Lena Dunham’s article on her failed IVF attempt makes waves. Some applaud her speaking out about endometriosis and her reflections on her fertility treatments while others in the infertility community feel attacked. Here is a fertility doctor’s thoughts on the polarizing piece.

Father’s Day can be a painful reminder for men who are trying but are not fathers yet. Recommendations for supporting men you love and self care if you are a man who is trying to build a family this Father’s Day.

Parabens are common chemicals found in many personal care and processed food products. These inexpensive and effective preservatives are endocrine disruptors associated fertility and health problems but calls for removal from products are controversial. Let the evidence speak for itself.

Nutrition is essential and food choices can improve and harm fertility. This in depth review of the scientific evidence can help you navigate advice and make the right choices fo you.

Holidays are tough when you do not have the family of your dreams yet. If you or someone you love is struggling with infertility or miscarriage this holiday season, this post is for you. Read here about tips and reassuring suggestions for navigating the holidays while you are trying to conceive.

Thanksgiving gatherings can be a minefield of triggers when you’re trying to conceive. Here are some supportive tips to help navigate the awkward family questions and situations with friends.

It can be confusing as a patient trying to navigate the conflicting advice from the internet, friends, and family. Women are told everything from ‘Absolutely no exercise while trying to conceive!’ to ‘Exercising is great!” Women are left confused and often terrified of doing the wrong thing, and they may stop exercising completely losing a healthy way of maintaining fitness. Every patient is unique, but everyone should keep their body moving in ways that are right for them. Instead of broad, general, and dogmatic rules, let’s review the literature and some unique situations to help

Are we are who we are because of our genetics or our environment? Reflections on recent stories in the news about surprising family secrets revealed by accident or with online genetic testing.

Decrease worries and increase your knowledge in preparation for your egg retrieval.

Prepare for your embryo transfer and maximize your success by knowing what to expect.

PCOS affects 1 in 10 women but it is often misdiagnosed and misunderstood. Part of helping those with PCOS is increasing awareness and knowledge about this common hormonal disorder.

Laughter can be healing, especially when dealing with infertility and miscarriage.

Phthalates are chemicals in many common household products that have been found to impact fertility, miscarriage risk, and overall health. Learn more here.

BPA (2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propane) or bisphenol A is a carbon-based synthetic compound that has been used in many household products since the 1950s. In recent years, serious concerns about BPA’s effects on reproduction has called into question it’s widespread use. BPA has been linked to infertility, miscarriage, and more, and legislation can be slow to catch up with scientific evidence when it comes to protecting consumers. In the case of BPA and your reproductive health, you should be your own advocate.

As a fertility specialist, one of the most common questions I get from my patients every day is "Does stress cause infertility?" Some studies suggest a mind/body connection between stress and health issues and infertility is one of the most stressful challenges someone can face. What does the evidence show? How do I answer this question?

Why are people’s reproductive choices or family situations considered open game for small talk? As a fertility doctor, patients talk to me about this all the time: While they are struggling to complete their family with fertility treatments, they are bombarded with questions from family, friends, and even strangers about their reproductive plans and choices. As a woman, I have been asked inappropriate questions from well-meaning strangers (assume best intentions!) ― but enough!

Ovarian reserve testing is currently the best way women can learn about their egg quality and fertility potential, but it is not perfect. The testing involves blood work for hormone levels that fertility specialists have used for years to counsel women about fertility but a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association from the University of North Carolina shows these tests do not predict fertility as well as we previously thought.

In the first study of its kind, researchers from Harvard University found that soy food intake may decrease the deleterious effects of BPA on success rates of patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). BPA (bisphenol A) is a chemical found in many common consumer products such as plastic bottles and the lining of canned food that acts like endocrine disruptor in the body. Over 7 million tons of BPA was produced last year alone and women with higher levels of BPA in their system have been found to have more difficulty conceiving and higher rates of miscarriage.

When Janet Jackson canceled her world tour because she was pregnant at age 50 and delivered her first child at age 51, many celebrated with her but also ask, How? Many women asked themselves 'If she can do it at that age, why not me?' Janet Jackson has a right to her own privacy, but the speculations lead to uncertainty and her silence can be a missed opportunity to educate women on the limitations of fertility treatment.

Grief is one form of adversity discussed in Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy, by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant, and I learned lessons from their work than can help my patients dealing with their family building journey.