Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility

This new five part series from This American Life discusses the many ways in which we dismiss and minimize women’s pain.

 

Infertility

State Abortion Trigger Laws’ Potential Implications for Reproductive Medicine | ASRM

The death of Roe and the future of ex vivo embryos - PMC (nih.gov)

After Dobbs, what happens to IVF and other ART technology? - The Washington Post

Lawmakers v. The Scientific Realities of Human Reproduction | NEJM

Race-ethnicity and medical services for infertility: Stratified reproduction in a population-based sample of US women, 2011. This study uses path analysis to explore potential factors accounting for differences in receipt of medical fertility services among Black, Hispanic, Asian, and non-Hispanic white women. For Black and Hispanic women (the 2 groups least likely to receive services) social cues, enabling conditions (income, education, private insurance), and predisposing conditions contribute to the disparities.

Reproductive Health Disparities in the USA: Self-Reported Race/Ethnicity Predicts Age of Menarche and Live Birth Ratios, but Not Infertility, 2020. NH Black women reported live birth ratios 9% lower than NH white women. Women with unstable health insurance reported live birth ratios 6% lower than women with stable health insurance. Race/ethnicity, SES, and its downstream correlates, however, were not associated with infertility

Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Utilization of Infertility Services: A Focus on American Indian/Alaska Natives, 2018 This study observed disparities in accessing services to get pregnant among AI/AN and black women and reduced use of advice among Asian/Pacific Islanders compared to whites.

PODCAST Fertility Equality on the OBGYN Podcast

Resources Courtesy of TheBlackOBGYNProject

Broken Brown Egg - an infertility advocacy blog and source of connection for individuals seeking a personal story of infertility; mission of encouraging the starts of an important dialogue of reproductive health and fertility by raising awareness, providing hope, and encouraging activism.

Cade Foundation - provides information support and financial assistance to help needy infertile families overcome infertility and provides education focused programs to support various pathways to parenthood throughout the nation

Fertility for Colored Girls - seeks to provide education, awareness, support and encouragement to African American women/couples and other women of color experiencing infertility and seeking to build the families of their dreams.

Diversity Oshun Fertility Services - specifically focuses on helping families of African and Latino descent have children through a surrogate or egg donation; takes a holistic approach for every step of the planning process and also helps with IVF referrals, provides counseling, encourage meditation, and improve eating habits

Sister Girl Foundation - organization geared towards increasing awareness and education about Endometriosis, Gynecologic illnesses and Cancers; committed towards helping women who are suffering in Silence find their voices to advocates for their health.

History of Forced Sterilization and Current U.S. Abuses by Our Bodies Ourselves (2014)

Racism, African American Women, and Their Sexual and Reproductive Health [Prather et al. (2018). Racism, African American Women, and Their Sexual & Reproductive Health: A Review of Historical & Contemporary Evidence & Implications for Health Equity.] 

PCOS

Black women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have increased risk for metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease compared with white women with PCOS This is the first study to comprehensively demonstrate increased risk of metabolic syndrome in both black adolescents and adult women with PCOS compared with white subjects with PCOS. This racial disparity was not present in the NHANES controls.

Racial Differences in Anxiety, Depression, and Quality of Life between White and Black Women with PCOS and Controls This study is the first to examine racial differences in anxiety and depressive symptoms in PCOS. White women with PCOS had significantly higher anxiety symptoms compared to black women and BMI positively correlated with these symptoms. Black women however have lower scores in several PCOSQ domains indicating lower quality of life.

SAT-627 Racial and Ethnic Differences in Metabolic Disease in Obese Adolescents with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome,This study performed a secondary analysis of data from obese, adolescent female participants with PCOS enrolled in four different protocols. There was a significant difference in BMI percentile between racial groups, however there was no significant difference between groups in age of menarche, free testosterone or severity of hirsutism.