Oct 27, 2021
In this episode, we bring two experts in Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB-GYN) to discuss everything you need to know about infertility in men and women. Dr. Temitope Ekwo and Dr. Nicole Plenty will be shedding more light on what infertility truly is, the prevalence, risk factors with more focus on fibroids, as well as medical advice on taking the Covid-19 vaccine while pregnant.
We will also address some myths and facts that are common in our community and action steps that can be taken by our community to support those experiencing infertility. There is so much to unpack in this episode, and I truly hope that you learn from it and put a lot of the lessons into practice.
MEET OUR GUESTS
Dr. Temitope Ekwo is a board-certified OB/GYN who was born and raised in Providence, RI where she lived until moving to Washington D.C after high school. She frequently participates in activities within the community to increase patient awareness and education regarding woman’s health issues. Dr. Ekwo is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, as well as a member of the Association of Nigerian Physicians and Texas Medical Association. Her clinical interests include adolescent and teen gynecology, high-risk obstetrics, minimally invasive procedures, outpatient surgeries, contraception, pelvic pain, menopause, health maintenance, and general gynecology. Dr. Ekwo and her staff take pride in providing extraordinary care to their patients during all stages of a woman’s life.
Dr. Nicole Plenty is a double board-certified OB/GYN and Maternal-Fetal Medicine Specialist, blogger, public speaker, and patient advocate. After experiencing a difficult pregnancy herself, to increase her advocacy efforts, she launched Pregnancy Pearls with Dr. Plenty, a vlog and podcast she created to help patients advocate for themselves by providing pre-/post-conception advice and education regarding complications of pregnancy. She has received local, state, and national honors for her involvement in health policy, mentorship, and work in health advocacy. Among those, she has received Top 40 under 40 recognitions from the National Minority Quality Forum, the National Medical Association, the Indianapolis Business Journal, as well as her alma mater, Xavier University of LA.
Things you will learn in this episode:
[00:01 – 04:42] Introduction
- Introducing the guest and sharing a brief background on the topic.
[04:42 – 19:32] Understanding Infertility & Its Causes
- Understanding fertility in Men & Women
- Some common causes of infertility
- How mental health can affect fertility in marriage
- Why you need to 'relax'
[19:32 – 42:10] Myths, Misconceptions & Fibroids
- The effect of aging on infertility in men & women
- Fibroids and its related issues with infertility in women
- Are there ways to manage Fibroids?
- Why African Women are hesitant when it comes to surgery
- Secondary infertility and its issues
- How to support couples facing infertility
[42:10 – 54:30] Covid-19 Vaccine & Pregnancy
- Education on the Covid-19 vaccine & pregnancy
- Some myths and conspiracies about the vaccine
- How covid is affecting unvaccinated pregnant women
- Read & listen to experts for advice
[54:30 – 1:01:31] Remedies & Therapeutic Measures for Infertility
- Consultation & medication
- Don't be anxious and nervous
- Seek knowledge & find options
[1:01:31] – 1:07:44] Final Discussions
- Advising the community on how to be supportive
- Anyoh shares her last words
- How to connect with the guests
Tweetable Quotes:
“Stay out of women's uteri! Don't ask them when they're going to get pregnant. Don't ask them why they haven't gotten pregnant don't ask them when they're having another child! Just mind your business!” – Dr. Temitope Ekwo [on how the community can stay supportive towards women dealing with infertility]
“Everybody always points a finger at the woman when men make up 48% of the cases of infertility. So, the infertility rates for men and women are almost about the same. I have seen people not be pregnant for years on end and then all of a sudden they do a work up and lo and behold the man has a low sperm count but never wanted to do a sperm sample” – Dr. Nicole Plenty
“Secondary infertility is a real thing. People think that if they have one baby that means they are fertile and so they have all the time in the world. But we as women have all the eggs that we are born with and over time, our fertility rate gradually decreases because we lose an egg every time we ovulate. Men are also not off the hook here. As they age, their quality of sperm also decreases.” – Dr. Nicole Plenty
“The amount of miscarriages and stillbirths that I have seen [in pregnant COVID-19 patients] since this pandemic has started is more than the amount I have seen in my 10 years of practicing, but people don’t want to talk about that. Having COVID-19 while pregnant is a prenatal complication.” – Dr. Temitope Ekwo
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Connect with Dr. Temitope Ekwo:
Phone: (713) 799-9900
Address: Specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology
7400 Fannin St Ste 1200
Houston, TX 77054
Physician loactions
Connect with Dr. Nicole Lee Plenty, MD, MPH, MS, FACOG:
Facebook: @pregnancypearls
Instagram: pregnancy_pearls
Twitter: @NicoleLeeMD
Youtube: youtube.com/pregnancypearlswithdrplenty
Website: www.pregnancypearls.com
Email: pregnancypearls@gmail.com
You can connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, or send us an email at hello@livingafricanpodcast.com. Check out our website www.livingafricanpodcast.com for more resources and to learn more.
You can connect with Anyoh on Facebook (@anyohf), Instagram (@anyohfombad), and Twitter (@anyohfombad).