Impending Menopause: How can fertility be preserved? with Dr. Duru Shah | For Women

Introduction: The International Menopause Society is proud to provide the interview series for women on current topics of interest in the field of menopause. In the series, IMS Board Member Dr. Marla Shapiro interviews renowned experts on menopause and midlife women’s health. YouTube Link: The interview is also available on video: https://youtu.be/MFXbogTv-Lw Disclaimer: The views expressed by speakers are their own and may not necessarily represent the views of the IMS. Episode Summary: Join Dr. Marla Shapiro and Dr. Duru Shah as they delve into the concept of impending menopause and the critical topic of fertility preservation. In this insightful discussion, Dr. Shah, a renowned gynecologist and fertility expert from Mumbai, India, shares her expertise on premature ovarian insufficiency, the risks associated with early menopause, and the importance of understanding ovarian reserve. Learn about the factors that contribute to early menopause, such as genetic predisposition, autoimmune disorders, and lifestyle choices. Discover the latest advancements in fertility preservation techniques, including egg and embryo freezing, and understand the success rates associated with these methods. Dr. Shah also highlights the importance of early intervention for women who wish to delay pregnancy due to career or personal reasons. She emphasises the need for awareness and proactive measures to ensure better fertility outcomes. Don’t miss this episode packed with valuable information and practical advice for women navigating the complexities of impending menopause and fertility preservation. Dr. Shapiro completed medical school at McGill University and trained at the University of Toronto for her Masters of Health Science. She concluded her specialty training in Community Medicine, receiving her Fellowship in Preventive Medicine and Public Health from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. She also holds a Fellowship in Family Medicine and is currently a Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. Dr. Shapiro is seen on CTV NewsChannel and is the medical expert on CTV’s National News and NewsChannel. She is the author of the bestselling book, Life in the Balance: My Journey with Breast Cancer. Dr. Shapiro is a member of several advisory boards, including the Terry Fox Research Institute. She sat on the Board of Trustees for NAMS for 9 years. She was the President of the North American Menopause Society in 2017 and Scientific Chair of the NAMS Annual General meeting in 2019. She continues to produce and direct both videos in women’s health for health practitioners and the general public for NAMS. The videos can be seen on YouTube and www.menopause.org. She is on the editorial board of both Menopause and Climacteric. She received an Award of Excellence from the College of Family Physicians of Canada and was awarded the Excellence in Creative Professional Activity by the University of Toronto. Dr. Shapiro was also chosen in the top 10 of the 50 most powerful doctors in Canada by the Medical Post. In 2015 Dr. Shapiro was named a Member of the Order of Canada for her contributions as a family physician and trusted source of health information. One of this country’s highest civilian honours, the Order of Canada recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community, and service to the nation. Guest Bio: Prof. Duru Shah, MD FRCOG FCPS FICS FICOG FICMCH DGO DFP Dr. Duru Shah is the Director of Gynaecworld, the “CENTER for Women’s Health & Fertility”. She is currently the Founding President of the “The PCOS Society” (India), the Chair of the Council of Affiliated Menopause Societies (CAMS), IMS and the Chair of the “Metropolis Foundation”. She is a Member of the Board of Asia Pacific Initiative on Reproduction (ASPIRE). As she is passionate about women’s health, she is the current Chair of the “Metropolis” Foundation which is run by her family for empowering the youth of India especially girls and women. Dr. Shah has occupied the highest position in the field of Obs. & Gyn. in India as the President of Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecological Societies of India, (FOGSI), she has been the President of “The Indian Menopause Society”, the “Chair of the Indian College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ICOG)” and the “President of the Indian Society for Assisted Reproduction (ISAR)”. On the International front, she served as a Member of the Ethics Committee of FIGO for 6 years between 2010-2016 and has also been the “Director of Digital Education”, the “Chair of the IMPART Program” and a member of the Board of The International Menopause Society for 8 years between 2012- 2019. She is the immediate past Chair of the “ASPIRE Special Interest Group (SIG) on Reproductive Endocrinology & PCOS, and has been the International Advisor of ESHRE’s Special Interest Group “Safety & Quality in ART” (SQART). Dr. Shah’s areas of interest are Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She has lectured extensively both nationally and internationally and created excellent academic programs for postgraduate students and clinicians in the field of PCOS, Menopause and Assisted Reproduction. Dr. Shah is a Member on the Editorial Board of various International and National Journals. Dr. Shah has been the proud recipient of many Orations, Awards and Honours, the most prominent being the “FIGO-Distinguished Merit Award” being the first and only Indian Recipient of this Prestigious Award and has been conferred the “Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Obstetrics & Gynecology”. She received the “Mahatma Award 2021” for Social Responsibilities and Gender Equality and she has been conferred with the Life time Achievement Awards for excellence in the field of Infertility and women’s health by ISAR and FOGSI in 2021.