Fertility + Hormones + Health + Lifestyle
Welcome to the blog
Fertility Doctor Reacts to TikTok: FIRST time watching gynecology TikTok - good, bad, cringy, more
Dr. Natalie Crawford reacts to her FIRST time watching these gynecology TikTok videos. Watch and share in the laughs and sadness - some good, some bad, some cringy, all with opportunities for education.
We review what is normal:
Are your boobs normal?
Are your periods bad?
Does birth control help you?
What if your IUD gets lost?
Your Vagina's owner's manual.
Bleaching.
WAP.
More.
24 with Breast Cancer: Egg Freezing and Fertility Preservation | Savanah's Story
Dr. Natalie Crawford, MD - board certified OBGYN and REI talks about breast cancer in young women and shares the story of Savanah Ponce. Savanah was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 24 and underwent emergent egg freezing in order to have the opportunity to have her own genetic children in the future. Listen to Savanah tell her story and learn more about breast cancer, options to preserve fertility, barriers that exist, and how to best support someone with a cancer diagnosis. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, learn more about what it is like to be diagnosed with cancer in your 20s.
Fertility Doctor Q&A: Ask a Fertility Doctor Anything
What would you ask a fertility doctor? Join Dr. Natalie Crawford, MD as she answers your questions (submitted through Instagram). New series answering your questions - anything! Fertility, motherhood, medicine, and more.
***NEXT Q&A will come from YouTube so ASK ANYTHING NOW***
Covered in this episode:
- Pain with ovulation
- Sperm morphology and male factor
- Advice to a high school student
- What to do after stopping birth control pills
- Ovarian reserve
- What else would I do?
- Thoughts on becoming a mom
- How to build confidence
- Diminished ovarian reserve AND MORE!
Fertility Doctor on Miscarriage and Chrissy Teigen's Pregnancy Loss
Join Dr. Natalie Crawford, MD - board certified fertility doctor, as she talks about miscarriage and pregnancy loss. Listen as she tells her own story, describes the top causes of miscarriage, and gives her take Chrissy Teigen and her very public loss and the criticism that followed. Today, on Pregnancy and Infant Loss and Awareness Day (October 15th), I'm sending love to you all. Please send hugs to anyone you know who has lost before.
In this video: My miscarriage story
Prevalence of miscarriage
Causes of miscarriage
My thoughts on Chrissy Teigen's pregnancy loss.
Fertility Doctor Shares Tips for Getting Pregnant Naturally & Intercourse
Trying to conceive naturally?
Looking to get pregnant faster?
Dr. Natalie Crawford, MD - board certified OBGYN and REI reviews one of the top questions she gets asks as a fertility doctor about getting pregnant: what about sex? This is the information you need if you are trying to get pregnant and want to optimize your chances of getting pregnant naturally each month.
Topics covered include:
1. When should you have sex to get pregnant?
2. How do you detect ovulation?
3. How often should you have sex?
4. Does position matter when trying to get pregnant?
5. Does lube help or hurt when you are trying to get pregnant?
6. Do you need to put your legs up after sex?
7. Is it ok to pee after sex if you are trying to get pregnant?
*DISCLAIMER: I am a doctor but not YOUR doctor. Infertility is trying to conceive for 1 year or more without pregnancy (if under age 35) and trying for 6 months or more if you are over the age of 35. If your periods are not regular, you should seek a medical evaluation with your gynecologist or fertility doctor regardless of how long you have been trying to conceive.
What is Endometriosis?
Dr. Natalie Crawford, MD - board certified OBGYN and REI, discusses endometriosis. Endo impacts 1/10 women - but likely more, as the diagnosis is surgical and often women go undiagnosed for years (or forever).
There is so much confusion on what endometriosis is, how it develops, and what it means for your reproductive life. But the top thing that I see is women suffering in silence or without support.
Signs of endometriosis include:
Painful periods (dysmenorrhea)
Painful intercourse (dyspareunia)
GI changes on your period
Endometriosis is associated with other autoimmune diseases and runs in families. Please get help if you are suffering. If your doctor won’t listen - find a new one. And if you know you have endo and want to get pregnant, make sure you know how to optimize your chances.
References discussed or quoted:
Yamamoto A, Harris HR, Vitonis AF, Chavarro JE, Missmer SA. A prospective cohort study of meat and fish consumption and endometriosis risk. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2018;219(2):178.e1-178.e10. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2018.05.034
Parazzini F, Chiaffarino F, Surace M, Chatenoud L, Cipriani S, Chiantera V, Benzi G, Fedele L. Selected food intake and risk of endometriosis. Hum Reprod. 2004 Aug;19(8):1755-9. doi: 10.1093/humrep/deh395. Epub 2004 Jul 14. PMID: 15254009.
Marziali M, Venza M, Lazzaro S, Lazzaro A, Micossi C, Stolfi VM. Gluten-free diet: a new strategy for management of painful endometriosis related symptoms? Minerva Chir. 2012 Dec;67(6):499-504. PMID: 23334113
Fritz and Speroff, Clinical Gynecology Endocrinology and Infertility, 8th edition, 2011
A Fertility Doctor Reacts to TikTok: Gynecology TikTok and Health Educations
Join Natalie Crawford, MD - board certified OBGYN and REI, as she reacts to some of the gynecology TikTok out there. There is medical and health information all over the internet - and today we are diving into the TikTok world. TikTok is a fun platform with freedom to create. The fertility-related content is all over the place - some is cringe, some is great, but all of it provides opportunities for learning!
Follow me on TikTok: @nataliecrawfordmd
Do Birth Control Pills Hurt Your Future Fertility?
Natalie Crawford, MD - a board-certified OBGYN and REI, discusses one of the top questions she gets asked - all about the pill and how it works and the impact on future fertility. Learn about combined oral contraceptives (estrogen and progesterone pills), also called "the pill" and understand your options best from an expert. Fight misinformation about contraception with knowledge.
What is PCOS?
Board certified fertility physician Dr. Natalie Crawford, MD discusses a common cause of infertility and irregular periods: PCOS. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is when women have irregular cycles and high androgens (like testosterone) which can lead to acne, hair growth, and metallic disturbances.
What is PCOS?
How is it diagnosed?
What are the symptoms?
What causes it?
Personal Branding and Social Media for Physicians
Dr. Natalie Crawford, board-certified OBGYN and REI, discusses the importance of personal branding, the importance of social media for physicians, and protecting your intellectual property. This is a talk that was given (virtually) at Fertility Explained - a conference for other fertility physicians, but the content applies to professionals everywhere who want to tap into the power of their own personal brand. Homework:
Own your name.
Buy your domain.
Be proud of yourself.
Don't be afraid to take up space.
And if you want people to listen, to learn, and to see you - then you must go where they are.
What is IVF?
Natalie Crawford, MD - a board-certified OBGYN and REI, explains IVF so that you know what to expect. As a fertility doctor, Dr. Natalie Crawford knows that IVF is complex. Often, people don't know what is involved or what to ask their doctor. She is breaking down the basics of IVF so you can be prepared and understand this process better. Even if you are not the one going through IVF, you can learn more about IVF to better support those that you love.
What is In vitro fertilization?
Who needs IVF?
What does IVF look like?
What are the risks of IVF? What is genetic testing (PGT)?
What is a frozen embryo transfer (FET)?
What are your odds of success with IVF?
COVID-19 & Pregnancy Outcomes: Update - Is it Safe to Get Pregnant?
Is it safe to get pregnant during COVID-19? Board certified OBGYN and REI, Dr. Natalie Crawford, MD discusses the latest data. As a fertility doctor, she talks about Coronavirus every day with her patients - wanting to conceive, undergoing fertility treatments, and newly pregnant. Now she is reviewing articles from The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (The "Grey" Journal) reviewing pregnancy outcomes after COVID-19 infection. The truth is, there is no universal answer. Pregnancy in the time of COVID is not without risks, but this does not mean you must delay your dream of a family. But more than anything, you deserve to be educated and make an informed decision. If you like journal article reviews let me know!! (and your favorite topics to cover).
Should You Freeze Your Eggs?
Double board-certified OBGYN and REI, Dr. Natalie Crawford, MD explains egg freezing in this educational video. "Should I freeze my eggs?" is one of the TOP questions fertility doctors are asked, and in this video, all the facts are broken down. What happens as you get older? What is involved in the egg freezing process? What questions do you need to ask? When is the best time to freeze your eggs? How many eggs do you need to freeze? What happens when you are ready to use your eggs? Learn about your fertility and age, learn about egg freezing, and learn about your options to preserve your fertility.
How to Find the Right Fertility Doctor?
Board-certified OBGYN and REI, Dr. Natalie Crawford, talks about the top questions you NEED to ask when evaluating your fertility doctor and clinic. These are the things that will make a difference in your experience throughout your fertility journey. Don't just pick a clinic without understanding these important factors. Also, never be afraid to advocate for yourself and pick a clinic and doctor that fit your needs, even if it requires a change.
The Fertility Dictionary
Dr. Natalie Crawford, MD, board-certified OBGYN and RE, discusses the fertility acronyms that are commonly used during fertility evaluations and treatment. She is joined by REs from all over as we want o break down barriers and change the fertility conversation. We are here for our patients, empowering them, and advocating for them every day.
Optimizing Your Natural Fertility
Dr. Natalie Crawford, MD, board-certified OBGYN, and REI, explains what you need to know to optimize your natural fertility. What do you need to do if you are trying to get pregnant? Does diet impact fertility? Environmental toxins? What supplements should you be taking? How do you time intercourse with ovulation? Does position matter when you do the deed? How often?
What is Infertility?
Dr. Natalie Crawford, MD, double board-certified OBGYN, and fertility physician, talks about infertility. Understand the diagnosis and evaluation of infertility. When should you see a fertility doctor? What does the initial fertility consult look like? What tests are expected? Learn more here.
Age and Fertility: What Happens to Your Eggs as You Get Older?
Dr. Natalie Crawford, MD, board-certified fertility physician, explains the impact of age on fertility. Age is the number one predictor of pregnancy success in women trying to get pregnant. Learn about your ovaries and how they function. What happens as you get older? Why is it harder to get pregnant as you age? She talks about ovarian reserve, including testing of Antimullerian hormone (AMH) and antral follicle count (AFC), and egg quality. Learn about optimizing your fertility and making the decisions that are right for you.
COVID-19, Fertility and Pregnancy
Dr. Natalie Crawford, MD, double board-certified OB/GYN, and Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility specialist, discusses the risk of COVID-19 infection in pregnancy and then implications on fertility. On March 17, 2020, ASRM came out with recommendations halting fertility evaluations and treatments nationwide. For those considering pregnancy or undergoing fertility treatments, these are the things that you need to think about right now with the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. Wash your hands, clean surfaces, limit social situations, cancel travel, protect your loved ones, protect yourself.
***This video was published on March 31, 2020 - as this is an ongoing situation, we are currently getting new information and guidelines. This is not directed medical advice for you, this is for educational information only.
What is a Normal Period?
Fertility physician Dr. Natalie Crawford, MD explains your period in the easiest way possible. Understand what is normal and what is not. Listen to her talk about normal cycle length, irregular cycles, luteal phase defect, heavy periods, and painful periods. Basic explanations about PCOS, endometriosis, and more. Learn about your menstrual cycle and body so you can advocate for yourself.