Check another creator's engagement

1d ago

Comment PROTOCOL to learn what matters when it comes to IVF stimulation and egg retrieval- I’ll send you a detailed explainer 💜 HOW MANY EGGS DO YOU THINK WE’LL GET? One of the most FAQs when I am monitoring response before egg retrieval. While I cannot give an exact number, the daily tracking of estrogen levels and follicle growth gives me a very clear preview of what we might see at time@of retrieval. Follicles are small fluid-filled sacs that house developing eggs. During ovarian stimulation, multiple follicles begin to grow at the same time. With ultrasound, I measure their diameter as they expand. Think of each follicle as a balloon slowly filling with air. When the follicle reaches the right size, usually in the range of 17 to 20 millimeters, the egg inside is more likely to be mature. Just as important as size is how well the group of follicles is growing together. A synchronized cohort increases the chances that several eggs will be mature at the same time, which is exactly what we want. Along with ultrasound, I monitor bloodwork, especially estradiol (E2). This hormone is produced by the growing follicles, and it gives me a window into how active the ovaries are. Each mature follicle typically contributes about 200 to 300 pg/mL of estradiol, so a steady rise in levels tells me that the ovaries are responding and eggs are maturing. If the number climbs too quickly, it may raise concern for ovarian hyperstimulation. If it lags, it may mean that fewer eggs are responding or reaching maturity. By combining what I see on ultrasound with what I measure in the blood, I can make a fairly reliable prediction about the number of eggs we are likely to retrieve and whether those eggs are mature. It is not an exact science, because biology always has an element of unpredictability, but it allows me to set expectations and time the trigger shot with precision. Monitoring IVF is a little like tracking the forecast before a big event. You may not be able to predict every single detail, but with the right data, you can make a very good forecast about what lies ahead and set realistic expectations. #ttc #ivf #eggretrieval #ttcsupport #infertility

1d ago

Did you know your PREGNANCY HISTORY could reveal important clues about your future heart health? 🤯❤️ Most of us think of pregnancy complications as something that happens during pregnancy and then gets filed away in our medical history. But what if those complications were actually warning signs about your cardiovascular health YEARS down the road? Conditions like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and pregnancy-related high blood pressure are associated with a significantly increased risk of future heart disease. And here's what really surprised us: some of the traditional tools doctors use to calculate cardiovascular risk don't even account for these important pieces of a woman's medical history. So what does that mean for women who've experienced these complications? And what should they be doing differently? 🎙️ On this week's episode of CALL YOUR DOCTOR, we're joined by cardiologist Dr. May Bakir for a fascinating conversation about the ways women's heart health is influenced by our hormones, reproductive history, and the transitions we experience throughout our lives. We're also digging into: ❤️ Why heart disease can look different in women ❤️ The surprising connection between menopause and cardiovascular risk ❤️ Whether HRT actually protects your heart ❤️ What you need to know about cholesterol and statins ❤️ How to advocate for better cardiovascular care Because understanding your heart health shouldn't start when something goes wrong. 🎧 Listen to the FULL episode of CALL YOUR DOCTOR, wherever you get your podcasts. 📞 Questions for us? Call 754-CALL-DOC and leave us a voicemail. Your question could be featured in a future episode! #WomensHeartHealth #Preeclampsia #GestationalDiabetes #PregnancyHealth #HeartDisease

3d ago

You all know what to do. Report nourishherbody - this is a repeat offender who is using fake science, fake credentials to fear monger and spread falsehoods - intentionally targeting women’s health. This is disgusting and must stop. Watch the video to learn why this is problematic and the lore behind Adrian Preuss aka Rubio Fuerte, whose original account was removed thanks to the detective work of @drjengunter @doctordaoud @babiesafter35 🕵🏼 We need better safeguards on these apps to stop accounts like this!!!! He preemptively blocked me but many of you send me screenshots and the original video- thank you for that! #fertility #womenshealth #ttc #obgyn #menopause

3d ago

Does hormone replacement therapy (HRT) actually PREVENT heart disease? ❤️‍🔥 Depending on who you follow on Instagram, you might think the answer is an obvious YES. But this is one of the HOTTEST ongoing debates in menopause medicine—and the science is more nuanced. Here’s the key distinction 👀 Major guidelines have long stated that HRT is NOT recommended for the primary or secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. In other words, we shouldn’t prescribe it solely to prevent a first heart attack or another one. BUT that doesn’t mean HRT has no heart benefits. The Menopause Society acknowledges evidence suggesting that, in healthy women who start HRT before age 60 or within 10 years of menopause, hormone therapy may have favorable effects on coronary heart disease AND reduce all-cause mortality. So why isn’t HRT prescribed to prevent heart disease in everyone? Because promising benefits in certain groups are NOT the same as definitive proof that HRT prevents heart attacks. Timing, formulation, individual risk factors, and the limitations of existing studies all matter. This week on CALL YOUR DOCTOR, we sit down with women’s heart health expert Dr. May Bakir to unpack the data, the controversies, and what we still don’t know. And we’re going WAY beyond HRT: how pregnancy, PCOS, and menopause shape future heart health, why heart disease in women gets overlooked, whether statins deserve their reputation, and what you can actually do to protect your heart. Women deserve more than oversimplified headlines. We deserve the full picture. 🎧 Listen to CALL YOUR DOCTOR wherever you get your podcasts. 📞 Questions? Call 754-CALL-DOC and leave us a voicemail! #HRT #Menopause #Perimenopause #HormoneTherapy #WomensHeartHealth

3d ago

Some of the people on this app never learned about the 4 core principles of medical ethics, and it shows. I am referring to the many angry commenters in my recent post on pregnancy over 50. I don’t think any of those people understand how many ethical questions come up in my day to day work- the listed examples here are real are just a few scenarios- I could go on… One of the biggest misconceptions I see when discussing reproductive decision-making is that respecting patient autonomy means doctors should simply do whatever a patient requests. But that’s not how medicine works. This isn’t about deciding who deserves to become a parent or taking away anyone’s reproductive rights. It’s about balancing reproductive autonomy with our responsibility to protect patients, minimize harm, and consider the safety and well-being of everyone involved. As a fertility doctor, ethical dilemmas are part of my everyday job. In fact, we have weekly meetings dedicated to discussing complex cases, weighing the medical evidence alongside ethical considerations, and determining the most responsible path forward. Because fertility treatment doesn’t just affect the person sitting in front of me. Our decisions can impact future children, gestational carriers, egg donors, and entire families. And just because technology makes something possible doesn’t automatically make it medically appropriate or ethically justifiable. Reproductive medicine and medical ethics are inextricably linked. You cannot practice one responsibly without the other. This is a big part of why I wrote The Lucky Egg. Fertility is so much more nuanced than the oversimplified advice and blanket statements we see online. My goal is to help people understand the science, the limitations, and the complex decisions behind building a family- so they can make informed, empowered choices. Reproductiv autonomy matters. So does our responsibility to do no harm. Both can be true. #ttc #infertility #fertility #ttccommunity

4d ago

Heart disease is the NUMBER 1 cause of death in women - WE NEED TO BE TALKING ABOUT IT. What if the symptoms you're blaming on stress are actually your heart trying to tell you something? We're so used to hearing about the classic heart attack symptoms: crushing chest pain, clutching your chest, collapsing dramatically like in the movies. But for women, the warning signs aren't always so obvious. And here's the scary part: women can experience symptoms that get dismissed as anxiety, exhaustion, or simply being overwhelmed. So how do you know when something is more than just stress? And why are women still being overlooked when it comes to diagnosing heart disease? This week on CALL YOUR DOCTOR, we're joined by cardiologist Dr. May Bakir to unpack what EVERY woman should know about her heart. We're getting into: • The symptoms women should never ignore • How pregnancy and menopause affect heart health • Whether hormone therapy actually prevents heart disease The truth about cholesterol, statins, and heart disease prevention Why women need a different approach to cardiovascular care This is one of those episodes you'll want to send to every woman you love. Listen to the FULL conversation on CALL YOUR DOCTOR, wherever you get your podcasts. Search "Call Your Doctor" and find our Women's Heart Health episode. • Have a question you want us to answer? Call 754-CALL-DOC and leave us a voicemail! Have a question you want us to answer? Call 754- CALL-DOC and leave us a voicemail! #CallYourDoctorPodcast #WomensHeartHealth #HeartHealth #WomensHealth #HeartAttackAwareness

4d ago

As a mom and as a fertility doctor, this study does NOT panic me. Watch the video to see why. My original video was 8 min long- lots to say here… stay tuned for a deep dive blog on IVF safety and childhood health, on theluckyegg.com - will post this wknd but in the meantime please watch the video 💜

6d ago

☕️ I was sitting in Starbucks, minding my own business (trying NOT to eavesdrop 👀), when I overheard a conversation that made my fertility doctor ears PERK UP. This is EXACTLY why I wrote The Lucky Egg 🍀🥚because knowing WHEN to see a fertility specialist can change your reproductive trajectory. There are so many that don’t know what to pay attention to or look for! A woman in her early 30s was telling her friend she’d been diagnosed with bilateral endometriomas (endometriosis-related cysts on BOTH ovaries). Her plan? “I’m having surgery to remove the cysts, and THEN maybe I’ll freeze my eggs.” 🚨 WAIT. HOLD UP. Here’s the problem: Removing endometriomas can permanently damage healthy ovarian tissue, reducing your ovarian reserve (the eggs you have left). The risk is especially concerning when BOTH ovaries are involved. Surgery may be necessary for pain or other medical reasons, but it doesn’t routinely improve treatment success rates. My advice? See a fertility specialist BEFORE surgery! Discuss ovarian reserve testing and whether freezing eggs FIRST makes sense. Do you think I said something? Put your guess in the comments! This got me thinking…how many women don’t realize they should see a fertility doctor BEFORE any other step, in certain situations!? 🚩 10 reasons NOT to wait: 1️⃣ Irregular or absent periods (possible PCOS/ovulation problems) 2️⃣ Multiple female relatives with menopause before 40 3️⃣ Endometriosis or ovarian endometriomas 4️⃣ Planned ovarian surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation 5️⃣ Low AMH/diminished ovarian reserve (esp in your 20s/early 30s) 6️⃣ Prior ectopic pregnancy, pelvic infection, or blocked tubes 7️⃣ Two or more miscarriages 8️⃣ Known sperm abnormalities/male-factor infertility 9️⃣ Planning to delay pregnancy into your late 30s/40s 🔟 Trying for 12 months if under 35, 6 months if 35–39, or planning pregnancy at 40+ Sometimes the most important step is getting the RIGHT information BEFORE making an irreversible decision. 📚 More practical tips in The Lucky Egg book! Share & SAVE this! #ttc #ttccommunity #fertility #ivf #ttcsupport