The Pregnancy Doctor: Pregnancy Halves Every Year After 32! If You Want 2+ Children, You Need To Know This! If You Experience This Pain, Go See A Doctor!
Jun 3, 2024
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In this conversation, Dr. Natalie Crawford, a double board-certified fertility doctor and co-founder of Fora Fertility, explores the intricate world of fertility challenges. She reveals how plastic and pollution play a role in reproductive health and discusses the surprising prevalence of conditions like PCOS affecting many women. Dr. Crawford also shares insights on the best times for conception and factors impacting sperm count, such as heat exposure from baths and mobile devices, empowering listeners with knowledge for family planning.
Fertility declines with age due to decreased egg quantity and quality, impacting chances of conception and increasing miscarriage rates.
Infertility rates rise from factors like irregular periods, stress, toxins, and lifestyle choices, emphasizing the need for early reproductive health education.
Healthy lifestyle choices such as avoiding toxins, reducing inflammation, and prioritizing sleep can positively impact ovarian reserve and fertility outcomes.
Consuming whole fat dairy products over skim options is linked to better fertility outcomes, highlighting the importance of diet in reproductive health.
Balancing meat consumption with plant-based meals, limiting red meat intake, and reducing processed food consumption can improve fertility outcomes.
Deep dives
Understanding the Decline in Female Fertility with Age
Women have a limited number of eggs in their lifetime, with a significant decline in quantity and quality as they age. By age 35, chances of getting pregnant per month reduce to 10-15%, dropping further to 5% by age 40. Quality concerns arise due to genetic abnormalities in older eggs, leading to higher miscarriage rates.
Factors Influencing Infertility Rates
Rates of infertility are increasing due to various factors such as irregular periods, autoimmune diseases, obesity, chronic stress, and environmental toxins. Behavioral choices like smoking cigarettes, marijuana, diet, and exposure to toxins impact fertility rates. Chronic stress and inflammation add to infertility concerns.
Empowering Early Education on Reproductive Health
Empowering individuals with early education on reproductive health can alter the trajectory of fertility issues. Understanding the impact of lifestyle choices on fertility, such as avoiding toxic behaviors, reducing inflammation, and prioritizing sleep, can lead to informed decisions and healthier reproductive outcomes.
Egg Reserve and Lifestyle Choices
Making healthy lifestyle choices can positively impact ovarian reserve and fertility. Avoiding toxins, reducing inflammation, prioritizing sleep, and maintaining a balanced diet can preserve egg quality and quantity over time. Factors like stress, diet, and exposure to environmental toxins play a crucial role in determining fertility outcomes.
Health Implications of Different Dairy Products
Whole fat dairy products like whole milk are associated with better fertility outcomes compared to skim dairy products. Skimmed milk, due to the fat removal process, may lack the beneficial fat content found in whole fat options. Therefore, consuming whole fat dairy in moderation is recommended.
Balanced Meat Consumption and Dietary Habits
Balancing meat consumption with plant-based meals, such as incorporating Meatless Mondays followed by daily meat servings, can help increase fruit and vegetable intake. Red meat consumption should be limited to maintain a healthy diet, along with reduced intake of processed foods, sugars, and refined carbs.
Exercise and Menstrual Cycle Regulation
Exercise can have dual effects on fertility, with some individuals experiencing menstrual irregularities or cessation due to excessive exercise. Estrogen's role in communicating ovarian activity to the brain is vital, influencing the menstrual cycle and egg maturation. The discussion highlights the delicate hormonal balance impacted by exercise intensity.
Understanding Ovarian Function and Fertilization Process
Illustrating the menstrual cycle's ovarian dynamics, estrogen and progesterone play crucial roles in egg maturation, ovulation, and embryo implantation. The intricacies of follicle growth, hormone production, and fertilization are explained in detail, emphasizing the significance of hormonal communication between the ovaries and brain for successful conception.
The Cost and Process of IVF and Genetic Testing
The podcast episode highlights the cost variations of in vitro fertilization (IVF) between the UK and the US, with genetic testing and egg freezing costing about half as much. The discussion delves into the stigma surrounding IVF and freezing eggs, emphasizing the importance of normalizing these conversations. Additionally, the episode stresses the significance of being well-informed about fertility treatments, annual storage fees for frozen eggs, and the impact of delayed parenthood on family planning.
IVF Procedures and Considerations for Fertility Treatment
The podcast explores the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in detail, focusing on genetic testing of embryos for chromosome abnormalities to ensure a healthy pregnancy. It discusses the significance of transferring one genetically normal embryo at a time to improve implantation success rates and reduce pregnancy complications. Furthermore, the episode addresses common myths about conception through natural methods, debunking misconceptions about positions, urination after sex, and the impact of orgasm on fertility. Additionally, it provides insights into the considerations and challenges of using birth control pills and the importance of seeking timely fertility treatment and second opinions for individuals facing difficulties with conception.
Where have all the babies gone? Dr Natalie breaks down everything you need to know about fertility.
Dr Natalie Crawford is a double board-certified fertility doctor. She is also the co-founder of Fora Fertility clinic and Pinnacle Conference, a leadership conference for women in medicine.
In this conversation, Dr Natalie and Steven discuss topics such as, how plastic and pollution affect your fertility, the surprising condition that’s affecting 1 in 4 women, the best time to have sex for pregnancy, and the impact of phones and hot baths on sperm count.
