Lectures

Androgens and ovulation

Lecture Type: Grandrounds

Androgens and ovulation

David H Barad, MD, MS, FACOG

Director of Clinical ART and Senior Scientist, Center for Human Reproduction, New York, NY, USA

Dr. Barad is a graduate of Rutgers Medical School and completed his residency in OB/GYN at the Sloane Hospital for Women of Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. Following his residency, Dr. Barad was accepted to the Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital of Harvard Medical School, Boston. Dr. Barad is certified as a Diplomate of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and also received subspecialty certification as a Reproductive Endocrinologist. Dr. Barad served as Director of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Currently, Dr. Barad holds the academic title of Associate Clinical Professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Barad is Director of Clinical ART and Senior Scientist at the Center for Human Reproduction. Dr. Barad has been increasingly active in clinical research. He served as an investigator at the New York Clinical Center of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) on the landmark study examining factors that may affect the health of women after menopause. He is currently a scientific consultant for the WHI, and is presently Chair of the WHI Hormone Trials advisory committee. Dr. Barad also serves on many national and international WHI committees. Dr. Barad has published extensively in the field of Reproductive Endocrinology. He is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine and of the Society of Reproductive Endocrinology, as well as numerous other professional societies and organizations. In May 2003 Dr. Barad was awarded a Master of Science degree in Clinical Research Methods at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. In 1999 he was recognized by the American Infertility Association for his “continuing dedication and support to individuals experiencing infertility”.

Context

The aging ovary represents one of the major remaining challenges in reproductive medicine. It was chosen as the main theme of research at CHR about a decade ago. Two key events proved groundbreaking: the discovery that DHEA supplementation improves ovarian reserve and pregnancy chances in women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), and confirmation of the hypothesis that the FMR1 gene may be involved in regulating ovarian function. During 2011/2012, CHR completed an important second phase of this research: we started understanding how DHEA effects take place, and how wide spread effects of the FMR1 gene are, reaching far beyond our medical specialty. This second phase of our research will be presented in this year’s Research Update. With expansion of our basic science team in the laboratory, we are now entering a very important third phase, attempting to elucidate the molecular biology of ovarian aging.

Objetives

  • Explain the rationale for DHEA supplementation in women with diminished ovarian reserve
  • Discuss the pathophysiology of premature ovarian aging (POA) in relation to androgens and follicle maturation

VIDEO: Androgens and ovulation


Recorded on: Tuesday, June 12, 2012

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