Category: OB/GYN

There is no other body part that has filled me with such a roller coaster of emotion

Their absence makes me feel sad, I look around at my peers, envious and curious, Obsessing over when they will show up. When they do, they never seem to live up to expectations, Too small, too uneven, but what’s sure is it’s a sign I’m no longer a chil…

Women physicians with infertility [PODCAST]

“Many of us suffer in silence for myriad reasons. Being a physician with infertility presents a perfect storm of stress, anxiety, guilt, and shame – all of which we know don’t contribute to managing any medical problem. Consider what it’s like to…

An obstetrician recommends midwifery care [PODCAST]

“By denigrating midwifery care, pathologizing the natural process of birth, and instilling fear of complications and pain, doctors persuaded women to give birth at the hospital under their care. By touting the benefits of anesthesia, forceps deli…

The voices of women physicians with infertility

“I wish I had known how common this is. I would have started sooner.” It is currently estimated that one in four women physicians has infertility (compared to one in eight in the general population). Why do I care? Because I’m one of …

We’re not OK, but we know you are

The day just felt weird. I had this feeling of impending doom over me that morning as I sat in bed studying, waiting to get dressed for afternoon clinic. Once I got there, I was cramping, and I knew things were not OK. It was so intense throughout that…

Stratified reproduction in medicine

Shellee Cohen defines “stratified reproduction” as the practice in which society assigns value to offspring and, therefore reproductive capacity of different groups of people. While commonly race or socioeconomically based, this can be base…

Physician identity: who you are vs. what you do [PODCAST]

“‘Hi, my name is Kristin Yates, and I am the OB/GYN doctor.’ This is how I greet most patients for the first time. It has never really felt natural to introduce myself as ‘Dr. Yates,’ even now that I have been an attending…

Lawmakers don’t care for our patients. Doctors do.

On September 1st, 2021, Texas Senate Bill 8 went into effect.  While the law’s stated goal is to severely limit a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion in Texas, it also designates private citizens to sue not just abortion providers, but an…

Pregnancy and the COVID vaccine: What expecting mothers should know

“Is it safe for a pregnant woman to receive the COVID-19 vaccine?” This is the biggest question being asked of OB/GYNs right now. The short answer is “yes.” The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal and Fetal …

This obstetrician recommends midwifery care

In 2014 I learned about the worsening maternal mortality statistics in the U.S. and the racial disparities in maternal health, which socioeconomic or medical risk factors could not explain away. I decided a community-based solution was necessary becaus…