Meet Dr. Kerry Krauss: Natural Cycles’ in-house OB-GYN & Medical Director

Welcome to the team, Dr. Krauss! First of all: Why did you decide to become an OB-GYN? 

Thanks for the warm welcome! I have always been fascinated by the amazing things that a woman’s body can do! And being able to be a part of a woman's life from puberty, babies, through to menopause and beyond is incredibly rewarding. 

What’s your favorite thing about being an OB-GYN? 

Without a doubt, the bonds I form with my patients. The gratitude I hear from them is the most rewarding thing about being an OB-GYN. And delivering babies never gets old!

Can you share what motivated you to join the Natural Cycles Team?

I was immediately drawn to the mission of Natural Cycles to empower women with knowledge of their own bodies, and their goal of expanding the app to cover all of the different phases of a woman’s life. To have all that educational material for patients in one place is wonderful, and I was also so impressed by the massive body of research that’s been done to answer more questions about women’s health. 

What’s one piece of advice you’d like everyone to hear about their reproductive health? 

Learning about your body is one of the best things you can do for your health. Take the time to learn from reliable sources like Natural Cycles, ACOG (The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), and your doctor. Don’t trust everything you read on social media or Google!

What’s a common misconception that you hear from your patients a lot?

That we care about body hair! I don’t know of a single OB-GYN who cares whether or not you have hair down there - so don’t stress about it! And definitely no need to cancel your appointment because you’ve missed a wax or forgotten to shave. 

What gives you hope for the future of women’s health?

For so long, I think women suffered in silence and didn’t talk to their doctors or even their friends or family about what was truly going on for them. There used to be so much shame and guilt associated with things like pregnancy loss, sexual dysfunction, and postpartum depression, just to name a few. 

I am so encouraged now to see women sharing their stories and talking about what they are experiencing! I’ve had patients who have suffered from significant issues for years, even decades, and never felt brave enough to bring them up to their doctors or share their stories with others, but I’ve seen that change significantly in the past few years.

Tell us about your experience with sex ed. If you could go back in time and change the curriculum, how would you like it to be taught? 

I honestly don’t remember my reproductive health class much, but I remember it being very awkward and feeling somehow shameful. I wish we could talk about the uterus and vagina the same way we talk about the stomach or the lungs. If our kids don’t feel comfortable talking with us about these parts of our bodies, they aren’t going to want to tell us when things are going wrong. 

What do you think the future of contraception looks like?

I think the future of contraception is absolutely patient-driven. We have the ability now more than ever to educate women about their own bodies and what makes the most sense for them. There are also so many more options than there once were, which really allows women to choose the option that fits their needs. 

Why do you think it’s important for women to have more birth control options, including hormone-free ones? 

The more birth control options we have, the more women are able to find a method that fits their unique needs. And the better a woman can control her reproductive health, the more she is able to live her life on her terms.

What would you say to someone who isn’t happy with the birth control method they’re currently using? 

There are so many options for birth control today, so if you aren’t happy with the method you are using, talk to your doctor! Each method has its pros and cons, and the best method for you might change depending on what your goals are. 

Decide what is most important to you. Is it having a method that is very effective, or is it decreasing symptoms of bleeding and pain with your periods? Be sure to make these goals clear to your doctor, and they will help you navigate the methods to help you choose the right one for you. 

Do you have any advice for women who don’t feel heard when speaking to a healthcare professional about their reproductive health?

Advocate for yourself and ask for more time to talk if you don’t feel like your doctor is hearing you. Many of us doctors WANT to spend more time with our patients but aren’t given enough time to talk about problems during an annual visit. Scheduling a dedicated appointment to talk about an issue may be a better option than trying to discuss everything during an annual appointment. 

Unlock your journey of self-discovery

We want to say a big thank you to Dr. Krauss for sharing her experience as a professional OB-GYN with us! If you enjoyed reading this article, we’ve got a load of more content like this in the Natural Cycles app, and you’ll start hearing and seeing a lot more of Dr. Krauss herself. Embark on a learning journey like no other, and go hormone-free today with Natural Cycles, the first and only FDA Cleared birth control app.