How Women Can Improve Their Fertility & Hormone Health | Dr. Natalie Crawford
Andrew Huberman
Apr 13, 2026
Episode description
Dr. Natalie Crawford, MD, is a double board-certified OB-GYN and reproductive endocrinologist. We discuss how to improve hormone health at any age and the importance of fertility markers not just for pregnancy, but as a powerful window into overall health, vitality and longevity. We discuss hormone replacement therapy, egg freezing, IVF, and what biomarkers like AMH really indicate. Plus, how anti-inflammatory diets and specific supplements can be beneficial and the impact of microplastics and certain fragrances on hormones. We also discuss lesser-known factors that deplete male and female fertility, vitality and health. This conversation highlights how better understanding of hormones and your reproductive markers can empower better informed choices at every stage of life.
Show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/czMXcT4
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Dr. Natalie Crawford
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Timestamps
00:00:00 Natalie Crawford
00:02:26 Fertility as a Health Marker, Infertility
00:05:34 Perimenopause, Menopause, Hormone Replacement Theory
00:11:01 Sponsors: David & BetterHelp
00:13:35 Hormone Therapy, Extending Ovarian Lifespan
00:19:11 Plastics, Toxins & Fertility
00:22:02 Does Prior Pregnancy Make Conception Easier?, Secondary Infertility
00:29:02 Testing Sperm; Pregnancy Loss & Conceiving Again, Fertility Testing
00:38:17 Sponsor: AG1
00:39:40 Menstrual Cycle, Egg Number & Quality, AMH Test
00:48:17 Tool: AMH Test; Fertility Education & Patient Choices
00:53:13 Tool: Tracking Ovulation; Ovulation Disorders
00:55:11 AMH Test Cost; Genetic Testing & Patient Choice
01:01:13 Does Egg Freezing Cause Early Menopause?, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
01:05:29 Egg Freezing, IVF, Ethical Concerns; Embryo Banking
01:15:21 Sponsor: Eight Sleep
01:16:39 Egg Freezing, Cost & Patient Choices
01:21:22 Concieving After Hormonal Birth Control, IUD or Depo-Provera
01:27:17 Pregnancy Termination & Concieving Again
01:29:28 Support Egg Quality, Tools: Ovulation & Avoiding NSAIDs; 5 Lifestyle Non-Negotiables
01:34:03 Sleep, Melatonin; Cold Plunge
01:38:41 Curcumin, NAD/NR, CoQ10, Supplements for Prenatal Care & Sperm Health
01:42:05 Sponsor: Function
01:43:16 Fertility Research into Supplements & Lifestyle Factors
01:48:21 Inflammation, Red Light
01:53:12 Cannabis & Detriments to Egg & Sperm Health
01:58:57 Nicotine, Smoking, Egg Health & Sperm Count; Healthy Lifestyle Practices
02:02:21 GLP-1s, PCOS, Endometriosis; Human Growth Hormone
02:10:58 Platelet-Rich Plasma; Paternal Age & Sperm Quality; Biotin
02:17:27 Endocrine Disruptors, Fragrances, Receipts, Tool: Fragrance-Free
02:22:48 Patient Education & Empowerment; Inflammation, Celiac Disease
02:25:40 Anti-Inflammatory Diet, Protein, Fiber, Red Meat
02:33:25 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter
#hubermanlab #health #hormonehealth #fertility
Disclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer
Mindsip insights from this episode:
Avoid cannabis to protect fertility in men and women
Cannabis use is hugely detrimental, decreasing a woman's egg retrieval by 25% and causing higher miscarriage rates in partners of male users.
Avoid cold plunges to support conception efforts
Potent anti-inflammatory activities like cold plunges should be avoided when trying to get pregnant as they may interfere with the necessary inflammation for ovulation.
Understand egg freezing's impact on menopause risk
Egg freezing or IVF does not cause early menopause because it only utilizes the group of eggs that would have naturally died off that month anyway.
Proactively test fertility to enhance conception chances
Instead of waiting to 'fail' for a year, couples should proactively get fertility testing done, as most people who conceive naturally do so in the first six months.
Limit biotin intake to ensure accurate hormone testing
Taking more than 300 micrograms of biotin can interfere with lab assays, leading to inaccurate results for hormones like estradiol, progesterone, and TSH.
Use NSAIDs to prevent ovulation
Taking NSAIDs like Advil or Ibuprofen around the time of ovulation can prevent the follicle from rupturing and releasing an egg.
Utilize low-dose GLP-1 agonists to address unexplained infertility
Low-dose GLP-1 agonists are being explored for their anti-inflammatory benefits in patients with endometriosis or unexplained infertility, even if they don't need to lose weight.
Recognize infertility as a warning sign of chronic inflammation and insulin resistance
Infertility can be one of the first warning signs of underlying chronic inflammation or insulin resistance, which are linked to higher rates of cancer, heart attack, and stroke.
Get AMH test to assess egg quantity for future family planning
All women who may want children should get an AMH test to check their egg quantity, even though it's against official medical guidelines.
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