Episode 11 Ivf, Miscarriage, and the Search for Fertility Answers
EPISODE 11: Dr. Natalie Crawford
When I first thought about starting this podcast, there was one guest I knew I had to have on, and today she’s here! Dr. Natalie Crawford is a reproductive endocrinologist, co-founder of Fora Fertility, author of The Fertility Formula, and honestly the OG of fertility doctors online. (One of my Fight Club girls calls her the Taylor Swift of fertility doctors, and I couldn’t agree more.)
What makes Natalie so special is that she’s been on both sides of the desk. She’s a fertility doctor, and she’s also walked through four pregnancy losses herself. She was told to “wait for one more loss” before anyone would run tests on her. That experience shaped everything about how she cares for her patients today. She believes you deserve answers, you deserve to understand your body, and you deserve a doctor who will actually explain things to you.
We talk about why so many people leave their consult hearing “you need IVF” with no explanation of why. We cover the five lifestyle non-negotiables Natalie and I both swear by, and why sperm is 50% of the equation (guys, this one’s for you too). Natalie also shares how she helps patients hold onto hope without sugarcoating the hard stuff, and how she and her partner built Fora Fertility from the ground up to put patients first. Plus, she answers questions straight from my Fight Club girls, and we play a quick round of Fight or Fold!
In this episode, we talk about:
Why Natalie calls being a fertility doctor “the best job and the worst job” at the same time
Why you shouldn’t have to “fail first” before getting tested
Her five non-negotiables: anti-inflammatory eating, removing toxins, sleep, stress management, and building muscle
Inflammation, gluten, dairy, and how her own journey led to a celiac diagnosis years later
Male factor fertility, and the #1 lifestyle habit she sees affecting embryo quality
Life after an ectopic pregnancy and how to manage the fear of it happening again
What low egg yield and maturity can tell you about your IVF protocol
The test she wishes every clinic ran earlier, the supplement she loves, and the sneaky one she wants you to stop taking
The myth she’s corrected thousands of times: does IVF or egg freezing use up your eggs?
If you’ve ever left an appointment more confused than when you walked in, this episode is for you. You deserve to understand your body and your options, and you deserve to make decisions from a place of knowledge, not fear.
Connect with Dr. Natalie Crawford:
Instagram: @nataliecrawfordmd & @forafertility
TikTok: @nataliecrawfordmd
LinkedIn: Natalie Crawford, MD
YouTube: Natalie Crawford, MD
Listen to her Podcast: As a Woman
Grab her Book: The Fertility Formula: Take Control of Your Reproductive Future
More from The Fertility Fight Club:
Follow on Instagram: @fertilityblooms
If this episode helped you, please like, subscribe, and share it with a friend who needs to hear it. That’s how we reach more women who need this community. 💕
Helpful Timestamps:
00:00 Welcome Dr. Natalie Crawford
09:45 Lifestyle and Inflammation
19:09 Analogies That Teach
32:38 Hidden Inflammation Triggers
38:13 Ectopic Pregnancy Aftercare
41:53 Loss, Testing, and Endo Talks
57:01 Abnormal Embryos and Male Factor
58:55 Fight or Fold Rapid Fire
