I’ve been helping people build families for over 15 years as a reproductive endocrinologist and OB-GYN. I also want you to know that I have personally spent many holiday seasons infertile as I struggled to build my own family.  I know from my personal experience and helping patients that this time of year, full of holiday traditions, can be extremely difficult for people. Whether you have infertility, recently had a miscarriage, or don’t yet have the family you desire, this blog post is for you.  During the holiday season, there can be many triggers if you’re trying to build a fam ..read more

Today we're going to talk about parabens and your reproductive health. As a reproductive endocrinologist helping people build their families for over 15 years, I’m passionate about teaching you the lifestyle changes you can make to optimize your reproductive health. When I studied the many things that impact reproduction, I learned a lot about endocrine disruptors and how they might affect fertility, including egg and sperm health, the risk of miscarriage, and lowered fertility treatment success rates.  I think it’s essential to be armed with knowledge about endocrine disruptors and thei ..read more

Today, I want to share the importance of sleep and your fertility. As a reproductive endocrinologist helping people build families for over 15 years, I love educating people on everything that you should’ve learned in health class about fertility.  In this post, we’ll be going in-depth about how sleep can affect your fertility and the steps you can take to improve your sleep routine. What’s the connection between sleep and fertility? Lack of sleep (or dysfunctional sleep) is associated with many medical issues, including disordered blood sugars and a higher risk of diabetes, heart dise ..read more

Today I want to talk about the answer to a common question: Am I more fertile after a miscarriage? As a reproductive endocrinologist and miscarriage specialist helping people build families for over 15 years, I often hear this question from patients today.  When I was in medical school and residency, this question rarely came up. But now, patients who have experienced a miscarriage often ask if they should try again immediately because they’ve heard women are more fertile right after a miscarriage. Let’s look at the evidence that studies show us about fertility after a miscarriage.  ..read more

I’m a reproductive endocrinologist and miscarriage specialist who's been helping people build families for over 15 years. A miscarriage can be a devastating loss, and if you’re trying to build a family, one of the first things you might be wondering is when you can try again.  In this blog post, I want to help you learn more about miscarriage (and how common it is) and understand the evidence we have about trying again. I hope you’ll be kind to yourself and empowered to learn more about your personal situation with your doctor.  Let’s get started.  Miscarriage is common.  ..read more

As a reproductive endocrinologist and fertility doctor, I’m passionate about helping people build all types of families.  Building a family can seem overwhelming if you’re part of a gay or gender-diverse couple with sperm. While some extra considerations exist for male couples who want biological kids, your path to children is generally comprised of manageable steps. In this blog post, I will provide information to help you confidently move forward in your fertility journey. With that in mind, let’s get started.   Step 1: Choose your fertility specialist or clinic The first step ..read more

Today we’re going to talk about intrauterine insemination (IUI) fertility treatment and how to maximize your chances for success.  As a reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist, I’ve specialized in helping people build their families for over 15 years. I know that undertaking the IUI journey can feel intimidating.  Perhaps you're reading this after doing an IUI or two without success, and you want to learn how you can improve your odds. Or, maybe you’re just beginning your fertility journey and want to learn as much as possible in case you do this treatment someday. Eit ..read more

I’ve been helping people build families for 15 years, and I often answer questions about lifestyle changes for fertility, which includes marijuana use. Cannabis is one of the most commonly recreationally used drugs in the United States. One in five Americans have tried marijuana at least once, and many people use it regularly. It is legal recreationally in over 18 states, and even more states have legalized it for medical use.  There's an assumption that marijuana is safe for your health. After all, if doctors can prescribe cannabis to treat medical issues like nausea for chemotherapy pa ..read more

Let’s talk about marijuana and men's reproductive health. (Note: I believe in inclusivity, and when I’m using the terms “men” or “male” throughout this blog post, I’m referring to people with sperm.)  I've been helping people build families for over 15 years. I love my job, and I especially love answering common questions, like, “What can I do to improve my sperm quality?” and marijuana or cannabis often becomes part of our conversation.  So, this post will explore everything you need to know about cannabis’  impact on people with sperm. Let’s get started. The basics of can ..read more

I’m a reproductive endocrinologist helping people build their families for over 15 years through fertility treatments. I practice in Seattle, Washington, and many of my patients are concerned about coverage.  This concern can be pertinent to anybody in the United States, particularly in these times. Not every state requires coverage for fertility treatment. Different states have different coverage requirements, and, on top of that, different employers have different coverage plans. It’s confusing and frustrating, especially given that the World Health Organization defines infertility as ..read more