135: The Fertility Formula: Inflammation, Hormones & Hope with Dr. Natalie Crawford

In this powerful episode of the Conscious Fertility Podcast, Dr. Lorne Brown welcomes renowned reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Natalie Crawford for a deeply informative conversation on fertility, inflammation, hormonal health, and the science behind optimizing egg and sperm quality.Dr. Crawford shares her personal journey through recurrent pregnancy loss, her evidence-based whole-body approach to fertility care, and the foundations of her upcoming book The Fertility Formula. Together, they break down how inflammation, lifestyle, stress, and metabolic health shape reproductive potential — and why fertility is not a mystery, but a formula you can influence.Key takeaways:Inflammation is a major driver of poor egg and sperm quality, hormone imbalance, and implantation challenges — but it is modifiable.Cycle tracking matters: luteal phase length and symptoms can offer early clues about hormonal and metabolic health long before bloodwork changes.Egg quality is not only about age — metabolic and inflammatory factors significantly influence cellular function.Stress and cortisol imbalance contribute to insulin resistance and inflammation, directly affecting fertility in both men and women.Lifestyle choices — sleep, movement, nutrition, toxin exposure, and emotional health — are central pillars of the “fertility formula.”Dr. Natalie Crawford Bio:Natalie Crawford, is a MD who is board certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and is co-founder of Fora Fertility, a boutique fertility practice in Austin, Texas. Dr. Crawford is CEO and co-founder of Pinnacle, a professional network for women in medicine. She completed her undergraduate at Auburn University obtaining a degree in Nutrition Science, Medical School at University of Texas Medical Branch, OBGYN Residency at University of Texas Southwestern, and REI Fellowship at University of North Carolina, concurrently obtaining a Master of Science in Clinical Research. Dr. Crawford is a digital health educator on social media, YouTube, and hosts the podcast “As a Woman: Fertility, Hormones and Beyond” with over 5 million downloads. Her debut book, “The Fertility Formula: Take Control of your Reproductive future”released by Penguin Random House April 2026Unlike many physicians, Natalie has a whole body approach to medicine – fusing lifestyle and functional medicine with science backed facts to help people conceive and understand their bodies.Where To Find Dr. Natalie Crawford: Website: https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nataliecrawfordmd/As a Woman Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@asawomanpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliecrawfordmd/?hl=enBook “The Fertility Formula”: https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/book📧 For guest opportunities, collaborations or sponsorship inquiries, please email us at: [email protected] to connect to Lorne Brown online and in person (Vancouver, BC)Acubalance.ca book virtual or in person conscious work sessions with Dr. Lorne BrownLornebrown.comConscious hacks and tools to optimize your fertility by Dr. Lorne Brown:https://acubalance.ca/conscious-work/Download a free copy of the Acubalance Fertility Diet & Recipes and a copy of the ebook 5 Ways to Maximize Your Chances of Getting Pregnant from Acubalance.caConnect with Lorne and the podcast on Instagram:@acubalancewellnesscentre@conscious_fertility_podcast@lorne_brown_officialDISCLAIMER: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use it as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. This podcast offers information to help the listener cooperate with physicians, mental health professionals or other healthcare providers in a mutual quest for optimal well-being. We advise listeners to carefully review and understand the ideas presented, and to consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. Under no circumstances shall Acubalance, any guests or contributors to the Conscious Fertility podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Acubalance be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast.