EFR 945: The Fertility Crisis Is Worse Than You Think… What's Causing It and How to Finally Get Pregnant with Dr. Natalie Crawford

This episode is brought to you by Audible, Fatty15 and Z Biotics.

Sperm counts are down 50%. Fertility rates are collapsing. Miscarriages, hormone dysfunction, chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, environmental toxins, sleep deprivation, cannabis use, and modern stress are all colliding into what fertility physician Dr. Natalie Crawford, MD, author of The Fertility Formula, calls a growing reproductive health crisis. This conversation breaks down why fertility is one of the strongest indicators of overall health, how inflammation damages eggs, sperm, mitochondria, and hormones, why "healthy" people are still struggling to conceive, and the exact lifestyle, nutrition, testing, and environmental changes that can dramatically improve fertility outcomes for both men and women. Chase and Dr. Crawford also share deeply personal stories about pregnancy loss, the emotional toll of infertility, and how couples can better support each other through one of life's hardest journeys.

You will learn:

• Fertility is a powerful marker of overall metabolic and cellular health
• Chronic inflammation is one of the biggest hidden drivers of infertility
• Sperm counts have dropped 50% over the last 50 years
• Cannabis use is strongly linked to sperm DNA damage and miscarriage risk
• TRT can significantly suppress or permanently impair sperm production
• Sleep may be the single most powerful fertility intervention available
• Women and men respond differently to fasting, cold exposure, and stress
• Insulin resistance is affecting far more "healthy" people than they realize
• Environmental toxins and endocrine disruptors are major fertility disruptors
• Men can dramatically improve fertility in as little as 90 days
• Pregnancy loss requires emotional support, community, and medical follow-up

Follow Natalie @nataliecrawfordmd

Follow Chase @chase_chewning

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00:00 - The fertility crisis nobody is talking about

02:24 - Why fertility rates are rapidly declining

03:54 - Fertility as a marker of overall health

05:14 - Chronic inflammation explained

07:33 - The "walkie talkie" theory of hormones

10:10 - Detaching from the identity of being "healthy"

13:00 - TRT and male fertility risks

17:09 - Why men are 50% of the fertility equation

18:54 - Cannabis and sperm DNA damage

22:01 - Plastics, fragrances & endocrine disruptors

24:48 - Why men need to show up during fertility journeys

32:25 - Sauna use and sperm health

35:00 - Cold plunges, fasting & female hormones

37:34 - Best fertility-supporting nutrition strategies

43:53 - Why men can improve fertility in 90 days

44:44 - Women, egg reserves & aging explained

52:43 - The #1 thing you can do for mitochondrial health

55:11 - Fertility tests every person should know

01:00:17 - Why every man should get a semen analysis

01:04:11 - Should everyone freeze eggs and sperm?

01:09:15 - Chronic inflammation & insulin resistance explained

01:17:13 - How stress directly impacts fertility

01:19:11 - Practical ways to reduce inflammation

01:21:43 - The emotional reality of miscarriage & pregnancy loss

01:26:29 - What to do medically after pregnancy loss

01:29:08 - What "Ever Forward" means to Natalie

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