When Should You See a Fertility Specialist?

Guest Bio: Kristin Bendikson, MD

Dr. Kristin Bendikson is a Fertility Specialist and assistant clinical professor at USC Fertility, a part of the Keck School of Medicine of USC. She serves as the Director of IVF at USC Fertility as well as the Director of the Fertility Diagnostic Testing Program. She founded the USC Center for Pregnancy Loss, the first to be located in Southern California.

Dr. Bendikson received her undergraduate degree at UCLA before moving to the east coast for medical school at New York University. She remained on the east coast, and completed her obstetrics and gynecology training at Harvard, at both Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. She received extensive clinical and surgical training in the field of infertility at the renowned Cornell University IVF Center in New York City where she completed her fellowship training. She is board certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology as well Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

Dr. Bendikson has authored numerous research publications and presented her work, both nationally and internationally. She has been recognized most recently for her innovative research examining the impact of Vitamin D on infertility.

As an active member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), she serves on the national ASRM Patient Education Committee as well as the ASRM Embryo Transfer Committee that recently help launch an embryo transfer simulation device for training of fellows. She also serves on the medical advisory board for a nutritional supplement company that focuses on fertility related products.

Dr. Bendikson is committed to educating the next generation of fertility specialists and serves as the associate fellowship program director for the USC fellowship for reproductive endocrinology and infertility. In addition, she lectures to both USC medical students and USC undergraduates every year.

She is an expert in ovulation induction, in vitro fertilization, egg freezing and fertility surgery, as well as the management of other disorders including recurrent pregnancy loss, endometriosis, and polycystic ovarian syndrome.

It is her goal to provide the highest quality care for her patients and to help them fulfill their desire of having a healthy baby, whether that be now or in the future. In addition, she strives to guide her patients through what can be a trying and difficult journey by providing them with the support and personal attention they need and deserve.

Dr. Bendikson has been featured both in print and video media outlets. She was one of the medical commentators on I didn’t know I was Pregnant on TLC/Discovery channels. For the online education site, “Kids In the House” she was asked to film a series of videos on fertility topics. Dr. Bendikson has extensive experience giving lectures on infertility, egg freezing and general women’s health. She actively engages in social media and was recently asked to give a lecture on “Physicians in Social Media” at a national conference.