The Truth About Your Biological Clock: Egg Quality, AMH and Fertility with Dr. Natalie Crawford

In this episode of unPAUSED, Dr. Mary Claire Haver sits down with Dr. Natalie Crawford, a double board certified obstetrician, gynecologist, and reproductive endocrinologist, and author of the new book The Fertility Formula. Both physicians open by sharing their own fertility journeys, including pregnancy losses and dismissal from the medical system, before turning to the science that most women are never given access to. Dr. Crawford challenges one of the most persistent myths in women's health: that the biological clock is about running out of eggs. It is not. It is about egg quality, and those are completely different problems with completely different solutions. She explains how inflammation damages the chromosomes and mitochondria inside eggs, how chronic inflammation can actually deplete the ovarian reserve by penetrating the ovarian vault, and why the standard message to women, hurry up or give up, is not supported by the science. Guest links: Natalie Crawford, MD https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/ Natalie Crawford, MD (Instagram)   / nataliecrawfordmd   Natalie Crawford, MD (TikTok)   / nataliecrawfordmd   Natalie Crawford, MD (Threads) https://www.threads.com/@nataliecrawf... Natalie Crawford, MD (Facebook)   / nataliecrawfordmd   Natalie Crawford, MD (YouTube)    / nataliecrawfordmd   Natalie Crawford, MD (LinkedIn)   / natalie-crawford-md   Books: “The Fertility Formula,” by Dr. Natalie Crawford https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/book “The New Perimenopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://thepauselife.com/pages/the-ne... “The New Menopause,” by Dr. Mary Claire Haver https://www.amazon.com/New-Menopause-... For full show notes, please visit: https://bit.ly/unPAUSEDDrNatalieCrawf... 00:00:00 – Introduction & Why Fertility Matters Beyond Pregnancy 00:02:02 – Mary Claire's PCOS, Miscarriages & Fertility Journey 00:03:01 – Why Fertility and Menopause Are Connected 00:06:10 – Dr. Natalie Crawford's Four Pregnancy Losses 00:09:00 – The Emotional Toll of Recurrent Miscarriage 00:12:00 – Discovering Celiac Disease After Years of "Unexplained" Infertility 00:17:10 – Why the "Fail First" Fertility Model Is Broken 00:18:40 – Infertility Rates Are Rising—Here's Why 00:20:00 – Why Couples Should Get Fertility Testing Earlier 00:25:00 – Inflammation's Hidden Impact on Fertility 00:27:00 – How Chronic Inflammation Damages Egg Quality 00:29:30 – Why Ovarian Health Affects Long-Term Health 00:31:00 – Fertility Is a Health Marker, Not Just a Baby-Making Issue 00:34:20 – The Truth About Male Factor Infertility 00:35:30 – How Marijuana Can Affect Sperm & Pregnancy Outcomes 00:37:00 – Trimester Zero: Preparing for Pregnancy Before Conception 00:43:00 – Debunking the Biological Clock Myth 00:44:00 – Egg Quality vs. Egg Quantity Explained 00:47:30 – Understanding AMH and Ovarian Reserve Testing 00:49:30 – Why Every Woman Should Know Her AMH 00:52:00 – Early Menopause, Bone Health & Preventive Care 00:56:00 – The Celiac Disease Diagnosis That Changed Everything 00:59:00 – Why Your Period Is a Vital Sign 01:00:00 – The Menstrual Cycle Explained in One Minute 01:02:00 – Why Fertility Apps Are Often Wrong 01:03:00 – What Your Cycle Length Reveals About Your Health Never miss an episode—sign up for The ’Pause Life Newsletter: https://thepauselife.com/pages/newsle... Medical Disclaimer: The information, including opinions and recommendations, on this platform is meant for informational and educational purposes only. Mary Claire Media, LLC, the unPAUSED podcast, and The ’Pause Life are not medical organizations. Medical advice or medical diagnosis cannot be provided to you through the platform, any associated website, or customer portals. Using this platform does not establish a patient-physician relationship.