Demystifying Reproductive Health: Egg Freezing, Fertility Treatments, and the Impact of Fibroids with Dr. Tiffanny Jones

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Understanding reproductive health and fertility can be a complicated topic. In this conversation, we’re talking about family planning options for those who are considering having biological children.

Our guest is Dr. Tiffanny Jones, OBGYN and reproductive endocrinologist at Conceive Fertility Center in Dallas, Texas. She earned her medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at LAC+USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, and completed a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

In this episode, we discuss the unique considerations Black birthing persons may want to be aware of when trying to conceive.

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We Also Talk About…

  • What the egg-freezing process entails, and the ideal age to begin the process.
  • How treatments such as IVF can help those experiencing certain fertility challenges.
  • How conditions such as PCOS and endometriosis can impact fertility.
  • Tests patients can ask for to learn more about their fertility status.
  • How the occurrence of fibroids impacts Black people more than other communities.

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Understanding Fertility and Reproductive Health

How to Determine If Egg Freezing Is Right for You

Quote reads the biological clock doesn't pause unless you press pause. And that's what egg freezing can potentially do from fertility expert Dr. Tiffanny Jones

Egg-freezing can be a valuable option for those looking to press pause on the biological clock. According to Dr. Tiffanny Jones, “The biological clock doesn't pause unless you press pause. And that's what egg freezing can potentially do.

You freeze those eggs at that age–ideally in your late 20s or early 30s–because your egg quality at that time in your life is really good.”

Dr. Jones emphasizes that egg freezing can be an option to consider for those who want to focus on other life goals before embarking on family planning. “We know that there is a natural course that our biological clock might not line up to what we desire,” she says.

Those who embark on the egg-freezing journey are given medication to prepare the eggs for retrieval. The mature eggs are then extracted from the ovaries, and frozen until ready for fertilization.

Fertility Treatments for Those Trying to Conceive

The most common fertility treatment for those who need support while trying to conceive is in vitro fertilization, commonly known as IVF. The process of undergoing an IVF treatment is similar to that of egg freezing. A patient is given hormonal medication to prime the eggs for retrieval. After the eggs are retrieved, they are then fertilized to create an embryo. The embryo can then be placed into the uterus, or frozen for a later date which is also known as embryo banking.

How Fibroids Can Impact Fertility

Fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that can grow inside or outside of a uterus. Many people with uteruses experience fibroids during their reproductive years. Common symptoms of uterine fibroids include abdominal pain and heavy menstrual bleeding. Some people can have fibroids and experience no symptoms at all.

Depending on the size and location of the fibroids, they can impact a person’s ability to conceive because the presence of fibroids can impact the sperm’s ability to reach the egg, as well as the fertilized egg’s ability to attach to the uterine wall.

In the U.S., Black women are two to three times more likely to experience fibroids than white women and are more likely to experience more severe fibroids symptoms. Research hasn't identified why Black women are more likely to suffer from fibroids. Dr. Tiffanny Jones shared that there is a hypothesis that Vitamin D deficiency may be a factor, though there haven't been any studies to confirm this theory.

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