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.
Departments, Centers, & Programs:
Clinical Interests:
Treats:
Mass General Brigham Reproductive Medicine Center at Newton-Wellesley Hospital
2000 Washington St.
Newton, MA 02462
Phone: 617-243-5200
Medical Education
American Board Certifications
Note: This provider may accept more insurance plans than shown; please call the practice to find out if your plan is accepted.
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.
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.
Good experience. Spent a lot of time going over everything.
This has been the best care and experience. I feel so supported and really appreciate all the extra care! Thank you so much
One of the best doctors I've ever encountered. Always prepared for our visits and has reviewed my chart in advance. Compassionate while also providing high quality care.
Dr. Shifren was really kind, really warm, really generous during our first meeting and that was really comforting as we were kind of experiencing some of this unknown and not sure where to go next. We really appreciated the time she took with us. It was almost a full hour, really explaining everything and walking through what our questions and ... Read More
Dr. Shifren is wonderful! She is concerned with my overall health, not just my health in her specialty. She is very interactive with my care, asking me about how I felt with many aspects of my care.
Dr. Shifren was wonderful to speak with. She was thorough, informative, but most importantly I felt seen and heard regarding the issues specific me to for which I contacted this speciality department. I look forward to continuing my care in this are with Dr. Shifren.
Dr. Shifren is professional, she's friendly, she's thorough, she's always up to date and has read your medical records and knows your history when you're meeting with her. She answers any questions, she's very patient-centered. I really think she's outstanding. Thank you.
She was fantastic, very clearly explained everything, was very thorough, went through all of my concerns as well as my medical history, spent a lot of time, felt like I was being very well taken care of. I would highly recommend her and feel very good about our interaction. This was my first time seeing this doctor.
Dr. Shifren is an exceptional provider. I've been seeing her for six plus years now. She's always prepared, very prepared, has read my chart, know what's going on, even if I haven't talked to her in a while. She's checked to see what else has been happening, like recently had surgery that was unrelated to her, but she had all that information. ... Read More
Dr. Shifren is an exceptional physician. Because of her expertise, I trust her recommendations and feel tremendous confidence that I am receiving the best of care.