When Should You Freeze Your Eggs? | Dr. Natalie Crawford on Timing, Testing & Family Planning

Is fertility really “over” at 35? In this conversation, Angela sits down with double board-certified reproductive endocrinologist Dr Natalie Crawford to unpack fertility myths, ovarian aging, egg freezing, and what women can actually do to protect both their future family and long-term health. They get into when to seriously consider egg freezing, how many eggs women over 38 may really need, what ovarian reserve tests can (and can’t) tell you, and why supporting your metabolic health and lowering inflammation is one of the best “longevity strategies” for your ovaries. They also talk about the emotional toll of infertility and pregnancy loss, and how to ask for (and offer) the right kind of support. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN Why fertility isn’t “over at 35” and what really happens to egg quantity & quality When egg freezing makes sense (and why it’s not a guaranteed insurance policy) Ovarian reserve basics: AMH, follicle counts and what “ovarian aging” means What to expect from an egg freezing cycle - timeline, hormones and recovery When to stop “trying naturally” and seek a fertility workup The emotional toll of infertility & loss, and how to get the right support How lifestyle, inflammation and metabolic health affect ovarian aging & long-term health Timestamps 00:00 Intro: Fertility Facts and Myths 01:57 When Should Women Start Thinking About Freezing Their Eggs? 05:57 The Role of Egg Freezing for Women Who Already Have a Child 12:11 How the Egg Freezing Process Works Step by Step 18:08 What to Expect Physically and Emotionally During Egg Freezing 21:47 Egg Freezing for Women with PCOS: Benefits and Risks 26:52 When to Seek Fertility Testing and How Long to Try Naturally 33:35 When to Move from Egg Freezing to IVF 41:26 How Age Impacts Pregnancy Success and Health Risks 46:07 The Emotional Side of Infertility and How to Find Support 52:08 Understanding and Delaying Ovarian Aging 59:00 Advice for Women on Fertility and Health Advocacy VALUABLE RESOURCES A BIG thank you to our sponsors who make the show possible:• Hormone Harmony - go to https://lvluphealth.com/ANGELA | Use the code ANGELA at checkout for an exclusive 15% off Fresh Start with Angela👉 https://academy.angelafosterperformance.com/fresh-start ABOUT THE GUEST Dr Natalie Crawford is a double board-certified OB/GYN and Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility specialist, co-founder of Fora Fertility in Austin and CEO & co-founder of Pinnacle, a leadership organisation for women in medicine. She is a leading voice on natural fertility, ovarian aging and evidence-based preconception care, hosts the popular podcast “As a Woman: Fertility, Hormones and Health” and her debut book The Fertility Formula will be published in early 2026. 🌐 Website: https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/ 📖 Pre-order The Fertility Formula: https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/book 📱 Instagram / TikTok: @nataliecrawfordmd 🐦 Twitter/X: @ncrawfordmd ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NatalieCrawfordMD/ 🎙 Podcast: As a Woman Podcast