Fertility, PCOS & Period Loss: The Hidden Epidemic in Fit Women | ft. Dr. Natalie Crawford

This is one of the most powerful conversations we’ve had on The EMPWR Podcast. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Natalie Crawford — fertility physician and hormone expert — to unravel the truth about hormone health, period loss, PCOS, fertility struggles, and the dangerous undercurrent of underfueling in high-performing women. Whether you're planning to get pregnant, struggling with PCOS, or simply want to feel better in your body, this episode is a wake-up call every woman needs to hear. Guest Bio: Dr. Natalie Crawford is a fertility physician at Fora Fertility in Austin, Texas who knows that trying to understand your body and your hormones can be exhausting and overwhelming in the world of medical misinformation and contradicting opinions. She started the As a Woman Podcast to educate and empower, giving people access to the knowledge she's acquired on health and fertility from the comfort of their home. Resources & Mentions: – Dr. Natalie Crawford’s Podcast: As a Woman – Preorder Dr. Crawford’s Book: https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/book – Fora Fertility Clinic: https://www.forafertility.com/ Follow Dr. Natalie Crawford: Instagram & YT: @nataliecrawfordmd Website: www.nataliecrawfordmd.com _____ Sam’s LINKS: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/Samcfit Blokes + Joi Wellness | code: SAMCFITPOD *50% off all labs on both sites* https://blokes.co/samcfitpod https://choosejoi.co/samcfitpod   Clearstem Go to https://clearstem.com/SAMCFIT and use code SAMCFIT at checkout for 15% off.  Vitaclean Head to  https://vitaclean.co and use code SAMCFIT for 20% off their Starter Kits. Caraway Visit https://Carawayhome.com/samcfit you can take an additional 10% off your next purchase. EMPWR by Sam App | *free 7-day trial* https://www.empwrbysam.com/ My Macro Guide: https://samcfit.com/macro-guide-only Running Programs: https://www.samcfit.com/running-programs   Follow Sam: Insta: @samcfit_ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Samantha_Christine Topics discussed: 00:00:00 – Intro  00:01:28 – Impact of nutrition on hormone health 00:02:19 – Most important daily nutrition habits for hormonal balance 00:06:52 – Samantha shares losing her period for 13 months 00:09:07 – Why healthy fats are critical for hormone production 00:09:52 – Advice for busy, under-fueled women not seeing results 00:12:07 – Sleep as the foundation for hormone balance 00:14:21 – Navigating sleep misalignment with partners 00:16:00 – Tools & supplements to improve sleep (melatonin, noise apps) 00:18:11 – Must-have daily supplements for hormone support 00:19:44 – Importance of bloodwork: especially vitamin D & deficiencies 00:23:51 – Deep dive: PCOS – what it is, symptoms, and diagnosis 00:30:14 – Lifestyle and food interventions for PCOS 00:33:10 – How muscle building & movement reduce inflammation 00:35:03 – Training without losing your period again 00:38:10 – Tracking ovulation & reading body signs 00:41:17 – Primary culprits for rising fertility challenges 00:42:27 – Why some women get pregnant after stopping IVF 00:44:42 – Egg quality vs quantity: what you can and can't change 00:46:12 – Lifestyle shifts that boost metabolic and egg health 00:52:52 – Preparing to try: what active women should do 1 year out 00:55:00 – How long before trying should you stop birth control? 00:56:02 – Using body cues + basal temperature to track cycles 00:58:06 – Most women only track after struggling: why that's too late 01:00:02 – Fertility testing & advocacy: when to seek help 01:02:39 – MTHFR gene: what it means for folate & pregnancy 01:04:02 – Methylated folate vs folic acid for birth defect prevention 01:05:23 – Miscarriage risks without proper folate supplementation 01:08:14 – Low progesterone and miscarriages: how it works biologically 01:10:33 – Inflammatory foods, sugar, and alcohol's role 01:13:00 – Removing toxins and endocrine disruptors at home 01:15:12 – Household changes to protect children's long-term health Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices