FAST FACTS
Practice: Fertility and Endocrine Associates
Hometown: Heidelberg, Germany
Family: Married to husband, Tony, and we have a daughter, Marie.
How you start your day: Waking and feeding my little girl (11 months old currently)
Best advice: “Whatever you do, do it well” – given to me by my Dad. Later I learnt that this quote is from Walt Disney.
Motto: Every day is a new day. I want to do my best to help make this world a better place.
Favorite daytime beverage: Water (with no ice – I grew up in Germany).
Medical News: Why did you become a doctor?
Miriam Sigrun Krause: I have always been fascinated with the human body, with the amazing work it does every second without us even noticing. In addition to that, I love to interact with people and help them reach their health and wellness goals. I have also always loved the science behind medicine and surgical procedures. In some situations, performing a surgery can improve the chances for a couple to conceive. Being a doctor in my field combines all the above!
MN: Why did you choose this specialty?
MSK: My specialty is Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI). It is the perfect combination for me of interacting with patients in the office and performing surgical procedures. Helping couples to achieve their dream of building a family is so rewarding. It makes my day when I can tell one of my patients that she is finally pregnant and show her the heartbeat on an ultrasound.
MN: Is it different than what you thought? How?
MSK: It is even better than what I imagined. However, medical services are increasingly not covered by insurance companies, and it feels more like a fee for service transaction than the traditional patient-physician interaction. There are a lot of misconceptions about becoming pregnant, and it sometimes can be hard work to help patients understand the real facts.
MN: What is the biggest misconception about your field?
MSK: A lot of my patients think that having twins is great, because they only go through pregnancy once. The fact is though, twin pregnancies can harbor a lot of complications for both the mother and the babies, and therefore one of the major goals in reproductive endocrinology is to ensure one healthy pregnancy with just one baby. Another misconception is that women can easily get pregnant way up into their 40s and 50s – the reality is that the ovaries age faster than the rest of the body, and starting at 35 years of age, the chances to become pregnant decrease.
MN: What’s one thing your colleagues would be surprised to learn about you?
MSK: I used to be a competitive fin swimmer when I was younger. I held the German national record one year in the 800 meter freestyle.
MN: Who are your heroes in healthcare?
MSK: My heroes are Robert Edwards and Patrick Steptoe. They both helped with the first successful IVF pregnancy back in 1978. Since then, technology has advanced immensely, and we have learnt much. However, their work was the basis for everything I do today, and it has helped millions of couples all over the world achieve their dream of having a family.
