In this episode of GynoInfo, I’m answering one of the most common and stressful fertility questions: “Until what age can I get pregnant?”

Many online fertility tests claim they can help measure my “biological clock” with a simple AMH blood test, but the truth is not that simple. I explain what AMH, or anti-Müllerian hormone, can actually tell me about ovarian reserve — and what it cannot tell me about my exact fertility timeline.

I break down how fertility changes with age, why egg supply and egg quality both matter, and why fertility generally begins to decline more noticeably in the 30s, with a faster drop in the late 30s. I also explain why a “normal” AMH does not guarantee I can wait, and why a “low” AMH does not automatically mean I can’t get pregnant.

AMH and antral follicle count, or AFC, can be useful tools in fertility treatment, especially for predicting how someone may respond to IVF medications. But they cannot reliably predict the exact age when I will no longer be able to conceive naturally, how quickly I will get pregnant, or when menopause will happen.

If I’m wondering how much time I have to get pregnant, whether I should start trying sooner, or whether egg freezing is worth considering, this episode helps separate fertility facts from fear-based marketing. I also talk about why it’s so important to discuss pregnancy goals, medical history, family history, and age with a gynecologist or fertility specialist.

The bottom line: there is no single test that can tell me exactly how long I have to get pregnant. AMH can offer helpful information in the right medical context, but it is not a countdown clock. The best next step is to have an honest conversation with a trusted doctor about my age, health history, family goals, and options — so I can make informed decisions without panic, pressure, or misleading online promises.

In this episode, I cover:

• Until what age can I get pregnant?
• What happens to fertility as I get older
• Why egg supply and egg quality both matter
• What AMH fertility testing actually measures
• Why AMH cannot predict my exact biological clock
• Why online fertility tests can be misleading
• What antral follicle count, or AFC, tells doctors
• When to talk to my gynecologist about pregnancy plans
• What to know before considering egg freezing
• Why egg freezing is an option, not a guarantee

You remember can write to me at [email protected]

And follow us on Instagram @gynoinfo

• Until What Age Can I Get Pregnant? AMH Tests and Your Biological Clock

Hello and welcome back to season two of GynoInfo!

In this episode, I’m answering a listener’s question about something that is incredibly common, deeply personal, and not talked about nearly enough: painful sex after menopause and estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer.

If you’ve experienced vaginal dryness, burning, irritation, tearing, or pain with sex after breast cancer treatment or menopause, you are not alone. Many women develop something called genitourinary syndrome of menopause, or GSM, which happens when lower estrogen levels make the vaginal and vulvar tissue thinner, drier, and more sensitive.

I’ll explain why estrogen-based treatments — including vaginal estrogen cream — may not be safe for everyone, especially soon after treatment for estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer, and why this is something to discuss carefully with both your gynecologist and oncology team.

Then, I’ll walk you through the non-estrogen options I usually recommend first, including using a vaginal moisturizer with hyaluronic acid several times a week and a water-based lubricant during sex. I’ll also cover what to avoid, like oil-based or perfumed products that may irritate the tissue, disrupt healthy vaginal bacteria, or affect condom safety.

And if those first steps aren’t enough, I’ll share the truth about vaginal laser treatment — how it works, what we know from the research, what we still don’t know, why “vaginal rejuvenation” marketing can be misleading, and why it’s so important to see a trained, qualified provider.

My goal is to help you understand your options, feel less alone, and know what questions to bring to your doctor. Painful sex after breast cancer is real — and you deserve compassionate, evidence-based care.

You remember can write to me at [email protected]

And follow us on Instagram @gynoinfo

One year ago, I launched Gyno Info with a simple mission: explain women’s health in plain English.

After decades in OB/GYN, I saw the same thing over and over — smart, capable women leaving appointments confused because medicine is filled with jargon. So I decided to create something different.

No influencer fluff.
 No medical gatekeeping.
 No scare tactics.

Just real, clear, practical GYN education — the kind I wish every woman had before walking into a doctor’s office.

The idea started over breakfast in New York City in spring 2025, after I stepped back from surgery and office practice. By August 2025, we launched. And within months, women from over 50 countries were listening.

This episode marks our one‑year anniversary, and I’m reflecting on why I started this podcast, what I’ve learned, and why understanding your body should never feel intimidating or embarrassing.

If you’ve ever:

• Felt rushed at an appointment
• Googled symptoms at 2am
• Wondered what’s “normal”
• Or wished doctors explained things more clearly

This show is for you.

Subscribe, share, and keep asking questions.
Your health shouldn’t feel confusing.

Thank you for all your support this year. We will be back with a second season of GynoInfo! in September. See you then.

-Dr. Burki

You can write to us at [email protected]

And follow us on Instagram @gynoinfo

This episode is a re‑air and the final (and longest) episode in my 3‑part PCOS series. If you haven’t listened to the first two episodes yet, I highly recommend starting there so this one makes even more sense.

In this episode, I focus on treatment — how we manage PCOS symptoms, support weight loss, and help with getting pregnant.

I briefly recap what PCOS really is: a hormonal mix‑up that affects ovulation and insulin resistance. That’s what leads to irregular, heavy, or absent periods, acne, excess facial or body hair, scalp hair thinning, weight gain, and fertility challenges.

Treatment depends on your goals.

If you’re not trying to get pregnant, I explain how combined hormonal birth control works by quieting the ovaries, lowering testosterone, improving acne, helping regulate bleeding, and sometimes even improving insulin resistance. (Keep in mind, it prevents new hair growth but won’t remove existing hair or scars.)

If you are trying to conceive, we talk about options like:

• Lifestyle changes and even modest weight loss (5–10%)
• Ovulation medications like clomiphene or letrozole
• Injectable fertility treatments with ultrasound monitoring

I also explain why AMH levels are often high in PCOS and why fertility success rates are generally very good with treatment.

A big part of this conversation is insulin resistance. I walk through medications like:

• Metformin — effective, affordable, generally safe (including in pregnancy), with manageable side effects
• GLP‑1 medications — more powerful for weight loss but expensive, weight often returns after stopping, and pregnancy safety is still unclear (so birth control is recommended while using them)

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by PCOS, this episode pulls everything together and walks through your real‑world options.

This is a re‑air of Part 2 in my 3‑part PCOS series.

In this episode, I walk you through how we actually confirm a PCOS diagnosis — and why so many women with PCOS struggle with stubborn, belly‑centered weight gain.

I briefly recap common symptoms like irregular or missing periods, acne, unwanted facial or body hair, scalp hair thinning, weight gain, and difficulty getting pregnant. I explain how irregular bleeding happens because you’re not ovulating, and how higher testosterone levels drive many of the skin and hair changes.

Then I break down how we diagnose PCOS, including:

• Hormone blood work
• Transvaginal ultrasound showing multiple small follicle cysts
• Key labs to rule out other causes (thyroid, adrenal issues, prolactin levels, and pituitary hormones like FSH and LH)

A big focus of this episode is insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia — the vicious cycle that increases hunger, promotes fat storage, and raises long‑term risks like diabetes, heart disease, and high cholesterol. I explain why weight loss can feel so frustrating with PCOS and what’s actually happening in your body.

In the next episode, I’ll cover treatment options and fertility support.

You can write to us at [email protected]

And follow us on Instagram @gynoinfo

This episode is a re‑air and the first in my three‑part PCOS summer series. 

I am dropping this episode again, along with the other two episodes on PSCO because I believe that this is such an important topic I do not want anyone to miss it.,

In this episode, I explain why PCOS is called a syndrome and review common symptoms, including irregular or absent periods, heavy bleeding, acne, unwanted facial or body hair, scalp hair thinning, weight gain, and infertility. I walk through how normal ovulation works compared to PCOS, where no dominant follicle develops—leading to multiple small cysts and the classic “string of pearls” appearance on ultrasound (you can watch on YouTube to see the slides and images).

I also connect irregular bleeding to lack of ovulation and progesterone, and explain how excess testosterone—often related to insulin imbalance—contributes to acne, hirsutism, and hair thinning.

In upcoming episodes, I’ll cover weight, long‑term health risks, diagnosis, and treatment options, including fertility support.

You can write to us at [email protected]

And follow us on Instagram @gynoinfo

In today’s episode of Gyno Info, I’m answering three listener questions that come up all the time in women’s health — but people are often too embarrassed to ask.

First, we talk about sex after hysterectomy. When is it actually safe? What happens to sperm after the uterus is removed? And why I usually recommend waiting about 6–8 weeks (sometimes closer to two months) for the vaginal cuff to fully heal. I also share tips on positioning — like why being on top can help you control pressure — and why some sensitivity can last for months after surgery.

Next, I break down the difference between HPV vs HSV. These two viruses get confused constantly. I explain what HPV does (abnormal cells, genital warts, cancer risk, Pap smears, and the HPV vaccine) versus HSV (herpes outbreaks, transmission, antivirals, and why it’s not linked to cancer). We also talk about immune clearance and some of the misinformation floating around online.

Finally, I address a listener question about severe vaginal odor after hysterectomy. This is not something to ignore. It could be bacterial vaginosis (BV), retained surgical material, or hormonal changes after surgery — especially in menopause — that may require vaginal estrogen or probiotics. If something smells off, get evaluated.

My goal is always to give you clear, evidence-based information so you can advocate for your body with confidence.

If you find this helpful, subscribe to Gyno Info and share it with someone who needs it.

You can write to us at [email protected]

And follow us on Instagram @gynoinfo

This is a bonus episode that is a follow up to this week’s re-airing of another episode on osteoporosis.   

Osteoporosis is one of those things people ignore… until someone breaks a hip. And by then, we’re playing catch‑up.

Let me say this clearly: osteoporosis is not just “getting older.” It’s real bone loss. And yes — it can absolutely shorten lives.

After menopause, when your ovaries stop making estrogen, bone loss speeds up. Fast. What starts as osteopenia (which just means early bone thinning) can turn into full osteoporosis. That’s when bones get fragile enough that a simple fall — or sometimes just bending the wrong way — can cause a fracture.

I see this every week. Height loss. Rounded upper backs. Vertebral compression fractures where the spine literally collapses a little. And hip fractures? Those can completely change someone’s independence.

In this episode, I walk you through what’s actually happening in your bones after menopause and how we diagnose it with a DEXA scan (that’s the bone density test). I also explain why you don’t feel osteoporosis happening — it’s silent until something breaks.

The good news? There is a LOT you can do.

We talk about prevention starting way earlier than people think — even in the teen years. Protein matters. Calcium matters. Vitamin D matters (but more isn’t always better). Strength training and weight‑bearing exercise are huge. And balance training reduces falls, which reduces fractures.

Then I break down treatment options in plain English. Some medications slow bone breakdown (like bisphosphonates and raloxifene). Some build new bone (like the daily injection anabolic medications). Some do a little of both. We talk about Prolia and why you can’t just stop it abruptly without a plan. And yes — we talk about estrogen, which is the most natural treatment for bone loss and also helps with other menopausal symptoms.

My goal with this episode is simple: I don’t want you to wait for a fracture to take your bone health seriously.

If you’re postmenopausal, nearing menopause, have a family history of osteoporosis, or you’re wondering whether you need a DEXA scan — this episode is for you.

Your bones are your frame. Protect them.

You can write to us at [email protected]

And follow us on: 

• Instagram @gynoinfo

This is a re‑airing of one of the most important episodes I’ve done — because postmenopausal osteoporosis is something I see every single week in practice, and most women don’t realize it’s happening until it’s too late.

If you’ve ever noticed your grandmother or mother getting shorter, developing a rounded upper back, or seeming more fragile over time, this episode explains why. After menopause — which happens on average around age 52 — estrogen levels drop, and that changes how your bones remodel. Bone resorption starts to outpace bone formation. In plain English? You lose bone faster than you build it.

That’s how osteopenia progresses to osteoporosis.

In this episode, I break down the difference between osteopenia vs. osteoporosis, what low‑trauma fractures really mean, and why hip fractures, wrist fractures, and vertebral compression fractures are such a big deal in older women. We talk about vertebral wedge fractures — the small spinal collapses that cause height loss, that classic “dowager’s hump,” and even reduced lung and abdominal space that can affect breathing and digestion.

Osteoporosis is often called a silent disease because you don’t feel bone loss happening. Most women find out after a fracture. And unfortunately, hip fractures especially can dramatically affect independence and long‑term survival.

The good news? Osteoporosis prevention is possible.

In this episode I walk through:

• How much calcium women actually need (1,000–1,200 mg daily)
• Safe vitamin D dosing (600–1,000 IU — and why more isn’t always better)
• Why adequate protein intake matters for bone strength
• The importance of weight‑bearing and resistance exercise
• Major osteoporosis risk factors
• How we diagnose bone loss with a DEXA scan
• How the FRAX score estimates 10‑year fracture risk

We also touch on estrogen and hormone therapy as part of the larger conversation around menopause and bone health — something I’ll cover more deeply in another episode.

If you’re postmenopausal, approaching menopause, have a family history of osteoporosis, or are wondering whether you need a DEXA scan, this is essential information.

Bone health after menopause is not cosmetic. It’s structural. It’s survival.

If this episode helps you, send it to your mom, your aunt, your sister — prevention works best when we start early.

You can write to us at [email protected]

And follow us on: 

• Instagram @gynoinfo

What is a placebo, and is the placebo effect real? 

In this episode of Gyno Info, I answer a listener’s question and explain what placebos actually are. The word “placebo” comes from Latin and means “I shall please.” Historically, it referred to a sugar pill or inactive treatment given when no real therapy was available. Today, giving a placebo without a patient’s knowledge is considered unethical because it involves deception — and trust is essential in medicine.

That said, the placebo effect itself is very real. When you believe a treatment will help, your brain can release endorphins, reduce stress, and even decrease pain processing on imaging studies. I discuss examples like fake aspirin relieving headaches and studies where patients couldn’t tell the difference between real numbing medication and salt water because they expected relief. 

The placebo effect can improve symptoms like pain, anxiety, depression, insomnia, nausea, and IBS — but it cannot treat serious conditions like cancer, infections, or medical emergencies. Belief is powerful, but it does not replace evidence‑based care.

I also explain the ethical uses of placebos today, including reminder pills in birth control packs and double‑blind, placebo‑controlled drug trials, which help us determine whether medications truly work. 

The takeaway is simple: belief and trust matter, but honesty and real medical treatment always come first.

You can write to us at [email protected]

And follow us on Instagram @gynoinfo