"Second Opinion" with Christina Farr, Ash Zenooz MD & Luba Greenwood JD

The fertility conversation we're not having (but should) with Carrot's Dr. Asima Ahmad

Mar 26, 2025

Dr. Asima Ahmad, Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Carrot, shares her insights as a fertility specialist and entrepreneur. The discussion highlights the urgent need for early fertility education and how technology is revolutionizing access to care. They tackle the rising trend of 'revenge egg freezing' in response to recent job layoffs, examining its implications for equity in fertility treatment. Ahmad emphasizes the importance of mentorship and addresses the shortage of specialists in reproductive health, advocating for accessible solutions.

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ADVICE

Early Fertility Awareness

Understand how fertility works and listen to what your body is telling you.
If you have symptoms like irregular periods or severe pelvic pain, get medically evaluated early.

ANECDOTE

Journey to Fertility Entrepreneur

Dr. Ahmad shares how she met her co-founder at a fertility conference and noticed huge patient financial barriers.
She balanced clinical duties and entrepreneurship by focusing on increasing access and lowering costs.

INSIGHT

Fertility Care Model and Virtual Care

OB-GYNs often handle initial fertility treatments, referring complex cases to REIs for advanced procedures like IVF.
Virtual care post-pandemic has improved access and convenience for fertility consultations.

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In this episode of Second Opinion, Christina Farr interviews Dr. Asima Ahmad MD, MPH, FACOG, Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Carrot, discussing her journey as a fertility specialist and entrepreneur. They explore the challenges and advancements in fertility treatment, the importance of early fertility education, and the impact of new technologies on making fertility care more accessible and affordable.

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LINKS:

Carrot: https://www.get-carrot.com/

Dr. Marcelel Cedars: https://www.ucsfhealth.org/providers/dr-marcelle-cedars

The End of Sex by Hank Greely: https://www.amazon.com/End-Sex-Future-Human-Reproduction/dp/0674728963

Pilot Study Evaluates Weekly Pill to Slow Ovarian Aging, Delay Menopause: https://www.nyp.org/advances-womenshealth/pilot-study-evaluates-weekly-pill-to-slow-ovarian-aging-delay-menopause

@doctor_asima on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctor_asima/

Leslie Schrock episode on Second Opinion: https://youtu.be/LmZAoLqMSmc?si=djwXFJ0KhgZV-_ia

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FOLLOW:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/asima-ahmad-md/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinafarr/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubagreenwood/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashzenooz/

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HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE EPISODE:

Asima Ahmad is co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of Carrot and practices as a fertility specialist at Reproductive Medicine Institute in Chicago.
Only about 40-50 reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) specialists graduate per year in the US.
OB-GYNs often handle initial fertility workups in rural areas and some countries before referring to specialists.
Virtual care has significantly improved access to fertility treatment since the pandemic.
"Revenge egg freezing" is a trend where employees use fertility benefits right before leaving companies.
Asima considers egg freezing safe and supports access to fertility preservation options.
Both Asima and host Chrissy experienced delayed PCOS diagnoses, highlighting the importance of early detection.
PCOS diagnosis requires two of three criteria: irregular cycles, polycystic ovaries, or signs of elevated androgens. PCOS has implications beyond fertility including increased risks for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome.
Fertility education should be taught alongside contraception education in schools.
Women experience ovarian aging and declining egg quality with age, which impacts family planning.
In vitro maturation (IVM) allows eggs to be retrieved earlier with fewer medications, reducing physical and financial burden.
Research is being conducted on delaying ovarian aging to extend the fertility window.