As a Woman

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

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


I’m on Lupron for suspected endometriosis and have been on suppression for almost two months, but I’m noticing vaginal cramping, ovarian pain, shooting rectal pain, and increased pain with intercourse. Is it normal to have increased pain during Lupron suppression, or does this suggest something else is going on?


How long, on average, should someone with PCOS and insulin resistance stay on metformin, especially when trying to conceive or undergoing fertility treatment?


I recently had an ectopic pregnancy located on my ovary. Is this typically just bad luck, or are there underlying risk factors that increase the likelihood of this happening again?


After experiencing an ectopic pregnancy, is there anything specific I should do as soon as I get a positive pregnancy test in the future to ensure everything is progressing safely?


When trying to conceive, when should retinol be discontinued? Is it safe to continue using it up until a positive pregnancy test, or should it be stopped earlier?


I regularly take creatine (about 5–10 grams per day). Is it safe to continue using creatine while trying to conceive or during pregnancy?

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

The medical system often reduces your thyroid—the engine of your metabolism, mood, and fertility—to a single number: TSH. In this episode, Dr. Natalie Crawford sits down with thyroid expert and Modern Thyroid Clinic founder McCall McPherson to discuss why "normal" lab ranges are leaving millions of women debilitated. McCall shares her own harrowing journey of being gaslit by the medical community while struggling to function, and together, they provide a roadmap for how you can take agency over your hormones and demand better care.

What You’ll Learn:


The critical distinction between "crude oil" and "gasoline" hormones and why TSH testing alone fails to identify hypothyroidism in many symptomatic women.


The surprising 10-year gap between the onset of thyroid symptoms and a formal diagnosis, and how frequent full thyroid panels can change your health trajectory.


How subclinical hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s disease directly impact unexplained infertility and double the risk of miscarriage during the fertility journey.


The specific role of low dose Naltrexone (LDN), selenium, and gut health in reducing thyroid antibodies and achieving long-term autoimmune remission.


Why conventional levothyroxine and Synthroid treatments often leave patients "stockpiling" hormones they can't use, and the importance of thyroid optimization over simple replacement.

Find McCall McPherson


McCall McPherson, PA | Modern Thyroid Clinic


Instagram: @mccallmcphersonpa

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