About Jan Shifren, MD

Jan Shifren, MD is a gynecologist, reproductive endocrinologist, and director of the Mass General Midlife Women’s Health Center. She is the Vincent Trustees Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School.

 Dr. Shifren specializes in both infertility and menopause, caring for women at different stages of their lives. Her clinical practice is devoted to helping women with infertility build their families and to helping midlife women with menopausal concerns. She is a member of the Mass General Fertility Center, providing assisted reproductive technologies, including ovulation induction and in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Dr. Shifren studied psychology and biology at Yale College and received her medical degree from Harvard Medical School. She completed her OB/GYN training at the Mass General and Brigham and Women’s Hospitals, followed by a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the University of California, San Francisco.

 Dr. Shifren’s research focuses on menopause, including the effects of estrogens, androgens, and alternative therapies on menopausal symptoms, mood, and sexual function. She has authored many articles and book chapters, and has delivered national and international presentations on menopause, hormone therapy, androgens for women, the genitourinary syndrome of menopause, and female sexual function. She is past president of the North American Menopause Society.

When Dr. Shifren is not at Mass General, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, hiking, and traveling.

Clinical Interests:

Treats:

Locations

Boston: Massachusetts General Hospital

Mass General Brigham Reproductive Medicine Center at Newton-Wellesley Hospital
2000 Washington St.
Newton, MA 02462
Phone: 617-243-5200

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Medical Education

  • MD, Harvard Medical School
  • Residency, Brigham and Women's Hospital
  • Fellowship, UC San Francisco

American Board Certifications

  • Obstetrics & Gynecology, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Accepted Insurance Plans

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Research

Dr. Shifren's research focuses on menopause, including the effects of estrogens, androgens and alternative therapies on menopausal symptoms, mood, and sexual function. Dr. Shifren has served as Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator for several important studies related to the menopause and female sexuality. She has published numerous articles, abstracts, and book chapters and has delivered national and international presentations on menopause, hormone therapy, androgens for women, and female sexual function.

Dr. Shifren is active in numerous professional societies, including the North American Menopause Society, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Society of Reproductive Medicine, Society of Reproductive Endocrinologists, Endocrine Society, and Society for Gynecologic Investigation. She serves on the Editorial Boards of Menopause and Ob.Gyn News,. She is an ad hoc reviewer for Menopause, Fertility and Sterility, the New England Journal of Medicine, and the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, among others.

Publications

  • Shifren JL, Crandall CJ, Manson JE. Menopausal Hormone Therapy. JAMA 2019;321(24):2458-2459.

    Shifren JL, Zincavage R, Cho EL, Magnavita A, Portman DJ, Krychman ML, Simon JA, Kingsberg SA, Rosen RC. Women’s experience of vulvovaginal symptoms associated with menopause. Menopause 2019; 26(4):341-349.

    Shifren JL, Schiff I. Menopause. In: Berek JS, editor. Berek & Novak’s Gynecology (Sixteenth Edition). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2019. p. 431-444.

    Shifren JL, Author; Barbieri RL, Section Editor; Falk SJ, Deputy Editor. Sexual dysfunction in women: Management. Up to Date Online. Topic updated: July 18, 2019.

    Shifren J. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology 2018; 61(3): 508-516.

    Shifren JL, Davis SR. Androgens in postmenopausal women: a review. Menopause 2017; 24(8):970-979.

    Shifren JL, Schlam Edelman J, Schiff I. Hormone therapy and alternative therapies for menopause. Clinical Updates in Women’s Health Care. Washington, DC: ACOG; 2015; XIV(4):1-125.

    Shifren JL, Monz BU, Russo PA, et al. Sexual problems and distress in United States women: prevalence and correlates. Obstet Gynecol 2008;112:970-8.

    Shifren JL, Desindes S, McIlwain M, Doros G, Mazer NA. A Randomized, open label, crossover study comparing the effects of transdermal vs. oral estrogen therapy on serum androgens, thyroid hormones, and adrenal hormones in naturally menopausal women. Menopause 2007; 14(6):985-994.

    Shifren JL, Braunstein GD, Simon JA, et al. Transdermal testosterone treatment in women with impaired sexual function after oophorectomy. N Engl J Med 2000; 343:682-8.

     

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