NORTHWESTERN MEDICINE PEARL PROGRAM

Healthy behaviors and lifestyle choices can help you on your family planning journey. Our goal is to help you reach your reproductive goals, improve your well-being and reduce health risks during pregnancy.

The Northwestern Medicine PEARL Program supports people with obesity who are planning a pregnancy. We’re here to help you every step of the way.

PEARL stands for Preconception and Early Assessment Care Rooted in Lifestyle Management.

Reproductive Care Tailored to Your Unique Needs

Our experts will design a program that fits you, your needs and your goals. We will provide:

Risk assessments
Educational resources
Personalized tests
Access to consultations, lifestyle treatment options and referrals to sub-specialists

Meet Our Team

Your care team will be made up of compassionate clinicians who specialize in caring for people with obesity and extra weight. Your team may include:

Reproductive endocrinology and infertility physicians
Maternal-fetal medicine physicians
Physicians with certifications in obesity medicine
Dietitians
Psychologists
Pharmacists
Advanced nurse practitioners
Anesthesiology clinicians

Christina E. Boots,MD

Jacqueline C. Hairston, MD

Veronica R. Johnson, MD

Michelle A. Kominiarek, MD

Schedule a Visit

Please call us to schedule an appointment if you are concerned about your weight and metabolism and you want to discuss how to optimize your health before pregnancy.

You will need a referral from a primary care clinician or OB-GYN physician.

If you have questions, please call 312.695.7269.

Call 312.695.7269

Resources

References

Kominiarek MA, Jungheim ES, Hoeger KM, Rogers AM, Kahan S, Kim JJ. American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery position statement on the impact of obesity and obesity treatment on fertility and fertility therapy endorsed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Obesity Society. Surg Obes Relat Dis. 2017;13(5):750-757. doi:10.1016/j.soard.2017.02.006
Obesity in Pregnancy: ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 230. Obstet Gynecol. 2021;137(6):e128-e144. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000004395
Obesity and reproduction: a committee opinion. Fertility and Sterility. 2021;116(5):1266–1285. doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.08.018
Goldberg AS, Boots CE. Treating obesity and fertility in the era of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists. Fertil Steril. 2024;122(2):211-218. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2024.05.154
Boots CE, Gloff M, Lustik SJ, Vitek W. Addressing weight bias in reproductive medicine: a call to revisit body mass index restrictions for in vitro fertilization treatment. Fertil Steril. 2024;122(2):204-210. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2024.05.140
Rubino F, et al. Definition and diagnostic criteria of clinical obesity. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 2025;13(3):221-262.

Northwestern Medicine
Center for Fertility & Reproductive Medicine