What happens when a high-achieving woman hits her mid-to-late 30s, wants a baby more than anything… and realizes nobody ever taught her how fertility actually works? In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Natalie Crawford, board-certified in OBGYN and Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, and co-founder of Fora Fertility in Austin, Texas. We talk directly to the “Stephanie” archetype: the brilliant, driven, time-poor, high-performing woman who’s crushing her career… and now feels like fertility is the one thing she can’t outwork. We cover what to do before jumping into IVF, how to think about genetic testing, how many IVF rounds are “safe,” and the emotional reality of the two-week wait (and why you shouldn’t go through it alone). Dr. Crawford also breaks down the science of stress, inflammation, and insulin resistance, without the dismissive “just relax” narrative. If you’re trying to conceive, considering IVF, navigating pregnancy loss, or planning baby #2 in your 40s, this conversation will give you data, clarity, and a calmer way to make decisions. Timestamps  0:00 – Why fertility planning matters for high-achieving women 5:18 – IVF at 38: should you fast-track or gather data first? 10:42 – Family goals (1 vs 3 kids) and why strategy changes 15:27 – Genetic testing: benefits, limits, and embryo expectations 21:08 – IVF rounds, safety, and clinic age cutoffs 28:54 – The emotional weight of the two-week wait 34:36 – Chronic stress, cortisol, and egg quality 41:22 – Support systems: therapy, hypnotherapy, acupuncture, community 48:03 – Planning baby #2 in your 40s + embryo banking 54:10 – Who The Fertility Formula is for + pre-order bonuses What We Cover Fertility planning for high-achieving women with low time and high stress What to test before IVF: ovarian reserve, anatomy, semen analysis, cycle tracking IVF vs trying naturally at 38+: how to choose based on your family goal Genetic testing (PGT-A): pros, limitations, and decision-making benefits How many IVF rounds are safe + why “caps” aren’t one-size-fits-all The two-week wait, infertility grief, and reducing isolation Stress physiology: inflammation, glucose, insulin resistance, and egg/sperm quality Planning postpartum IVF/embryo banking for baby #2 in your 40s Key Takeaways Your plan should reflect your family goal (one child vs multiple), not just “get pregnant now.” Data first: you can’t make good fertility decisions without testing and cycle awareness. Genetic testing can reduce time, cost, and heartbreak by prioritizing embryos with higher potential. Chronic stress has real biological effects, support and recovery time aren’t optional add-ons. If you want baby #2 in your 40s, embryo banking can keep the door open while you recover postpartum. Connect With Natalie Website: https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/about Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NatalieCrawfordMD Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliecrawfordmd/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-crawford-md Pre-order Natalie’s “The Fertility Formula Book”: https://www.nataliecrawfordmd.com/book Connect With Me 🌍 Website: https://charlenegisele.com 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/charlenegisele 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlène-gisèle-bourliout/ ✉️ Subscribe to my Life Less Burnt Out Newsletter 📖Read Your Fertility-Ready Home