Dr. Cindy M.P. Duke

[drcindyduke]

Let's talk about Progesterone (prog)! Like its name suggests, it is a PRO-GESTational-hoRmONE i.e. it is critical to the successful continuation of a pregnancy! It's important for the implantation of the embryo & for the pregnancy continuing in the 1st trimester. It also plays a big role in preventing Preterm birth in the 2nd/3rd trimester but today, I'm talking about its importance for the 1st trimester. At the beginning of a pregnancy, except in frozen embryo thaw (FET) cycles, prog is made by the follicle/egg house which released/ovulated the egg(s). Once the egg is released, that empty egg house takes on a special name... 'The Corpus Luteum cyst' & makes prog to support the early pregnancy until the placenta can take over. The placenta starts making enough prog after the 8th week of the pregnancy! So, if prog is low, a pregnancy either will not form or continue! However, diagnosing & using the information of low prog is not clear cut! For example, some women go on to have perfectly normal pregnancies despite having low circulating blood levels of prog & some women with high prog levels still miscarry or do not get pregnant. So, my point? It's nuanced! We, Fertility Specialists, have basic thresholds that we like to see for prog levels but beyond that, we also use special 'gestalt'. Meaning, we look at the whole picture to determine when certain individual patients may benefit from additional prog supplementation. Supplements can be oral, vaginal, or by injection. Fertility specialists primarily prescribe vaginal or injection forms of prog! What I would also tell you, though, is that if you have been diagnosed with "low progesterone" you should not be on continuous prog replacement while you are trying to conceive (TTC). As a matter of fact, you should not be starting prog until AFTER ovulation! While there are many types of Providers who prescribe prog to patients who are TTC, I can also tell you that many are prescribing/dosing it at the WRONG time in your menstrual cycle! If you are TTC & really think low progesterone is an issue, you should speak to your Gynecologist or Fertility Specialist! This is their wheelhouse!

[drcindyduke]

This month is PCOS Awareness Month! I believe not just women, but everyone should be educated about this condition, to help women deal with it in a better way. PCOS is one of the most misunderstood medical disorders. Because it is a complex condition that usually requires research and medical expertise, false narratives can often overshadow and misdirect public perception about this disease state. As a PCOS expert, I believe that it is essential to inform people about the common PCOS myths by debunking them.

[drcindyduke]

Those at the highest risk for the worst outcomes from a monkeypox infection include those who are pregnant or very young. We do NOT currently have a vaccine for use in those who are pregnant & yet, infection poses a true danger to the pregnancy, including pregnancy loss, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and/or premature delivery! Ways to protect yourself & your pregnancy from monkeypox infection: 1. Wash hands. 2. Avoid contact with persons who were recently exposed or have a known infection. 3. Wipe down surfaces, including table tops, countertops, desktops & seats. 4. Do not share towels or washcloths. 5. Wash & change bedding frequently; especially when switching between guests! 6. Clean blinds & curtains. 7. Wear long-sleeved tops & long pants/skirts/dresses, when possible! Symptoms of an infection, as with most viruses, include fever, chills, swollen glands/lymph nodes, rash &/or body aches! ETA: vaccinia belongs to the orthopoxviridae family but is not identical to monkeypox!

[drcindyduke]

Your ENERGY is so valuable. Invest it in believing and growing.⁠ ✨ ⁠ Like and share this post to remind someone today. 😻 If you're still not a member of the Largest Reproductive Health, Pregnancy and Fertility focused club on @Clubhouse, now's the time to join us!

 In the My Dynamic Uterus club, we answer questions, debunk myths, and share learnings through medical discourses surrounding periods, sex & gender, fertility, pregnancy, miscarriage, menopause, women's health, pelvic health, etc.✨

[drcindyduke]

What is AMH?

What is really AMH?

Anti-Müllerian hormone, also known as Müllerian-inhibiting hormone, is a glycoprotein hormone structurally related to inhibin and activin from the transforming growth factor beta superfamily, whose key roles are in growth differentiation and folliculogenesis.

What is a normal level of AMH? Experts debate how to define typical AMH levels, but these are general ranges: Average: Between 1.0 ng/mL to 3.0 ng/mL. Low: Under 1.0 ng/mL. Severely low: 0.4 ng/mL.

What does AMH do in females? AMH levels help show how many potential egg cells a woman has left. This is known as the ovarian reserve. If a woman's ovarian reserve is high, she may have a better chance of getting pregnant. She may also be able to wait months or years before trying to get pregnant.

What is a good AMH level for fertility? Image result for what is amh The level of AMH in the blood can help doctors estimate the number of follicles inside the ovaries, and therefore, the woman's egg count. A typical AMH level for a fertile woman is 1.0–4.0 ng/ml; under 1.0 ng/ml is considered low and indicative of a diminished ovarian reserve.

[drcindyduke]

Women have the power to control their reproductive health!

The risk of premature menopause, reduced fertility and increased risk of miscarriage can be decreased by using the best birth control and fertility monitoring options.

Infertility can occur due to any or a combination of the following: ovarian age, tubal disease, anovulation, male factor, uterine disorders & some not yet explained factors but use of non sterilizing birth control.

[drcindyduke]

Current statistics show that 40% of infertility cases are related to make factor infertility.

Male factor infertility can result in a variety of issues such as complete absence of sperm in the ejaculate (azoospermia) due to either an obstruction/blockage (obstructive azoospermia) or retrograde ejaculation into the bladder.

Men can prioritize their health to create an optimal fertility journey!

Book your appointment today @nevadafertilityinstitute

And if you are a woman or a man who preferred to talk to a women doctors, you can visit the directory of women’s doctor for any fertility concerns.. 

[drcindyduke]

Many women and persons born with ovaries may choose to start a family later in life.

Through cryopreservation, egg freezing is a form of fertility treatment that enables someone to preserve the youngest and most viable remaining versions of their eggs for future possible use.

Egg Freezing is also an excellent way for transgender male patients who are planning gender affirmation surgery to preserve their options for future biological offspring.

Who Should Consider EGG FREEZING?

- Couples, single women or persons born with ovaries but who are not ready to start a family or have another biological child.

- Women with ovarian diseases such as endometriosis, persistent large ovarian cysts or ovarian torsion.

- Women or transgender undergoing surgery, chemotherapy or radiation treatment that may cause damage to their ovaries.

Schedule your appointment @ https://nevadafertilityinstitute.com/ 

[drcindyduke]

5 Business Tips for Starting a Business..

1. Begin with a Detailed Plan – Materializing your dream to establish a business begins when you start working on it. 2. Expand Your Network – A crucial step towards starting your business is to step out of your comfort zone and engage with the right people. 3. Stay on Top of Things – The industry, whatever your field, is everchanging and some practices are heading to impending obsolescence. 4. Maintain Your Passion and Consistency – You probably have your creative juices flowing and the fire within you amplifies the desire to make great things. 5. Live a Healthy Work-Life Balance Life – A successful business equates to having a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

Whatever type of business you want, following the above mentioned tips can help you get started. 

Using these five steps will make your new venture smoother, less stressful and identify the basic keys to your thriving entrepreneurship.

[drcindyduke]

Are you looking for pediatricians near you? Or you have preferred pediatrician in mind, like black pediatricians?

Check this black doctors directory and search for black pediatricians near me or your city address.

[drcindyduke]

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness month. Find out how women can guard against cancer and what the warning signs are. Learn how to detect invasive cancer early and what treatments are available to treat this disease such as radical hysterectomy, radiation therapy, cryosurgery, and radiation therapy with brachytherapy.  Increasing screening and prevention are key components of the effort to eradicate cervical cancer. Don't hesitate to visit your doctor for more information.

[drcindyduke]

Are you looking for African American Doctors near you? Check this directory from Dr Cindy Duke. If you are a Doctor and want to have more online visibility. You can join us! Be part of this amazing team of female doctors!

[drcindyduke]

Florida based General Pediatrician Monique Mondesir, MD

After completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota, she received her Bachelors in Medicine and Surgery at the University of the West Indies.

She accomplished her residency in Pediatrics and conducted research at the  Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA before establishing her medical practice in Florida.

In addition, she is currently on faculty at Florida State University Medical College, teaching 2nd and 3rd year medical students. 

She is now part of the black women physicians directory by Dr. Cindy M. Duke. 

[drcindyduke]

Black Physicians Directory! Are you looking for a black physicians that are near your area? Or you are a black physicians who wants to have more internet visibility for your business? Dr. Cindy Duke a Fertility Doctor – Founding Physician of the Nevada Fertility Institute, Nevada Fertility Institute also the founder of Black Physicians Directory! 

If you are looking for Black Physicians, you can contact us. And if you are a  physicians who loves to join the directory. Click here to register!

[drcindyduke]

Things You Shouldn't Say to Someone Struggling with Infertility (number 2)!

TRUST ME, you are lucky you don't have kids". At Face value, this may seem like a liberating statement to some, but for someone who dreams of building or growing their family with a child. It is a big slap to the face! Infertile person(s) aren't oblivious to the challenges of parenthood.

They know babies pose significant life changes, but don't downplay an infertile person by making it sound like infertility is a blessing in disguise.

Website: https://drcindyduke.com/ Pinterest: https://pin.it/5GnyPnv

[drcindyduke]

Top 5 TIPS for Starting your Social Media Business 2022!

These are my top 5 Social Media Tips for Business. Promoting your social media business online takes the formula to be effective. 

Yes, we can use Social Media to promote our business, but are we using it effectively? I've written this article to share with you my best practices when I promote my social media business. 

You can also use these with your start-up/small business or even bigger. You can try any of these, test them, keep the working strategies and stop the non-working ones.

[drcindyduke]

Should You Exercise During Pregnancy?

Moderate Exercise is Recommended During Pregnancy.

However, it is always important to first verify what type of exercises and the level of intensity you should be doing with your doctor.

Have some questions about your pregnancy?

Join the healthy discourse of "My Dynamic Uterus" and learn some guide tips to help you on your pregnancy journey.