How Your Age and Weight, Factor Into the Fertility Equation with guest Dr. Alan Penzias
Release Date: 02/04/2026
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The Fertility Formula: Hormones, Inflammation, and the Truth About Optimizing Fertility with Dr. Natalie Crawford
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In this episode, I'm joined by one of my favorite fellow fertility doctors - Dr. Natalie Crawford, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist, co-founder of Fora Fertility in Austin, Texas, host of the As a Woman podcast, and author of the brand-new book The Fertility Formula. Dr. Crawford's journey into reproductive medicine is deeply personal: after experiencing four pregnancy losses and feeling dismissed by the medical system, she channeled that pain into a career dedicated to making sure no patient ever feels unheard or uninformed. Her...
info_outlineIn this episode, I sit down with one of my former mentors and professors, Dr. Alan Penzias, Medical Director at Boston IVF and Associate Professor at Harvard Medical School, to discuss his recent editorial in the Annals of Internal Medicine titled "The Weighty Issue of Obesity and Reproductive Success."
Read the full show notes on Dr. Aimee's website.
We dive deep into how age and weight factor into the fertility equation and why these conversations are so critical for anyone trying to conceive. Dr. Penzias shares his decades of experience helping patients navigate the complex intersection of body mass index, maternal age, and reproductive success, offering practical guidance on when to seek treatment and how to optimize your health before trying to get pregnant.
In this episode, we cover:
- How age remains the strongest predictor of fertility success and why both partners should consider timing
- The U-shaped curve of BMI and fertility: why both low and high body mass index can impact conception
- Practical strategies for doctors for discussing weight and fertility with patients in a shame-free, empowering way
- When to prioritize immediate fertility treatment versus taking time for weight optimization based on age
- The role of GLP-1 medications (like Tirzepatide) in fertility treatment and safe protocols for use Why unexplained infertility may have hidden explanations related to weight and metabolic health
- The "do the as if" philosophy: building sustainable health habits one step at a time
Resources:
- Dr. Alan Penzias and Boston IVF: BostonIVF.com
- Dr. Penzias's editorial: "The Weighty Issue of Obesity and Reproductive Success" - Annals of Internal Medicine https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-25-02742
- Dr. Penzias's YouTube video: "Evidence-Based Approach to Unexplained Infertility" https://youtu.be/9j4lNvmaXts?si=zmMFZFOno0sWnhcn
- American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Practice Committee resources on overweight and fertility https://www.asrm.org/
- Dr. Stephanie Fein - Fertility Weight Loss Specialist: https://www.stephaniefeinmd.com/
- Hillary Wright, Nutritionist at Boston IVF: https://www.bostonivf.com/physicians/hillary-wright
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