Richard J Paulson, MD

Dr. Richard Paulson is the Director of USC Fertility, and has been with the practice since 1986. He is also a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine.

Dr. Paulson has been rated one of “The Best Doctors in America” continuously since 1994. He has published several landmark investigations addressing the effect of age upon female fertility, including the first observation that egg donation could be used to extend the reproductive lifespan in women over 40. Dr. Paulson’s work has extended to fertility in women over the age of 50 and, in 1997, he reported a successful pregnancy in the oldest woman on record at the time, aged 63.

• The American Fertility Association: Howard and Georgeanna Jones Lifetime Achievement Award, 2005
• Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California: Excellence in Teaching Award, 2004
• Good Housekeeping: Best Doctors for Women, 1997
• 2002
   -: America’s Top Doctors, 2002
   – 2014

• Alia Tutor endows Keck School chair for fertility research (04/18/2014)

• A universal 6iL/E4 culture system for deriving and maintaining embryonic stem cells across mammalian species. Cell Res. 2026 Jul 13.. View in PubMed
• Reply of the Author: “Unexplained” does not mean, “not understood”. F S Rep. 2026 Jun; 7(3):255.. View in PubMed
• Efficacy and safety of estrogen therapy for prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Womens Health (Lond). 2026 Jan-Dec; 22:17455057261459264.. View in PubMed
• Automation in the gamete laboratory: have we reached a turning point? F S Rep. 2026 Jun; 7(3):171-172. Paulson RJ . . View in PubMed
• Plan for the next step after a failed transfer cycle: “Doctor, what are we going to do differently?” F S Rep. 2026 Apr; 7(2):97-98. Paulson RJ . . View in PubMed
• Current reproductive endocrinology and infertility practices regarding Rh-immune globulin administration in early pregnancy. F S Rep. 2026 Feb; 7(1):86-89.. View in PubMed
• The problem with calling it “unexplained infertility”. F S Rep. 2026 Feb; 7(1):1-2.. View in PubMed
• Reply of the author: Response to Letter-to-the-Editor. F S Rep. 2025 Dec; 6(4):519.. View in PubMed
• Fertilization triggers early proteomic symmetry breaking in mammalian embryos. Cell. 2025 Dec 24; 188(26):7428-7444.e21.. View in PubMed
• RhD immune globulin administration after early pregnancy loss following fertility treatment: time for national guidelines. F S Rep. 2025 Dec; 6(4):409-410.. View in PubMed
• The unscientific nature of the arguments of “Restorative Reproductive Medicine” and why we need to understand them. F S Rep. 2025 Sep; 6(3):235-236.. View in PubMed
• Prevalence of endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome. F S Rep. 2025 Sep; 6(3):394-398.. View in PubMed
• A Universal 6iL/E4 Culture System for Deriving and Maintaining Embryonic Stem Cells Across Mammalian Species. bioRxiv. 2025 May 21.. View in PubMed
• Orally active gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists: Are we witnessing a revolution in oral contraception? Fertil Steril. 2025 Aug; 124(2):250-251. Paulson RJ . View in PubMed
• Let’s stop equivocating: there is almost no reason to remove an endometrioma prior to fertility treatment, and there is every reason to offer fertility preservation prior to removing an endometrioma if removal is necessary. F S Rep. 2025 Jun; 6(2):105-106.. View in PubMed
• Bridging studies in wild animal species and humans to better understand, assist, and control reproduction. F S Rep. 2025 Apr; 6(Suppl 1):1-2.. View in PubMed
• Racial and ethnic differences in gestational carriers: assessment of obstetric characteristics and outcomes. Fertil Steril. 2025 Sep; 124(3):553-557.. View in PubMed
• Intracytoplasmic sperm injection alone is the most efficacious, effective, and efficient treatment for couples with male factor infertility. Fertil Steril. 2025 Apr; 123(4):574-580.. View in PubMed
• Natural versus programmed frozen embryo transfer cycles: does the real difference lie in the duration of progesterone exposure prior to embryo transfer? F S Rep. 2025 Mar; 6(1):1-2. Paulson RJ . . View in PubMed
• Clomiphene citrate throughout the duration of ovarian stimulation in patients with diminished ovarian reserve: an approach to decrease costs, reduce injection burden, and prevent premature ovulation. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2025 Mar; 42(3):791-797.. View in PubMed
• Reply of the Authors: The phenomenon of explaining the cause of poor cycle outcomes: looking under the streetlight, or the role of cognitive bias in reproductive endocrinology and infertility practices. In response to: “Unexpected poor oocyte retrieval: the phenomenon of the borderline response to the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist trigger”. F S Rep. 2025 Mar; 6(1):99-100.. View in PubMed
• Sublingual progesterone lozenges are a viable alternative to intramuscular progesterone-in-oil for programmed frozen embryo transfer cycles. Fertil Steril. 2025 Jul; 124(1):88-94.. View in PubMed
• The role of state-of-the-art IVF care as a marker of societal development. Hum Reprod. 2025 01 01; 40(1):9-11.. View in PubMed
• National-level assessment of gestational carrier pregnancies in the United States. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2025 Jan; 42(1):201-211.. View in PubMed
• The incorrect conclusion about vaginally administered progesterone: when a randomized clinical trial gets it wrong. F S Rep. 2024 Dec; 5(4):339-340.. View in PubMed
• Proteome asymmetry in mouse and human embryos before fate specification. bioRxiv. 2024 Aug 26.. View in PubMed
• Unexpected poor oocyte retrieval: the phenomenon of the borderline response to the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist trigger. F S Rep. 2024 Sep; 5(3):229-230.. View in PubMed
• Obstetric Characteristics and Outcomes of Gestational Carrier Pregnancies: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 07 01; 7(7):e2422634.. View in PubMed
• Feasibility and efficacy of a subcutaneous catheter for controlled ovarian stimulation. Fertil Steril. 2024 Nov; 122(5):945-947.. View in PubMed
• Obstetric outcomes of women with congenital uterine anomalies in the United States. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM. 2024 Aug; 6(8):101396.. View in PubMed
• Management of early pregnancy loss by reproductive endocrinologists: does access to mifepristone matter? F S Rep. 2024 Sep; 5(3):252-258. Anderson ZS, Paulson RJ , Nguyen BT . . View in PubMed
• The first two blastomeres contribute unequally to the human embryo. Cell. 2024 May 23; 187(11):2838-2854.e17.. View in PubMed
• A comparison of letrozole regimens for ovulation induction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. F S Rep. 2024 Jun; 5(2):170-175.. View in PubMed
• Assessment of obstetric characteristics and outcomes associated with pregnancy with Turner syndrome. Fertil Steril. 2024 Aug; 122(2):233-242.. View in PubMed
• Pregnancy following assisted reproductive technology in morbidly obese patients: assessment of feto-maternal outcomes. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2024 Apr; 41(4):903-914.. View in PubMed
• Harms of harmless therapies. F S Rep. 2024 Mar; 5(1):1-2.. View in PubMed
• Correction to: The HERA (Hyper‑response Risk Assessment) Delphi consensus for the management of hyper‑responders in in vitro fertilization. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2024 Feb; 41(2):519-520.. View in PubMed
• Is preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) getting better? How can we know and how do we counsel our patients? F S Rep. 2023 Dec; 4(4):329-330. Paulson RJ . . View in PubMed
• The unbearable ignorance of the composition of IVF culture media. Reprod Biomed Online. 2024 03; 48(3):103645.. View in PubMed
• The HERA (Hyper-response Risk Assessment) Delphi consensus for the management of hyper-responders in in vitro fertilization. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2023 Nov; 40(11):2681-2695.. View in PubMed
• Consistency of endometrial receptivity array and histologic dating of spatially distinct endometrial samplings: a prospective, blinded study. F S Rep. 2023 Dec; 4(4):375-379.. View in PubMed
• Contraception and sterilization selection at delivery among pregnant patients with malignancy. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2024 04; 103(4):695-706.. View in PubMed
• Association of HCG Level with Ultrasound Visualization of the Gestational Sac in Early Viable Pregnancies. Reprod Sci. 2023 12; 30(12):3623-3628.. View in PubMed
• Artificial intelligence in medicine: it is neither new, nor frightening. F S Rep. 2023 Sep; 4(3):239-240.. View in PubMed
• Assessment of abnormal placentation in pregnancies conceived with assisted reproductive technology. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2023 Nov; 163(2):555-562.. View in PubMed
• What do you mean, you don’t know what is in the culture media? F S Rep. 2023 Jun; 4(2):127. Paulson RJ . . View in PubMed
• The association between uterine adenomyosis and adverse obstetric outcomes: A propensity score-matched analysis. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2023 07; 102(7):833-842.. View in PubMed
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone: incredible 50 years. F S Rep. 2023 Jun; 4(2 Suppl):1-2.. View in PubMed
• The potential role of GLP-1 receptor agonist targeting in fertility-sparing treatment in obese patients with endometrial malignant pathology: a call for research. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2023 04; 23(4):385-395.. View in PubMed
• Seasonal fluctuation of in vitro fertilization encounters in the United States. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2023 May; 40(5):1099-1107.. View in PubMed
• The HERA (Hyper-response Risk Assessment) Delphi consensus definition of hyper-responders for in-vitro fertilization. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2023 May; 40(5):1071-1081.. View in PubMed
• Lessons from low-dose gonadotropin therapy for ovulation induction in polycystic ovary syndrome: Can prolonged letrozole therapy eliminate failure to respond to oral ovulation agents? F S Rep. 2023 Ma . View in PubMed
• Effects of parity on preterm delivery in twin gestations conceived with in vitro fertilization. F S Rep. 2023 Mar; 4(1):49-54.. View in PubMed
• Uptake of postplacental intrauterine device placement at cesarean delivery. AJOG Glob Rep. 2023 Feb; 3(1):100157.. View in PubMed
• More follicle-stimulating hormone may not improve outcomes, but can it be counterproductive? Fertil Steril. 2023 02; 119(2):170-172. Quinn MM, Paulson RJ . View in PubMed
• Big data, big lies? F S Rep. 2022 Dec; 3(4):293. Paulson RJ . . View in PubMed
• It is worth repeating: “life begins at conception” is a religious, not scientific, concept. F S Rep. 2022 Sep; 3(3):177.. View in PubMed
• Does male fertility-related quality of life differ when undergoing evaluation by reproductive urologist versus reproductive endocrinologist? Hum Fertil (Camb). 2023 Dec; 26(2):276-283. Danis R, Sripra . View in PubMed
• Cognitive dissonance in infertility treatment: Why is it so difficult to discard disproven therapies, like the endometrial scratch? F S Rep. 2022 Jun; 3(2):85. Paulson RJ . . View in PubMed
• Trends and characteristics of ovarian conservation at hysterectomy for young women with cervical cancer. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2022 Jun; 273:59-64.. View in PubMed
• Eliminating health inequities in reproductive medicine: ensuring care for all. F S Rep. 2022 May; 3(2 Suppl):1.. View in PubMed
• Association between hospital treatment volume and major complications in ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2022 May; 272:240-246.. View in PubMed
• Embryo morphology and live birth in the United States. F S Rep. 2022 Jun; 3(2):131-137.. View in PubMed
• MitoScore, MitoGrade, or MitoSure: what does embryonic mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid quantification actually measure and is it useful? F S Rep. 2022 Mar; 3(1):1-2. Paulson RJ . . View in PubMed
• Reproduction reimagined. F S Rep. 2021 Dec; 2(4):361.. View in PubMed
• Human embryo polarization requires PLC signaling to mediate trophectoderm specification. Elife. 2021 09 27; 10.. View in PubMed
• Examining pre-term birth and cesarean section rates in gestational carrier pregnancies. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2021 Oct; 38(10):2707-2712.. View in PubMed
• The influence of obesity on incidence of complications in patients hospitalized with ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2022 02; 305(2):483-493.. View in PubMed
• Paradigm shift from tubal ligation to opportunistic salpingectomy at cesarean delivery in the United States. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2021 10; 225(4):399.e1-399.e32.. View in PubMed
• Is the endometrial receptivity analysis batting high enough to warrant widespread-or at least selective-use? Fertil Steril. 2021 08; 116(2):341-342. Quaas AM, Paulson RJ . View in PubMed
• Developmental potential of immature human oocytes aspirated after controlled ovarian stimulation. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2021 Sep; 38(9):2291-2299.. View in PubMed
• Effect of age and morphology on sustained implantation rate after euploid blastocyst transfer. Reprod Biomed Online. 2021 Sep; 43(3):395-403.. View in PubMed
• What is the optimal timing of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) after EGG retrieval? A randomized controlled trial. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2021 Aug; 38(8):2151-2156.. View in PubMed
• Does timing matter when initiating elagolix in a natural menstrual cycle? F S Rep. 2021 Sep; 2(3):308-313. Danis RB, Sriprasert I , Stanczyk FZ , Paulson RJ , Winer SA , Ho JR . . View in PubMed
• Can we use in vitro fertilization with preimplantation genetic testing to avoid molar pregnancies? F S Rep. 2021 Jun; 2(2):137. Paulson RJ . . View in PubMed
• Influence of Trophectoderm Biopsy Prior to Frozen Blastocyst Transfer on Obstetrical Outcomes. Reprod Sci. 2021 12; 28(12):3459-3465.. View in PubMed
• No longer a new journal. F S Rep. 2021 Mar; 2(1):1.. View in PubMed
• Real-world experience with intravaginal culture using INVOCELL: an alternative model for infertility treatment. F S Rep. 2021 Mar; 2(1):9-15.. View in PubMed
• Isn’t it time to stop calling preimplantation embryos “mosaic”? F S Rep. 2020 Dec; 1(3):164-165. Paulson RJ , Treff NR . . View in PubMed
• Fertility awareness 2020. F S Rep. 2020 Dec; 1(3):163.. View in PubMed
• Reply: The misguided nature of the argument about the current efficiency of PGT-A. Hum Reprod. 2020 09 01; 35(9):2165-2166.. View in PubMed
• Still a new journal. F S Rep. 2020 Sep; 1(2):57.. View in PubMed
• A new journal-2020. F S Rep. 2020 Jun; 1(1):1.. View in PubMed
• Fertility-sparing treatment for early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer: Contemporary oncologic, reproductive and endocrinologic perspectives. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2020 Aug; 46(8):1263-1281.. View in PubMed
• Long-term imatinib diminishes ovarian reserve and impacts embryo quality. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2020 Jun; 37(6):1459-1466.. View in PubMed
• Route-specific association of progestin therapy and concurrent metformin use in obese women with complex atypical hyperplasia. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2020 09; 30(9):1331-1339.. View in PubMed
• The rapid adoption of opportunistic salpingectomy at the time of hysterectomy for benign gynecologic disease in the United States. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2020 11; 223(5):721.e1-721.e18.. View in PubMed
• Hidden in plain sight: the overstated benefits and underestimated losses of potential implantations associated with advertised PGT-A success rates. Hum Reprod. 2020 03 27; 35(3):490-493.. View in PubMed
• Conservative surgery for ovarian torsion in young women: perioperative complications and national trends. BJOG. 2020 Jul; 127(8):957-965.. View in PubMed
• Introduction: Frozen 2: an update on cryopreserved embryo transfer in the era of vitrification. Fertil Steril. 2020 02; 113(2):239-240.. View in PubMed
• Progestin therapy for obese women with complex atypical hyperplasia: levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device vs systemic therapy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2020 07; 223(1):103.e1-103.e13.. View in PubMed
• Ovulation rates in a stair-step protocol with Letrozole vs clomiphene citrate in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome. Contracept Reprod Med. 2019; 4:20.. View in PubMed
• Outcome of in vitro fertilization cycles with preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies: let’s be honest with one another. Fertil Steril. 2019 12; 112(6):1013-1014.. View in PubMed
• 25 historic papers: an ASRM 75th birthday gift from Fertility and Sterility. Fertil Steril. 2019 10; 112(4 Suppl1):e2-e27.. View in PubMed
• Reprint of: In vitro fertilization in unstimulated cycles: a new application. Fertil Steril. 2019 10; 112(4 Suppl1):e207-e208.. View in PubMed
• Should women with Turner syndrome be allowed to carry their own pregnancies? Fertil Steril. 2019 08; 112(2):220-225. Söderström-Anttila V, Pinborg A, Karnis MF, Reindollar RH, Paulson RJ . View in PubMed
• Pregnancies in women with Turner Syndrome: how do we counsel our patients? Fertil Steril. 2019 08; 112(2):219. Paulson RJ . View in PubMed
• Mathematics should clarify, not obfuscate: an inaccurate and misleading calculation of the cost-effectiveness of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy. Fertil Steril. 2019 06; 111(6):1113-1114.. View in PubMed
• Patterns of utilization and outcome of ovarian conservation for young women with minimal-risk endometrial cancer. Gynecol Oncol. 2019 07; 154(1):45-52.. View in PubMed
• Introduction: Endometrial receptivity: evaluation, induction and inhibition. Fertil Steril. 2019 04; 111(4):609-610.. View in PubMed

• Matsuo, Koji
• Stanczyk, Frank
• Minguez Alarcon, Lidia
• Mandelbaum, Rachel
• Sriprasert, Intira
• Brown, Hilary