As a Woman

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

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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

Dr. Natalie Crawford, board-certified OBGYN and REI, reframes fertility as a key health signal, not just about getting pregnant. Whether you want kids soon, someday, or aren’t sure, this episode helps you understand your cycle, your egg reserve, and what you can start doing today to protect your hormonal and reproductive health.

Key Topics:

1. Ovarian Reserve

- What your “egg reserve” really means (and why it’s not just about infertility)

- The difference between how many eggs you have and how healthy they are

- How hormones and ultrasound can give a snapshot of how your ovaries are doing

2. Understanding Your Test Results

- Why numbers like AMH can change and shouldn’t be seen as a verdict on your future

- How “low” or “normal” depends on your age and overall health, not just a lab range

- Why testing is about getting information and options, not panic

3. Influencing Factors & Taking Control

- How everyday inflammation  can affect hormones and eggs

- The role of sleep, strength training, and blood-sugar balance in supporting fertility

- When it makes sense to push for testing, see a fertility specialist, or change doctors

4. Charting Your Fertility Path

- How to actually track your cycle beyond an app prediction

- Using cycle changes as early warning signals

- Thinking ahead: egg freezing, earlier trying, or simply lifestyle changes

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

Dr. Natalie Crawford, OBGYN and REI, sits down with licensed acupuncturist Sadie Minkoff to discuss how acupuncture fits into the bigger picture of hormones, stress, and fertility. They explore how this approach can work alongside traditional medical care so you can feel more informed and less alone on your fertility journey.

Key Topics:

1. What Acupuncture Really Is

- Rethinking what “needles” actually mean in this setting

- Seeing acupuncture as part of a larger, whole‑body system

- How this approach aims to gently “nudge” the body

2. Fertility, Hormones, and Stress

- How stress and inflammation can interfere with hormones and ovulation

- Ways acupuncture may calm the nervous system and support balance

- Why “normal tests” don’t always mean your body feels normal

3. Using Acupuncture on the Fertility Journey

- How it can be used when TTC spontaneously, with IUI, or with IVF

- Why timing sessions around your cycle and treatments can matter

- How it may support egg quality, implantation, and early pregnancy

4. Finding Care and Knowing Your Options

- What to look for in a fertility‑focused acupuncturist

- What a typical first visit and follow‑up might look like

- Options if you can’t access in‑person care, including at‑home support

Check out Sadie's Practice Website https://reproductiveacupuncture.com/

Follow Sadie's Practice on IG @sageacupunctureaustin

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

Dr. Natalie Crawford, a board-certified OBGYN and REI, guides listeners through the often misunderstood world of pregnancy loss. Using both her professional knowledge and personal insights, she helps you gain confidence in understanding this experience, whether you’re facing it yourself or supporting someone who is. Find out what’s actually happening, why it matters, and the important steps you can take next.

Key Topics:

1. What Is Pregnancy Loss?

- Common types of pregnancy loss and what the medical terms mean

- Why pregnancy loss happens more frequently than most people realize

- Dispelling shame and myths

2. Navigating the Emotional Experience

- The wide range of feelings and reactions people may have.

- Encouraging openness and seeking support from loved ones.

- Why it’s okay to grieve in your own way and at your own pace.

3. Understanding the Causes

- Overview of possible reasons, from genetics to physical health

- How hormones and biology can impact pregnancy.

- Emphasizing that many factors are beyond one’s control

4. Management & Healing

- What to expect medically: natural healing, medication options, and procedures.

- The importance of follow-up care and monitoring.

- Pathways to recovery and when to consider further evaluation.

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