Oxidative stress occurs when reactive oxygen species, often called free radicals, exceed the body’s antioxidant defenses. When this happens, cellular damage can occur at multiple levels: DNA integrity Cell membranes Protein function Mitochondria, the cell’s energy generators Egg cells are particularly vulnerable because they require extraordinary mitochondrial energy to mature properly, fertilize successfully, and support […]

For decades, fertility evaluation has focused heavily on the female partner, while male fertility assessment often stops at a standard semen analysis. Yet clinically, many of us have seen couples where semen parameters look “normal,” but pregnancy simply does not happen. Emerging research suggests we may need to look more deeply, right down to sperm

One of the privileges of practicing obstetrics and gynecology for decades has been witnessing how reproductive medicine continually evolves. IVF, once considered extraordinary, is now routine. Yet even with all our advances, one question remains central: how can we support healthy pregnancies while minimizing unnecessary medical intervention? A recent clinical trial suggests we may be

I often tell patients that lifestyle isn’t just a backdrop to fertility — it is part of the biology we need to understand if we want conception to unfold smoothly. Physical activity is one of those powerful lifestyle factors: it affects metabolism, hormones, body composition, blood flow, and even psychological well-being. But when you look

When Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner and his wife publicly announced they would pause his campaign and travel to Norway for IVF because of cost barriers in the United States, it captured headlines for its political implications. But as a physician who has spent more than three decades walking alongside people trying to build families,

When women struggle to get pregnant, we often think first about hormones, ovulation, or blocked tubes. But for many women with PCOS or endometriosis, the real problem is something deeper: chronic inflammation and an overactive immune system. This is where a small, unexpected medication called low-dose naltrexone (LDN) is starting to make a difference. LDN

When we think about infertility and environmental exposures, we often imagine large epidemiologic studies or animal models linking chemicals like phthalates and BPA to reduced reproductive outcomes. While those remain vitally important, a groundbreaking new tool is stepping onto the stage — and it has the potential to reshape how we study chemical impacts on

Recently, The Economist published an article titled “Don’t Panic About the Fertility Crash.” As someone who has spent more than three decades caring for women and couples navigating fertility, both naturally and with medical assistance, I agree with one crucial premise: panic is not helpful. But neither is complacency. The fertility decline we are witnessing