The Dr. Shannon Show #215: Freezing your eggs, how our reproductive system changes with age, and more with Dr. Natalie Crawford
Apr 24, 2025
Dr. Natalie Crawford, a board-certified OBGYN and fertility specialist, shares crucial insights into reproductive health. She emphasizes the importance of understanding your menstrual cycle as a vital sign and discusses the implications of hormonal birth control on fertility data. Learn about AMH testing and its significance for future family planning. Dr. Crawford also explains why younger egg freezing can enhance success rates, how exercise can positively impact fertility, and the importance of lifestyle changes for reproductive health.
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Menstrual Cycle As A Vital Sign
- The menstrual cycle functions as a vital sign reflecting brain-ovary-uterus communication and overall hormone health.
- Learning your unique cycle gives early clues to ovulation disorders and systemic health issues.
Come Off Birth Control Before Trying
- If you plan to get pregnant, stop hormonal birth control three to six months ahead to observe true cycles.
- Track your cycles off contraception so you can identify abnormalities early and avoid delays in evaluation.
What AMH Actually Measures
- AMH reflects the number of eggs available outside the ovarian 'vault' and correlates with egg quantity but not directly with immediate natural fertility.
- Low AMH matters for planning IVF or egg-freezing outcomes because it predicts how many eggs you can retrieve.