Hormone Connection

- What the gut microbiome is and why it affects your whole body

- How inflammation can quietly impact hormones, cycles, and fertility

- Why symptoms like fatigue can be a sign of a deeper imbalance

2. Everyday Habits That Harm (or Help) Your Gut

- How modern food, stress, and sleep patterns disrupt gut health

- Why ultra-processed foods work against long-term wellness

- Simple signs your gut may need more support

3. Food, Rhythm, and Daily Choices

- The role of fiber, colorful plant foods, healthy fats, and fermented foods

- How consistent routines around meals, sleep, and light support hormones

- Practical ways to eat and live “gut-friendly” without a strict diet

4. Empowerment, Fertility, and Self-Advocacy

- How a healthier gut can support hormones, fertility, and overall resilience

- Why understanding your body helps you ask better questions in care settings

- Focusing on what you can control rather than quick fixes

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

Follow Dr. Will Bulsiewicz on Instagram @theguthealthmd

Order his book Plant Powered Plus

Want to receive my weekly newsletter? Sign up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠nataliecrawfordmd.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ to receive updates, Q&A, special content, and freebies

If you haven’t already, please rate, review, and follow the podcast to be notified of new episodes every Tuesday. Plus, be sure to follow along on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliecrawfordmd,⁠⁠⁠⁠ check out Natalie’s YouTube channel Natalie Crawford MD⁠⁠⁠⁠, and if you're interested in becoming a patient, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Fora Fertility.

Join the Learn at Pinnacle app ⁠to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!

This episode is brought to you by The Pinnacle Podcast Network! Learn more about Pinnacle at http://learnatpinnacle.com

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

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

Questions Answered:

1. How can I support my fertility now if I want kids later but not yet?

2. What should male partners focus on to support fertility when starting to try?

3. Can prenatals or DHA affect ovulation timing or cycle length?

4. How can I optimize my chances of pregnancy after surgery for stage 2 endometriosis?

5. What could cause consistently negative OPKs after hormonal birth control, and how should this be evaluated?

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

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

Dr. Natalie Crawford is joined by registered dietitian and PCOS specialist Cory Ruth, author of “PCOS Is My Power,” to explain how PCOS, blood sugar, and nutrition all fit together. They talk about why PCOS is so misunderstood, what insulin resistance really means, and simple, realistic ways to eat and live that support your hormones, metabolism, and fertility, without cutting out everything you love.

Key Topics:

1. Making Sense of PCOS

- What PCOS actually is in everyday terms

- Why it can look different from person to person

- How it can affect periods, skin, hair, weight, and fertility

2. Insulin Resistance and Metabolic Health

- What insulin resistance means for your body

- How it can drive common PCOS symptoms

- Why it matters for long‑term health

3. Everyday Food and Lifestyle Choices

- How to think about carbs, sugar, and fiber without fear

- A simple way to build a more PCOS‑friendly plate

- Practical tips for eating out, snacks, and occasional drinks

4. Mindset, Mental Health, and Long‑Term Management

- The emotional weight of a PCOS diagnosis

- Why guilt and “all‑or‑nothing” thinking make things harder

- How Cory’s book and approach help you feel more in control over time

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

Order Cory’s Book, PCOS is My Power

Follow her on Instagram @thewomensdietitian

Checkout her Website https://www.thewomensdietitian.com/

Want to receive my weekly newsletter? Sign up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠nataliecrawfordmd.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ to receive updates, Q&A, special content, and freebies

If you haven’t already, please rate, review, and follow the podcast to be notified of new episodes every Tuesday. Plus, be sure to follow along on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliecrawfordmd,⁠⁠⁠⁠ check out Natalie’s YouTube channel Natalie Crawford MD⁠⁠⁠⁠, and if you're interested in becoming a patient, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Fora Fertility.

Join the Learn at Pinnacle app ⁠to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!

This episode is brought to you by The Pinnacle Podcast Network! Learn more about Pinnacle at http://learnatpinnacle.com

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

Dr. Natalie Crawford, board-certified OBGYN and REI, unpacks how stress communicates with your brain and ovaries—and how that relationship can shape your cycles, egg quality, and fertility over time. This episode connects physiology with realistic strategies so you can better support your hormones in a chronically stressed world.

Key Topics:

1. Stress & Your Brain–Ovary Connection

- How your brain integrates stress and reproductive signals

- Why the same “control center” influences both hormones and stress

- How modern life blurs acute and chronic stress

2. Cycles, Ovulation & Stress Load

- Ways stress can alter normal ovulatory patterns

- Early warning signs that your cycle is under strain

- How stress-related changes can progress over time

3. Metabolism, Inflammation & Egg Health

- How stress affects glucose, insulin, and inflammation

- Why metabolic health matters for hormone balance

- Links between stress biology and fertility outcomes

4. Building Stress-Resilient Hormones

- Daily practices to lower your physiological stress burden

- Movement, sleep, and muscle as hormone-supportive tools

- Rethinking coping mechanisms and everyday stressors

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

Want to receive my weekly newsletter? Sign up at ⁠⁠⁠⁠nataliecrawfordmd.com/newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ to receive updates, Q&A, special content, and freebies

If you haven’t already, please rate, review, and follow the podcast to be notified of new episodes every Tuesday. Plus, be sure to follow along on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠@nataliecrawfordmd,⁠⁠⁠⁠ check out Natalie’s YouTube channel Natalie Crawford MD⁠⁠⁠⁠, and if you're interested in becoming a patient, check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠Fora Fertility.

Join the Learn at Pinnacle app ⁠to earn FREE CE Credit for listening to this episode!

This episode is brought to you by The Pinnacle Podcast Network! Learn more about Pinnacle at http://learnatpinnacle.com

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