As a Woman

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
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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

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

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