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What’s your women’s health ‘thing?’
My health ‘thing’ is infertility.
How has your women’s health ‘thing’ affected you throughout your life?
I learned in medical school that a lot of female physicians had difficulty conceiving following completion of training because of the demands of our jobs. However, I couldn’t afford to freeze my eggs at the time. This was something that sat in the back of my mind as I went through medical school and then residency. Once I was finally able to start a family and tried to get pregnant, it felt defeatingly inevitable when I was told I had a diagnosis of infertility after trying for almost two years. I was still very optimistic and the stress of disappointment didn’t hit me until my first unsuccessful IUI. This really worsened with each unsuccessful attempt. One of the worst fears was that I may never become pregnant and would never realize mine and my husband’s idea of a family. I was worried that this would be the end of us.
What advice would you give to someone dealing with your same women’s health ‘thing?’
I recommend seeking help early. Most couples conceive within 1 year of trying if everything is working normally. For women with known medical issues related to abnormal periods like PCOS or for women who are in the late 30s or 40s, I recommend seeking help either within 6 months of trying or right away. I also recommend considering a therapist or forming a support system that helps you cope with the inevitable stress. I also recommend trying to be open with your partner about your feelings and encouraging your partner to do the same. Moreover, consider setting boundaries for yourself. Know the treatment options available to you and decide on your red line and have an open discussion with your partner about what you two feel comfortable with.
Tell us how your women’s health ‘thing’ shaped your business, the business you’ve helped start, or your career trajectory.
For me, being a fertility specialist who has a history of infertility has helped me become more empathetic towards my patients. I know personally that having infertility affects your self-esteem, relationship, mental health, and financial resources and I try my best to structure my care to help patients navigate this process as completely as possible.
How has your women’s health ‘thing’ shaped your life?
I am so lucky to have two children and I love being a mom. Having had infertility, I am more sensitive to how much of a privilege this is for some women. I value the access to healthcare that I had and I am an advocate for providing access to fertility care to as many people as possible who need it. Being a provider in this space has also given me more context the complexity of care we provide and as a whole, I advocate for reproductive autonomy in general.