Why Your Fertility Matters Now (Even If You’re Not Ready Yet)

As a Woman

Natalie Crawford

Health & Fitness, Medicine

4.8 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 23 December 2025

⏱️ 37 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

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

Transcript

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0:00.0	Your fertility is much more than your ability to get pregnant.
0:03.2	It puts you in the driver's seat and allows you to be in control.
0:06.2	And ultimately, I want you to be the one not relying on luck, but making the right decision for your future.
0:12.0	I was vastly underprepared for what I experienced, and I know so many women experience the same.
0:17.6	The current system is set up that you have to fail first.
0:20.4	The fertility is finite,
0:22.1	and at some point your body will make a decision for you, and I don't want that to be you.
0:26.8	You can't make decisions on data you don't know. It's not too late, and you are the ones who
0:31.3	can make a difference. So what should you do?
0:40.1	Welcome back to the As a Woman podcast.
0:45.1	I'm your host, Dr. Natalie Crawford, and today we're talking about a topic that I think you need to understand.
0:48.4	Your fertility is much more than your ability to get pregnant.
0:50.2	It's not just about babies.
0:55.1	It's a reflection of your overall health because your hormones are essential to your day-to-day life. Your menstrual cycle, your hormones, your ovarian reserve, these are actually vital signs
1:00.0	that tell us how your body is functioning today and can give insight into your future health.
1:04.9	So in this episode we're covering what fertility actually means beyond getting pregnant, how your
1:09.9	fertility changes with age and
1:11.5	lifestyle, and what steps you should take now if you want to be pregnant or preserve your
1:16.5	reproductive health, your hormonal health in the future.
1:19.7	So whether you're focused on your career, unsure if you want kids, or simply curious to
1:23.9	learn more about your body, this episode will help you understand why your fertility
1:27.9	is something worth paying attention to right now. Well, friends, I'm so excited to have you here
	...

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