The Fertility Formula: Take Control of Your Reproductive Future

by Natalie Crawford

Brought to you by Penguin.

An indispensable guide to fertility, covering everything you need to know to optimise your hormones, get pregnant and take charge of your reproductive health.

Most of us are taught there’s nothing we can do to improve our fertility – that it’s simply a matter of luck – but this couldn’t be more wrong. In The Fertility Formula, fertility expert Dr Natalie Crawford breaks down the science behind fertility and guides you through what you can do, starting now, to improve your fertility and your chances of getting pregnant.

Weaving together cutting-edge science, clinical insight and patient stories, Dr Crawford gives you the tools to take control of your reproductive health,

The most common but overlooked causes of infertility – and what you can actually do about themThe truth about the ‘biological clock’, and why egg quality is about more than just ageHow to accurately track your menstrual cycle for conception, pregnancy prevention, and hormone health – and uncover the root cause of abnormal cyclesA step-by-step guide to getting pregnant, from timing intercourse with ovulation to navigating infertility treatments if neededA lifestyle plan to improve your hormone health, reduce inflammation and boost fertility through better sleep, stress-reduction, nutrition and movement20+ recipes for quick, easy, and delicious meals that support hormones and fertility
It’s time to put fertility back in your hands – and The Fertility Formula will give you the knowledge, tools, and confidence to look after your reproductive future.

Published by FlightStory Books.

Natalie Crawford 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Audiobook

Audible Audio

Published April 16, 2026

Reviews

[Victoria Godi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is my honest review of this book:

Pros: She covered everything. She made this book for everyone, even if you are not planing to get pregnant. This book was written make you be more in tune with your body, which is fantastic. She talked about all the topics that have a lot of misinformation online. I love her breakdown of exercise and different types and other lifestyle choices.

Cons: This is why I took off one star, supplements and recipes. There are very few supplements that have good data and impact fertility. I’ve spent months looking into this. This narrows this down to prenatal, CoQ10, vitamin D, omega-3. She doesn’t talk about choline!!! And choline is very low doses in prenatals! But she does talk about a bunch of other supplements like zinc 😅 which doesn’t have very good data for women. Melatonin, ONLY Ivf studies shown to have improvement, melatonin long term can impact your overall circadian rhythm and many sleep scientists don’t recommend it. Recipes listed at the end have very little protein, and we know that egg development is highly demanding on energy, plant protein might not be enough. Fish is a good source of protein, eggs, there are plant protein powders that are well formulated, those could have been recommendations at the end.

Also, I’m not random person looking at data, I’m a scientist with PhD so I would say I’m pretty good judge on data.

Overall, I think everyone should read this book to really understand their fertility and health. This is a good guide to what you can change and what questions you should be asking.

*If you listen to this book, you should get the pdf, it has a lot of information in it*

[Laura Keegan]

Enjoyed! Good frame as fertility as a health marker, vs only fertility for having a baby. For all of you nosey/speculative people out there — I’m marking this as read while having a glass of white wine and eating raw sushi.

[Samantha Donovan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Insightful and tons of useful information about hormonal health and harmful products BUT I did think the author doesn’t touch enough on things that ARE good for us. I felt like most of the book was fear mongering tiny aspects of life such as thermal receipts…she talked about the danger of touching thermal receipts 3+ times.
Overall learned some new stuff but I think there are more insightful novels on the market under this category.

[Kayla • bookedblonde]

Thoughts!!
- very glad that publishers are prioritizing books on fertility and women’s health!!!!
- I think this book could be a source of hope when you feel like there is nothing you can do to support your fertility. It can be so hard to just leave everything up to the docs.

- I also think this could be a tad stressful and overwhelming. I know the author’s intention is not to say that you need to do all these things to get pregnant. Heck, most of the population has it muuuuch easier than us 1 in 6!! But, it can be scary to think that I have to make alllllll these changes for even a chance at a successful pregnancy. I know any small change is a good change, but the diet section left me feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Overall thoughts:
- I think this is a great choice for people who may not struggle getting pregnant and just want to promote a healthy lifestyle and therefore improved fertility. It teaches a lot about cycles and women’s health that was skipped over in school.
-However, when going through infertility, it focuses a bit less on specific medical interventions. It didn’t feel like an “it’s my fault” scenario with the inflammation focus, and I do agree that lowering inflammation with a healthy lifestyle is a great way to better your health/fertility… but I do think there are still many scenarios where no amount of lifestyle changes will be the magic fix.

[Vonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Phew! I have a bone to pick with this book!

First, let’s start with the positive. This book does have some great information, and I did learn a lot about egg quality and how it changes as we age.

Now here is where I was like, ummm… I don’t fully agree with this.

When it comes to the nutrition section, I do agree that we should be eating more whole foods, veggies, and fruit. However, I personally did not agree with the protein recommendation, especially since she also recommends women strength train. If women are lifting weights, trying to support their hormones, and trying to maintain muscle, a low protein target just does not make sense to me.

I also did not love how she talked about melatonin possibly helping with egg quality. I have read different studies that suggest melatonin may not be ideal for everyone and could possibly affect ovulation. Because of that, I wish she would have explained that part better instead of making it sound like a simple egg-quality fix.

As for the supplement information, I did appreciate that she listed some of the most commonly talked-about fertility supplements. But of course, please be responsible and ask your doctor before adding anything new. Your doctor knows your health history best and can help you decide what is actually right for you.

Overall, I did learn from this book, but there were definitely parts that made me pause and question the advice.

[Alexandra Towner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend for anyone seeking more information about women’s health! Not just in the context of fertility.

[Taylor Richmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much about natural reproductive health, potential setbacks, and actionable steps I can take daily to reduce all of that! This book was incredibly insightful!!

[Marissa Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to digest education about fertility which is a HEALTH marker. A lot of this wasn’t new information for me but I still came out with several takeaways and new knowledge. Natalie laid this out simply and in an easy to follow way for the average person. This is important information for all women, regardless of whether looking to get pregnant or not

[Lila Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every woman needs to read this. Most informative, incredible info I’ve ever read. LOVED!

Fertility is NOT only just for when you’re going to have kids, it’s a direct correlation to your overall health. So important!!!

[Brynn Lautenbacher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned SO much from this book. Really wish that this type of education was available all the time for everyone. I’ll definitely refer back as needed and feel like I know much more about my body than I did before.

[Nicole LaValle Feser]

Highly recommend this book for all women, not just those trying to conceive. Lots of great information for overall health! As a healthcare professional, I tend to be more critical of these types of books, so I didn’t agree with all of it, but overall felt this was pretty good!

[Rebecca Summerlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every woman should read this book!

[Nicole Barletta · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book every woman should read!!!!

[Michelle Penko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very very informative and eye opening. Loved the audiobook!

[Sophie Ottaviano · Rating 5 out of 5]

1000/10 for non-fiction. Can’t shut up about it. Love how she can explain pretty medically complex topics in a simple way. Super important read for anyone who wants to learn more about the female reproductive cycle and endocrinology.

[Alannah]

This book brought me back to my health sci roots - so much good info about women's health that is not (but should be) common knowledge. I liked the focus on how fertility is a marker of overall health - not just those trying to conceive. There are definitely some key ideas that I will be prioritizing for my overall health. Would recommend to anyone with a uterus who wants to better understand how your body works!

[Cate Dillon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
I really like Natalie Crawford however, I found the book to be overly repetitive towards the end (don’t drink from plastic bottles, don’t use teflon, don’t touch receipts) as if she was struggling to reach a certain word count. I also thought the vegetarian bias was laid on too thick and made me roll my eyes at times.

I thought it was reader friendly and wasn’t too overwhelming from a science perspective. I would recommend to anyone starting their fertility journey or anyone who was interested in improving their hormonal health

[Chrisanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer:
Not pregnant.
Not trying.
Just someone who thinks that bowel movements and menstrual cycle(if applicable) should be something they check at yearly physicals.

Pros: This is a good start if you haven't read any other books on the topic. It's one of the most comprehensive books on infertility that I've seen in a while. I think many of the points are valid. She seems to be coming from a place of genuine care. I also can get behind the idea that lifestyle is important. LOVED the ideas for endometriosis. Her interesting note about gluten at the beginning was only the second confirmation of something I've personally experienced.

Cons: This is very much written to an upper middle class audience, who can afford to drop whatever it costs to do all those tests that she recommends. There is an obligatory "insurance should pay" line, but for the most part it's glossed over. There's a bit of snark at alt-health practitioners but if you're poor or needing to save up for a while and desperate to do something, they often cost a fraction of what IVF costs(and their odds of success--data about fertility treatments that you should probably consider--are probably just as good. Maybe that's improved since I last checked, though?). Instead of snark, maybe examine why people do that stuff in the first place and adjust practice accordingly---just a good tip in general. I know an MD who offered IUI for low-income earners at his clinic for $60 in 2024.

Other data you should have under your belt: the average salary of doctors at reproductive clinics(especially "boutique" ones), and what is currently known about the longterm effects of all of these procedures and medications on the individuals involved(both physical and emotional). I mention this because I remember crying through an article a woman wrote after years of trying every intervention imaginable. And she was broken in more ways than one. Too often we see in our heads the best outcome. It's worth examining realistic ideas of what the worst looks like as well.

ETA: Obviously this is not a scientific study but my 3 vegan friends have had the most horrific deliveries and recoveries. So I'm somewhat suspicious of pushing that as a fertility benefit.

[Zehava (Joyce) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve been following Natalie Crawford for a long time and I’m generally a fan of her work but this book was only ok. This book is pretty basic and repetitive and a lot of her lifestyle and nutrition recommendations seem both extreme and arbitrary. She personally follows a plant based diet, so that’s what she recommends for her patients, and it seems like she’s searching for the research to back up her life choices. Nutrition studies are mostly trash so I don’t put a lot of stock into their or her conclusions. I just can’t imagine how a full time working woman struggling with her fertility would react to being told she needs to sleep 7-9 hours a night, meditate every day, exercise every day, avoid all stress and only eat whole foods cooked at home. This just doesn’t seem within reach for most people. Good audiobook well narrated by the author.

[Charlotte Chan]

I learned sooo much! This book really highlighted how much I *didn't* know about fertility and women's health. I think this would be an invaluable guide for anyone confused by misinformation online about hormone health and/or TTC.

With that said, didn't agree with everything in the nutrition chapter (ie. citing the EWG as a credible source). But I do think that optimizing for conception does require a more tailored and specific approach to nutrition and inflammation, so I'm mostly on-board :)

[Allan Aksiim · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Know your body, work out, eat well, sleep well, reduce stress and remove toxins" is probably the TL;DR summary of the book with lots of nuance, caveats and details. Although the focus is fertility the book can be taken also as a health book. I like that Dr Natalie Crawford is of the opinion that people should be informed about their fertility (the mechanism, how and by how much it goes down with age for women and what are the possible tests to diagnose or exclude certain possible causes for infertility).

On the other hand it can be surmised from the case studies brought as examples that many underling health concerns are often revealed only when people are trying to have a baby. This goes for women and men both. Especially for many women their life quality could have been greatly improved much earlier if they would simply had known and get diagnosed for some underlining issue. This goes even for those who don't want or don't plan children. Endometriosis or PMOS (until recently PCOS) and other ailments are more common than people think. Up to 50% of women with infertility have endometriosis and up to 45% of women undergoing IVF will be diagnosed with uterine polyps. Many women use the pill not for birth control but rather to mitigate abnormal menstrual cycles and other related symptoms which then are never properly diagnosed.

Some of the recommendations to increase fertility seemed to be in the category "throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks". The author's own struggle to get pregnant with several miscarriages right at the start of the book is a good illustration of it. She got pregnant when she started living a lot healthier and being very selective with food. Only later did she get diagnosed with celiac disease. What really surprised me was the statistic that 72% of couples get pregnant in the first six months of trying and only another 13% are added during the other six months. In other words waiting for 12 months as is the usual medical advice before going for a check-up seems questionable.

Quite many things in the book were US-specific. It makes sense since the author is American and English a universal language of our time. If there were people writing about fertility in French, German or Spanish I simply would not know they existed. Treatment guides are somewhat different in USA and countries of the European Union. There are also differences how strict the regulations are towards dangerous substances (which Crawford recommends to avoid or reduce).

The book gets very repetitive, especially in the later part. I get it that replacing plastic with glass and other such changes are important but this exact advice and others similar to it are repeated in different variations and same to-do lists appear again and again. On the other hand repetition means the message gets across clearer. Would have preferred more patient stories - what and how was discovered and how they were treated. Esther Perel does patient stories to illustrate her points very well in her books. Although I like reading non-fiction stories are more memorable than overviews of studies, facts and clinical observations.

The clinical observations and advise based on that brings towards the controversy. Latest Instagram scandal in the so-called fertility influencer community was Dr Crawford's recent hot take that hormonal IUD-s cause scarring of the uterus and thin lining and because of that should be avoided. Other (influencer) fertility doctors think this is rubbish and Crawford is spreading nonsense. Then Crawford countered that "there are no clinical studies linking IUDs to infertility... I stated a clinical observation". The argument then stands on shaky grounds but does hint that there are big gaps on a lot of research on women's issues.

The book ends with very practical recommendations of not only what to avoid but what to do/use instead. There are lists for make-up products all the way to house cleaning and food recipes. Crawford likes lists and checklists and it shows. Also the Appendix has pages and pages of things to think before visiting a doctor, including what to ask during every specific procedure and what to check for and possibly treat when these procedures fail.

[Chloe Rossier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your period is your sixth vital sign, and yet many of us were never taught to treat it that way. That is why this book feels so important.

This is not the genre I typically read, but I was genuinely excited to receive an early copy because I believe this information is critical for women. I have followed Natalie Crawford for quite some time on social media and deeply respect the way she educates about fertility in a clear, grounded, and approachable way. As we begin having more honest conversations about hormones, cycle tracking, and the long-term effects of birth control, this book feels timely, necessary, and long overdue.

The book is thoughtfully organized into five parts. It begins by explaining what we should have learned about our fertility from the start, then walks through practical tools like cycle tracking, fertility testing, and family planning options. It also covers holistic preparation, helps readers synthesize everything into a plan for them, and offers nutrition guidance to support reproductive health. It truly feels like an essential guide for understanding your body before you even start “trying.” I could see this being helpful to pick up over and over again when questions arise.

Throughout the book, Crawford includes helpful callouts that answer common questions, distills important research findings into digestible information, and shares practical pro tips to help women advocate for themselves in medical settings. The science is accessible without fear or overwhelm, equipping women with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their bodies.

This is the information I hope becomes second nature by the time we are passing it down to our daughters and it is a book I would absolutely recommend to the women in my life.

Thank you to Viking Penguin and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Shelby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pros: discusses specific aspects of lifestyle and environment playing a role in infertility (finally we are seeing a shift in that unexplained fertility can have an answers) gives case study examples, adds in boxes about research relevant to the chapter in small chunks, addresses questions commonly asked, importance of adding in plant-based products.

Cons: makes animal based products to be avoided at almost all costs and that "all red meat is inflammatory and organ meat is bad", also recommends supplements that you can get from eating meat, if you're eating regenerative farming that has way more bioavailable nutrients than eating soy or supplements, uses genetic things like "eat more complex carbs" but doesn't discuss the differences between simple vs complex carbs, doesn't address circadian biology and how light greatly effects our sleep, magnesium should be included in the sleep section as well as it's other benefits, melatonin isn't benign and she over-emphasizes is, says get rid of "imported cosmetics" but that is very generic and not all US companies are appropriate for cosmetics she doesn't define what that means, additionally there are editing needs such as going off on tangents that was odd.

[AnnaDea Chavez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this from Netgalley. If you’re on this path—or if you love someone who is—please read this. You deserve this kind of support.

They say 1 in 6 people struggle with infertility and 1 in 4 experience miscarriage. I am both. After three IVF cycles and a first-trimester miscarriage last month, I know what it feels like to be the one crying on the bathroom floor, wondering how much more you can hold.

Dr. Crawford, thank you for this gift. The Fertility Formula takes a process that so often feels overwhelming, confusing, and isolating—and makes it feel understandable, grounded, and humane. Whether you’re navigating IVF protocols, egg freezing, or the quiet heartbreak of loss, this book meets you exactly where you are.

If you’re giving yourself injections tonight, or holding your breath through every scan, let this be a reminder: you don’t have to go through this in silence.

As we prepare for our next embryo transfer—carrying so much hope with us—I feel more informed, more empowered, and less alone. If you’re curious about your fertility, or deep in treatment like I am, I truly can’t recommend this enough. ✨

[Rylee Spaulding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this author’s podcast, so I was excited to hear she was releasing a book. I listened as an audiobook which is such an easy way to consume nonfiction (especially with a long commute) but I’ll admit I know I don’t process the info the same way when listening compared to physically reading and it sometimes feels like an overwhelming amount of content because I can get through it so much faster. This book did make me feel (like may other health-related books) that there are just so many things that we “should” be doing to optimize health, it’s hard to know where to start or what are really the most impactful changes to make without sacrificing entirely on enjoyment and some of the conveniences of life. That being said, I love her emphasis on how fertility is a marker of overall health - it’s not just important when you are thinking about starting a family. I’m grateful to have grown up in a generation where women have the right to make decisions about their reproductive health, and I think this book does a great job providing the education that is lacking to make truly informed decisions.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read. I follow this doctor on youtube so very little of this was new to me, and I'm not someone who is trying to have a baby right now and experiencing infertility. So maybe not the target audience. But I felt it could have been a little more pointed, in that it sort of covers everything but I probably wouldn't recommend it to a friend who isn't obsessed with learning stuff like this because it doesn't prioritize any of the factors. I guess this might be challenging to do in a useful way, but I think the marketing of this book and even the title does seem like it's going to prioritize and simplify things. Instead it takes all the many many known lifestyle changes and adds an elimination diet to detect foods inflammatory to your body. So, if you like me are a bottomless pit for information like this and it doesn't overwhelm you easily, this might be a good pick. I was going to send it to some friends and decided not to due to the aforementioned reasons

[Stanjay Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read for anyone interested in reproductive health—not just those on a fertility journey. It covers the fundamentals of male and female anatomy, the many conditions that can contribute to infertility, and evidence‑based strategies for improving both reproductive and overall health. I appreciated the charts, illustrations, and clear summary points at the end of each chapter. The resource section is extensive, and while I’m not a recipe person, I know plenty of readers will love the collection of recipes included in the back.

I first heard about this book when I saw the author in conversation with Pamela Brown from CNN in Aspen, and I knew right then I had to read it. I’m glad I followed through.

[Kellie Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was surprised I was already doing most of the things the book suggested (I read It Starts With the Egg previously), but it was a good review. There were a couple mistakes (the lists for healthy sperm habits vs unhealthy were switched and stating that oxytocin is used for milk production when it actually controls the milk ejection reflex).

I was also disappointed that she was very quick to suggest IVF in so many cases without getting to the root cause. While the financial and emotional burdens of IVF were addressed, she never once mentioned IVF conflicting with religious beliefs.

Her treatment plans differ from other physicians, but I know everyone practices medicine a little differently.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mainly learned about my body’s hormones and cycle. I did think there was a bit of fear mongering however I understand her point about understanding your body and being able to actively choose your future based on your fertility and the stats. The part I don’t agree with is the nutritional section and after reading some other reviews I can see she has a vegetarian agenda lol. First off she puts down strength training as low on the activity scale but then says it’s the most important activity for women… then goes into how protein is super important but beans will give you more protein than meat??? And meat is actually worse for your body… yeah okay. Anyways- my takeaways will be in what she’s actually qualified for which is fertility and women’s reproductive health not nutrition.

[Mildred · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful if basic information for people just staring this journey. She leaves some nuanced studies out and some of her advice is weirdly outdated give this was just published, but perhaps she had to make generalizations for length. I don’t know, but I didn’t really learn anything new and left feeling old and dejected and like there are more problems with me than is likely realistic (I’m only 36). Wish there was more compassion and nuance in this book, and that it was a little less colored by the author’s personal experience and the relatively extreme circumstance of her discovering she had celiac disease through her fertility journey. I think this book will be useful for those to whom this is all new information, but I hope they proceed to read further elsewhere.