TO WATCH A VIDEO PRESENTATION, PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK: Bennett Fertility Institute

The other day, another physician asked me if I had to start all over again, would I still become a physician and would I still choose Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility as my subspecialty. I answered with a resounding “yes”. I feel very fortunate to get up every morning looking forward to going to work. I feel privileged to have the opportunity to help people every day, that is every day, including weekends and holidays. All my patients have my pager number, and this pager is on 24 hours a day. I simply love my job.

I graduated from medical school in 1984 (see Bio). After finishing an Obstetrics and Gynecology residency in 1988, I took a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. In 1990, I joined the faculty at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) and became the director of the Assisted Reproductive Technology there. In 1995, I moved my practice to the private sector, to Integris Baptist Medical Center, where I became the medical director of the Bennett Fertility Institute. I still maintain an appointment at OUHSC as a Clinical Associate Professor, although most of my time is spent in direct patient care in my private practice. I am board-certified in both general Obstetrics and Gynecology and in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

My background is slightly different than most. I grew up in Israel and immigrated to the United States in 1976. I did 3 years of military service and started college 4 years later than my peers. I had the opportunity to travel extensively prior to college, and to work as a sheet metal worker, fruit picker, waiter, orderly, and a gardener and pool cleaner before practicing medicine. Clearly, I gave myself enough time to select a suitable career and also to learn what not to take for granted. I don't play golf but I mow my own lawn... Most importantly, I love my profession and I hope it shows!

Here is a general description of my practice and the type of medical problems that I evaluate and treat:

Infertility

Miscarriages

Ectopic pregnancies

Endometriosis

Fibroids

Pelvic Pain

Contraception and family planning

Endocrine (hormone) problems:

Abnormal menstrual cycles

No menstrual cycles

Abnormal puberty and abnormal sexual development

Menopause

Elevated prolactin/breast discharge

Excess hair

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

PMS/PMDD

General gynecology:

Annual examinations with PAP smears, breast health, abnormal PAP smears, pelvic pain, ovarian cysts, other.

Surgery and assisted reproductive technology (ART):

Operative laparoscopy (laser removal of scarring, laser treatment of endometriosis, tubal repair, removal of ectopic pregnancies, fibroid removal, ovarian drilling, etc)

Microsurgery (tubal reversal)

Hysteroscopy (removal of fibroids, polyps, scarring; uterine birth defect correction; cannulation of the fallopian tubes, endometrial ablation for excessive bleeding)

Assisted Reproductive Technology (in-vitro fertilization/embryo transfer [IVF-ET], intracytoplasmic sperm injection [ICSI], assisted hatching [AH], egg donation, embryo donation, embryo and sperm freezing, artificial insemination by husband or donor)

Abdominal surgery by laparotomy (removal of fibroids, removal of endometriosis and scar tissue)

Vaginal surgery (repair of birth defects, creation of artificial vagina)

Cervical surgery (treatment of abnormal PAP smears)