Decoding Implantation Bleeding: How to Tell It Apart from Your Period
If you're trying to conceive, the two-week wait between ovulation and a potential positive pregnancy test can feel like an eternity. During this time, you may find yourself hyper-focused on every little bodily change, wondering if it's a sign of pregnancy or just the start of your next period. One of the most common questions I receive from patients is how to differentiate between implantation bleeding and regular menstrual bleeding. Let's dive in and explore the key differences.
Surviving the Two-Week Wait: Coping Strategies and Insights on Infertility
The two-week wait is a brutal experience for anyone trying to conceive. This period of time between potential conception and pregnancy confirmation can feel like an eternity, filled with anxiety, uncertainty, and a rollercoaster of emotions. As a double board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and OBGYN who has helped patients navigate this challenging phase for over 20 years, I've seen firsthand the mental and emotional toll it can take.
But I'm not just speaking as a fertility specialist - I'm also an "infertility warrior" myself, having struggled to build my own family. I know exactly how it feels to be in that two-week wait, constantly wondering, worrying, and second-guessing every twinge and symptom. That's why I'm passionate about sharing practical strategies and insights to help you get through this difficult time.
5 Proven Tips to Boost Your Fertility in 2025
As the new year approaches, many of us are filled with excitement and a renewed sense of purpose. If starting or growing your family is one of your top goals for 2025, you've come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, I'll share five essential fertility tips to help you optimize your chances of conceiving in the coming year.
Debunking Common Reproductive Health Myths: What You Need to Know
In today's digital age, it's easier than ever to access information about our health. However, not all of this information is accurate or backed by scientific evidence. When it comes to women's reproductive health, there are countless myths and misconceptions that can lead to confusion, anxiety, and even harmful health decisions.
Fortunately, we have experts like Dr. Karen Tang, a board-certified OBGYN and women's health expert, to help us separate fact from fiction. In a recent episode of the Baby or Bust podcast, Dr. Tang and host Dr. Lora Shahine tackled some of the most common reproductive health myths, providing valuable insights and practical advice.
Endometriosis Explained: How to Advocate for Your Care
Endometriosis is a chronic, inflammatory condition that affects an estimated 1 in 10 women and people with uteruses of reproductive age. It occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) grows outside of the uterus, often on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and other pelvic organs. This misplaced endometrial tissue behaves just like the uterine lining - it thickens, breaks down, and bleeds with each menstrual cycle.
However, unlike the tissue inside the uterus, it has no way to exit the body, leading to inflammation, scarring, and the formation of adhesions and cysts.
Navigating Fertility Questions During the Holiday Season
The holiday season is a time for gathering with family and friends, celebrating traditions, and reflecting on the past year. However, for those struggling with fertility challenges, this time of year can also bring a unique set of stressors and uncomfortable conversations. Well-meaning loved ones may bombard you with invasive questions about your family planning, leaving you feeling vulnerable, frustrated, and even ashamed.
From Miracle to Milestone: The World's First IVF Baby Louise Joy Brown Shares Her Story
During the holiday season, there can be many triggers if you’re trying to build a 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.
Surviving the Holidays with Infertility
During the holiday season, there can be many triggers if you’re trying to build a 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.
How to Find Products Without Parabens
Whether you’re looking to start your family or not, limiting exposure to parabens can help your overall health. And with parabens in so many products, it might seem like a hopeless task to try to limit exposure. Here are a few tips for finding products without parabens.
Parabens and Fertility
I’m passionate about teaching you the lifestyle changes you can make to optimize your reproductive health. Much research shows the different ways that parabens can impact our endocrine system and our reproductive health. Typically, the larger the paraben, the more impact it has on your endocrine receptors and hormonal system.
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 disease, and metabolic disorders. It’s no secret that sleep plays an essential role in our overall health and well-being, and that includes your fertility.
Am I More Fertile After Miscarriage?
Today I want to talk about the answer to a common question: Am I more fertile after a miscarriage? 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.
How Long After a Miscarriage Can You Try Again?
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.
Steps for Gay Male Couples Who Want a Biological Child
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.
Tips for IUI Success
By the end of this article, you’ll have a more in-depth understanding of the ins and outs of intrauterine insemination, the many ways you can improve your odds for success, and the success rates for this particular fertility treatment. Let’s get started!
Cannabis and Female Reproductive Health
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 patients, sleep disorders, and anxiety, then it must be safe, right? We'll find that this is just not the case regarding your fertility.
Does Marijuana Impact Male Fertility?
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.
The Cost of IVF: Tips and Resources
This blog post will help you figure out your coverage and help you get the information that you need to determine the costs of IVF. You’ll discover five tips and resources to explore as you consider in vitro fertilization.
Tips to Prepare for IVF
In vitro fertilization can feel like a lot if you’ve never done anything like it before. I want to help you feel prepared and educated, particularly regarding logistics. Here are five things to think about when you’re considering IVF.
Signs of Ovulation
Today, I will answer a common reproductive health question: “How do I know if I’m ovulating?” My patients trying to get pregnant often wonder if they’re releasing eggs. In this blog post, I will teach you the multiple ways to figure out whether you are (or are not) ovulating. Let’s get started.