As a Woman

Life can really catch us off guard, and for many people, cancer teaches us about the uncertainty we all face. In this episode of the As a Woman podcast, Dr. Natalie Crawford chats with the inspiring Dr. Dawn Mussallem, a double board-certified physician, stage four cancer survivor, and heart transplant recipient. Dr. Mussallem shares her incredible journey through these challenges and how they inspired her mission to promote longevity. She highlights that true health goes far beyond just working out; it’s about nourishing our bodies with the right food, building resilience, and creating strong connections with others. What You’ll Learn: Why your mindset and "spiritual core" might matter more for your health than how much you work out at the gym. How your brain’s internal signals can actually change the way your body handles stress and heals from illness. A simple mental trick to help you stay grounded and keep your sense of purpose when life feels totally out of control. The one major change to your diet that science proves can lower inflammation and protect your long-term health. Why eating simple, real food, is still the best way to fight disease and feel your best. The surprising link between your current health habits and your future fertility, even when the odds seem stacked against you. How a "near-death" perspective can shift your daily habits from a place of restriction to a place of true nourishment. The biological reality of "miracles" and how the body can thrive even after a diagnosis that seems final. Find Dr. Dawn Mussallem Instagram: @drdawnmussallem 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

Semen analysis and follow-up testing for male fertility are covered. What to expect after stopping the pill and how long cycles may take to settle. Why injectable testosterone can harm sperm and alternative approaches. Possible causes of prolonged or heavy periods and when to investigate. Differences in progesterone use for frozen embryo transfers and whether it could affect outcomes.

Ever feel like your environment is sabotaging your hormones? In this episode of the As a Woman podcast, Dr. Natalie Crawford uncovers the impact of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) that can be found in the air we breathe and the products we use daily. These "forever chemicals" interfere with the brain-ovary connection and affect egg quality. But you have the power to combat their effects. Join Dr. Crawford for practical tips on reducing your toxic load and making healthier choices that support your hormonal health and future fertility.  What You’ll Learn: How EDCs act as "biological noise" in the body, interfering with the critical communication between your brain and your ovaries. The surprising connection between your gut health and toxic exposure, and why some chemicals deliver a "double hit" to your systemic inflammation levels. The link between cumulative chemical exposure and common reproductive hurdles, from irregular cycles and PCOS to your long-term ovarian reserve. Startling insights from the EARTH Study regarding how environmental factors impact success rates for couples trying to conceive, both naturally and through IVF. The three primary categories of EDCs you need to know, including several "sneaky" sources hidden in your daily routine that most people overlook. Practical, sustainable ways to audit your home and personal care routine to decrease your toxic load without feeling overwhelmed by the need for perfection. 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. I’m wondering how alcohol affects male and female fertility, and whether cutting back or abstaining can improve our chances with IVF or natural conception. 2. My wife has low estrogen, and we’re trying to conceive. What should we know before her upcoming doctor’s appointment so we can ask better questions? 3. We’ve been trying for 3 years with Clomid and no success. Our doctor suggested a sperm analysis, but we only have access to a CVS kit — are those reliable? 4. I take CoQ10 while trying to conceive — should I take it all month, and do I stop during the two-week wait since it’s not recommended in pregnancy? 5. My partner has low motility. How often should we have sex during my fertile window — and am I ‘using up’ good sperm if we start too early? We conceived once but lost the baby, and I’m struggling to feel confident. 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

Ever feel like a different person during your luteal phase? In this episode of the As a Woman podcast, board-certified fertility doctor Dr. Natalie Crawford sits down with award-winning researcher and psychologist Dr. Sarah Hill, author of the groundbreaking new book The Period Brain. They move beyond "bikini medicine" to explain how estrogen and progesterone literally rewire your brain's priorities, stress response, and social connections. If you’ve ever wondered why your mood, energy, or motivation shifts from one week to the next, or if you’ve struggled with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), this episode provides the science-backed roadmap you need to work with your hormones instead of against them. What You’ll Learn: - A deep dive into the "progesterone season" and how hormonal shifts change the way your amygdala processes relationship threats. They discuss why modern research has historically ignored the second half of the cycle and the importance of advocating for better data in women’s health. - Understanding the clinical difference between PMS and PMDD. They explore why some women are more sensitive to these fluctuations and who may be predisposed to sensitivities. - Why "one-size-fits-all" nutrition fails. Discover why your basal metabolic rate increases during the luteal phase and how to adjust your calorie intake to support your body’s increased energy needs and hormonal resilience. - The neurobiological differences between natural progesterone and synthetic progestins, and how each impacts mood, brain health, and well-being. - Tangible, approachable steps to support ovulation and increase cellular plasticity, including the role of morning sunlight, magnesium supplementation, and anti-inflammatory nutrition to help you work with your hormones instead of against them. Find Dr. Sarah Hill - Book: The Period Brain - Website: SarahEHill.com - Instagram: @SarahEHillPhD  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. Husband has low sperm morphology. IUI didn’t work—how much does morphology really matter? 2. After 5 losses and 2 years trying, she’s scared to do IVF with genetic testing. What are her next steps? 3. Low AMH, 3 miscarriages, 3 IUIs, 1 IVF—doctor recommended DHEA without checking testosterone. Could her high testosterone have affected IVF? 4. Thoughts on phone-based fertility monitors for someone with PCOS? Are urine hormone measurements reliable? 5. Miscarriage 6 months ago, now trying again. Husband has low testosterone—what safe options or natural approaches can help? 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

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. 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. Not TTC yet but has very heavy bleeding with clots and normal labs/imaging. Could this be PCOS alone, or should clotting or other conditions be evaluated—and what tests should be considered? 2. Currently 9 weeks pregnant after 5 early losses and treatment for Asherman’s. Is it safe to continue Lovenox in pregnancy, and how long is it typically recommended? 3. After egg retrieval, blast numbers were lower than expected. Husband has a varicocele—does repairing it improve sperm quality or IVF success rates? 4. Off the pill for a year with no return of menses despite normal labs and ultrasound. Poor response to clomid so far—should she switch to letrozole, and what are her future fertility options? 5. With very high AMH and follicle count, is a trigger shot appropriate during a letrozole cycle—and how can OHSS risk be managed? 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

Gabrielle Lyon, MD, muscle-centric physician and bestselling author, explains why skeletal muscle drives hormones, metabolism, fertility, and longevity. She covers muscle as an endocrine organ, how muscle impacts fertility and pregnancy, practical strength-training and protein guidance, and mindset shifts to start and sustain strength work across life stages.

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