As a Woman

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


I’ve been trying to conceive for a year for our third child. We’re both 35, live a very health-focused lifestyle, and I’ve done five rounds of letrozole without success along with extensive testing. What should the next step in evaluation or treatment look like?


When using letrozole, does it make a meaningful difference if it’s taken on cycle days 3–7 versus 5–9, especially depending on whether you ovulate regularly?


I have high cholesterol, pre-diabetes, and am about 50 pounds overweight, with two miscarriages in the past year. How do metabolic factors like these actually impact fertility and miscarriage risk, and what should be addressed first?


I’ve been on birth control since my teens and currently have a hormonal IUD. Does long-term use affect future fertility, and how far in advance should I stop contraception if I want to plan for 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
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Dr. Natalie Crawford sits down with Elena Brower to discuss the literal "rinsing" of the brain that happens when we finally stop moving. They explore how meditation, rest, and genuine presence can transform the way we relate to stress, success, and our own bodies, as well as why so many of us feel uncomfortable with stillness, how our upbringing shaped our views on productivity, and simple ways to start reconnecting with ourselves - no special equipment, perfect schedule, or “expert” skills required.

What You’ll Learn:


The specific mental "rinsing" process that occurs when your attention finally stays in one place.


The way a seismic misunderstanding of success dictates how we treat our bodies during high-stakes seasons.


Why your presence is actually the most valuable currency you have in any relationship or career move.


The three-minute "state change" you can trigger in a car or a kitchen to reset a fried nervous system.


A specific balance of precision and gentleness that changes how you handle personal loss and high-pressure deadlines.

Find Elena Brower


Book: Hold Nothing


Instagram: @elenabrower

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 almost 35 and currently going through IVF. I have PCOS and insulin resistance and have had four early miscarriages despite normal testing and blood work. I’ve also had two laparoscopic surgeries for cysts, one showing mild endometriosis, and a uterine biopsy that showed no inflammation. Given this history, how successful might IVF be for us?


What transfer protocol do you recommend after Lupron and letrozole suppression for positive ReceptivaDX results—modified natural or medicated—and what factors guide that decision?


Can autoimmune conditions contribute to secondary infertility? I have a four-year-old but have since experienced five miscarriages and have diminished ovarian reserve. After four cycles I’ve only had one embryo tested and it was aneuploid, and my doctor says autoimmune testing may be the next step if endometriosis testing is negative.


In a 28-day cycle, is it concerning if a positive LH surge happens around days 15–16? And when tracking cycles, do you count day one as the first day you see bleeding even if it starts midday, or the following day?


I’m 35 and planning for pregnancy. What are the most important first steps I should take now to set myself up for success?

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 breaks down the profound, often overlooked connection between what ends up on your dinner plate and the cellular environment where life begins. As a former nutrition major and a fertility specialist who navigated her own complex path to parenthood, she moves past the basic food is fuel talk to show how your gut acts as the primary gatekeeper for your hormones. This conversation is for anyone who wants to stop feeling like a passenger in their own reproductive health and start using evidence-based nutrition to quiet the inflammation that could be standing in the way of their future family.

What You’ll Learn:


The specific interaction between your intestinal lining and the bloodstream that can turn your body’s defense system into a silent hijacker of reproductive success.


Why a common metabolic salesman knocking at your cellular door might be the hidden reason behind poor embryo quality and ovulation struggles.


The misunderstood relationship between plant-based fiber and the specific gut enzymes responsible for regulating your estrogen levels.


How certain high-fat dairy choices and complex carbohydrate swaps act as biological signals to optimize your progesterone production.


The way your daily hydration habits and evening routines collaborate with your gut microbiome to either fuel or extinguish chronic systemic inflammation.

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.

1. When taking a prenatal vitamin, how should we interpret the amount of choline listed on the label? If a prenatal lists 300 mg of choline, is that the full amount counted toward the recommended intake, or does it refer to elemental choline?

2. Is sucralose safe to consume while trying to conceive or during pregnancy, or should it be avoided?

3. I’ve heard that high levels of biotin can interfere with certain blood tests. If a prenatal contains 1000 mcg of biotin and someone is going through IVF with frequent lab work, is that amount considered too high? Should they consider switching prenatals?

4. I’m 38, recently diagnosed with PCOS, and have experienced eight miscarriages. I’ve also been told I have a weak and shortened cervix and have already had a vaginal cerclage twice without success. Are there any additional options or treatments that could be considered?

5. I’m 38 and recently had a baby conceived naturally, though it took some time to get pregnant. I know the general recommendation is to wait about 18 months before trying to conceive again, but I’m worried that waiting too long could make it harder to get pregnant because of my age. How should someone balance recommended spacing between pregnancies with age-related fertility considerations?

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