Sarah L. Berga MD
Sarah L. Berga
MD
Professor and Chair
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Specialty/Research Focus
Infertility; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Reproductive Endocrinology
Contact Information
Patient Care
Patient Care
This faculty member is affiliated with UBMD, practicing physicians who are also professors in the Jacobs School.
View this physician on UBMDEducation and Training:
- Fellowship, Reproductive Endocrinology, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine (1986)
- Residency, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Harvard Medical School (1984)
- MD, University of Virginia (1980)
- BA, University of Virginia (1976)
Journal Articles:
- Vijapur SM, Yang Z, Barton DJ, Vaughan L, Awan N, Kumar RG, Oh BM, Berga SL, Wang KK, Wagner AK. (2020) Anti-Pituitary and Anti-Hypothalamus Autoantibody Associations with Inflammation and Persistent Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism in Men with Traumatic Brain Injury. J Neurotrauma (Apr).
- Yu J, Berga SL, Zou W, Taylor RN. (2019) Interleukin-1β inhibits estrogen receptor-α, progesterone receptors A and B and biomarkers of human endometrial stromal cell differentiation: implications for endometriosis. Mol Hum Reprod (Oct), 25(10): 625-637.
- Lee JJ, Cook-Wiens G, Johnson BD, Braunstein GD, Berga SL, Stanczyk FZ, Pepine CJ, Bairey Merz CN, Shufelt CL. (2019) Age at Menarche and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes: Findings From the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute-Sponsored Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation. J Am Heart Assoc (Jan), 8(12): 012406-012406.
- Ranganathan P, Kumar RG, Oh BM, Rakholia MV, Berga SL, Wagner AK. (2019) Estradiol to Androstenedione Ratios Moderate the Relationship between Neurological Injury Severity and Mortality Risk after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury. J Neurotrauma (Jan), 36(4): 538-547.
- Rakholia MV, Kumar RG, Oh BM, Ranganathan PR, Berga SL, Kochanek PM, Wagner AK. (2019) Systemic Estrone Production and Injury-Induced Sex Hormone Steroidogenesis after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Prognostic Indicator of Traumatic Brain Injury-Related Mortality. J Neurotrauma (Jan), 36(7): 1156-1167.
- Yu J, Francisco AMC, Patel BG, Cline JM, Zou E, Berga SL, Taylor RN. (2018) IL-1β Stimulates Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Production in Eutopic Endometriosis Stromal Cell Cultures: A Model for Cytokine Regulation of Neuroangiogenesis. Am J Pathol (Oct), 188(10): 2281-2292.
- Beal SJ, Dorn LD, Berga SL. (2018) Examining the Validity of Self-reported Primary and Secondary Exposure to Cigarette Smoke in Adolescent Girls: The Utility of Salivary Cotinine as a Biomarker. Subst Use Misuse (Jan), 53(5): 792-799.
- Sanders KM, Kawwass JF, Loucks T, Berga SL. (2018) Heightened cortisol response to exercise challenge in women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea. Am J Obstet Gynecol (Jan), 218(2): 230-230.
- Yu J, Berga SL, Zou W, Yook DG, Pan JC, Andrade AA, Zhao L, Sidell N, Bagchi IC, Bagchi MK, Taylor RN. (2017) IL-1β Inhibits Connexin 43 and Disrupts Decidualization of Human Endometrial Stromal Cells Through ERK1/2 and p38 MAP Kinase. Endocrinology (Dec), 158(12): 4270-4285.
- Kawwass JF, Sanders KM, Loucks TL, Rohan LC, Berga SL. (2017) Increased cerebrospinal fluid levels of GABA, testosterone and estradiol in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Hum Reprod (Jan), 32(7): 1450-1456.
- Thurston RC, Johnson BD, Shufelt CL, Braunstein GD, Berga SL, Stanczyk FZ, Pepine CJ, Bittner V, Reis SE, Thompson DV, Kelsey SF, Sopko G, Bairey Merz CN. (2017) Menopausal symptoms and cardiovascular disease mortality in the Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE). Menopause (Jan), 24(2): 126-132.
- Prokai D, Berga SL. (2016) Neuroprotection via Reduction in Stress: Altered Menstrual Patterns as a Marker for Stress and Implications for Long-Term Neurologic Health in Women. Int J Mol Sci (Dec), 17(12).
- Barton DJ, Kumar RG, McCullough EH, Galang G, Arenth PM, Berga SL, Wagner AK. (2016) Persistent Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism in Men After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: Temporal Hormone Profiles and Outcome Prediction. J Head Trauma Rehabil (Jul), 31(4): 277-287.
- Ouyang P, Wenger NK, Taylor D, Rich-Edwards JW, Steiner M, Shaw LJ, Berga SL, Miller VM, Merz NB. (2016) Strategies and methods to study female-specific cardiovascular health and disease: a guide for clinical scientists. Biol Sex Differ (Mar), 7: 19-19.
- Ranganathan P, Kumar RG, Davis K, McCullough EH, Berga SL, Wagner AK. (2016) Longitudinal sex and stress hormone profiles among reproductive age and post-menopausal women after severe TBI: A case series analysis. Brain Inj (Mar), 30(4): 452-461.
- Yu J, Berga SL, Johnston-MacAnanny EB, Sidell N, Bagchi IC, Bagchi MK, Taylor RN. (2016) Endometrial Stromal Decidualization Responds Reversibly to Hormone Stimulation and Withdrawal. Endocrinology (Jan), 157(6): 2432-2446.
- Bender CM, Merriman JD, Gentry AL, Ahrendt GM, Berga SL, Brufsky AM, Casillo FE, Dailey MM, Erickson KI, Kratofil FM, McAuliffe PF, Rosenzweig MQ, Ryan CM, Sereika SM. (2015) Patterns of change in cognitive function with anastrozole therapy. Cancer (Aug), 121(15): 2627-2636.
- Yu J, Berga SL, Zou W, Sun HY, Johnston-MacAnanny E, Yalcinkaya T, Sidell N, Bagchi IC, Bagchi MK, Taylor RN. (2014) Gap junction blockade induces apoptosis in human endometrial stromal cells. Mol Reprod Dev (Jul), 81(7): 666-675.
- Santarsieri M, Niyonkuru C, McCullough EH, Dobos JA, Dixon CE, Berga SL, Wagner AK. (2014) Cerebrospinal fluid cortisol and progesterone profiles and outcomes prognostication after severe traumatic brain injury. J Neurotrauma (Apr), 31(8): 699-712.
- Michopoulos V, Embree M, Reding K, Sanchez MM, Toufexis D, Votaw JR, Voll RJ, Goodman MM, Rivier J, Wilson ME, Berga SL. (2013) CRH receptor antagonism reverses the effect of social subordination upon central GABAA receptor binding in estradiol-treated ovariectomized female rhesus monkeys. Neuroscience (Oct), 250: 300-308.
- Stephens SM, Pau FK, Yalcinkaya TM, May MC, Berga SL, Post MD, Appt SE, Polotsky AJ. (2013) Assessing the pulsatility of luteinizing hormone in female vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus). Comp Med (Oct), 63(5): 432-438.
- Berga SL. (2013) Profile of ospemifene in the breast. Reprod Sci (Oct), 20(10): 1130-1136.
- Bender CM, Sereika SM, Ryan CM, Brufsky AM, Puhalla S, Berga SL. (2013) Does lifetime exposure to hormones predict pretreatment cognitive function in women before adjuvant therapy for breast cancer?. Menopause (Sep), 20(9): 922-929.
- Michopoulos V, Mancini F, Loucks TL, Berga SL. (2013) Neuroendocrine recovery initiated by cognitive behavioral therapy in women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea: a randomized, controlled trial. Fertil Steril (Jun), 99(7): 2084-2091.
- Stuart JJ, Bairey Merz CN, Berga SL, Miller VM, Ouyang P, Shufelt CL, Steiner M, Wenger NK, Rich-Edwards JW. (2013) Maternal recall of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy: a systematic review. J Womens Health (Larchmt) (Jan), 22(1): 37-47.
- Wagner AK, Brett CA, McCullough EH, Niyonkuru C, Loucks TL, Dixon CE, Ricker J, Arenth P, Berga SL. (2012) Persistent hypogonadism influences estradiol synthesis, cognition and outcome in males after severe TBI. Brain Inj (May), 26(10): 1226-1242.
- Moses-Kolko EL, Price JC, Wisner KL, Hanusa BH, Meltzer CC, Berga SL, Grace AA, di Scalea TL, Kaye WH, Becker C, Drevets WC. (2012) Postpartum and depression status are associated with lower [[¹¹C]raclopride BP(ND) in reproductive-age women. Neuropsychopharmacology (May), 37(6): 1422-1432.
- Hillman JB, Dorn LD, Loucks TL, Berga SL. (2012) Obesity and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in adolescent girls. Metabolism (Mar), 61(3): 341-348.
- Menon R, Yu J, Basanta-Henry P, Brou L, Berga SL, Fortunato SJ, Taylor RN. (2012) Short fetal leukocyte telomere length and preterm prelabor rupture of the membranes. PLoS One (Feb), 7(2): 31136-31136.
- Tissot A, Dorn LD, Rotenstein D, Rose SR, Sontag-Padilla LM, Jillard CL, Witchel SF, Berga SL, Loucks TL, Beers SR. (2012) Neuropsychological functioning in girls with premature adrenarche. J Int Neuropsychol Soc (Jan), 18(1): 151-156.
- Franks S, Berga SL. (2012) Does PCOS have developmental origins?. Fertil Steril (Jan), 97(1): 2-6.
- Michopoulos V, Berga SL, Wilson ME. (2011) Estradiol and progesterone modify the effects of the serotonin reuptake transporter polymorphism on serotonergic responsivity to citalopram. Exp Clin Psychopharmacol (Dec), 19(6): 401-408.
- Miller VM, Kaplan JR, Schork NJ, Ouyang P, Berga SL, Wenger NK, Shaw LJ, Webb RC, Mallampalli M, Steiner M, Taylor DA, Merz CN, Reckelhoff JF. (2011) Strategies and methods to study sex differences in cardiovascular structure and function: a guide for basic scientists. Biol Sex Differ (Dec), 2: 14-14.
- Mellembakken JR, Berga SL, Kilen M, Tanbo TG, Abyholm T, Fedorcsák P. (2011) Sustained fertility from 22 to 41 years of age in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome. Hum Reprod (Sep), 26(9): 2499-2504.
- Shufelt CL, Johnson BD, Berga SL, Braunstein GD, Reis SE, Bittner V, Yang Y, Pepine CJ, Sharaf BL, Sopko G, Kelsey SF, Merz CN. (2011) Timing of hormone therapy, type of menopause, and coronary disease in women: data from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-sponsored Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation. Menopause (Sep), 18(9): 943-950.
- Fisher PM, Price JC, Meltzer CC, Moses-Kolko EL, Becker C, Berga SL, Hariri AR. (2011) Medial prefrontal cortex serotonin 1A and 2A receptor binding interacts to predict threat-related amygdala reactivity. Biol Mood Anxiety Disord (Sep), 1(1): 2-2.
- Fauser BC, Laven JS, Tarlatzis BC, Moley KH, Critchley HO, Taylor RN, Berga SL, Mermelstein PG, Devroey P, Gianaroli L, D'Hooghe T, Vercellini P, Hummelshoj L, Rubin S, Goverde AJ, De Leo V, Petraglia F. (2011) Sex steroid hormones and reproductive disorders: impact on women's health. Reprod Sci (Aug), 18(8): 702-712.
- Wagner AK, McCullough EH, Niyonkuru C, Ozawa H, Loucks TL, Dobos JA, Brett CA, Santarsieri M, Dixon CE, Berga SL, Fabio A. (2011) Acute serum hormone levels: characterization and prognosis after severe traumatic brain injury. J Neurotrauma (Jun), 28(6): 871-888.
- Kaplan JR, Chen H, Appt SE, Lees CJ, Franke AA, Berga SL, Wilson ME, Manuck SB, Clarkson TB. (2010) Impairment of ovarian function and associated health-related abnormalities are attributable to low social status in premenopausal monkeys and not mitigated by a high-isoflavone soy diet. Hum Reprod (Dec), 25(12): 3083-3094.
- Michopoulos V, Loucks T, Berga SL, Rivier J, Wilson ME. (2010) Increased ghrelin sensitivity and calorie consumption in subordinate monkeys is affected by short-term astressin B administration. Endocrine (Oct), 38(2): 227-234.
- Pauli SA, Berga SL. (2010) Athletic amenorrhea: energy deficit or psychogenic challenge?. Ann N Y Acad Sci (Sep), 1205: 33-38.
- Johnson BD, Dwyer KM, Stanczyk FZ, Bittner V, Berga SL, Braunstein GD, Azziz R, Yang Y, Hale GE, Bairey Merz CN. (2010) The relationship of menopausal status and rapid menopausal transition with carotid intima-media thickness progression in women: a report from the Los Angeles Atherosclerosis Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metab (Sep), 95(9): 4432-4440.
- Nappi RE, Berga SL. (2010) Migraine and reproductive life. Handb Clin Neurol (Jan), 97: 303-322.
- Michopoulos V, Berga SL, Kaplan JR, Wilson ME. (2009) Social subordination and polymorphisms in the gene encoding the serotonin transporter enhance estradiol inhibition of luteinizing hormone secretion in female rhesus monkeys. Biol Reprod (Dec), 81(6): 1154-1163.
- Fisher PM, Meltzer CC, Price JC, Coleman RL, Ziolko SK, Becker C, Moses-Kolko EL, Berga SL, Hariri AR. (2009) Medial prefrontal cortex 5-HT(2A) density is correlated with amygdala reactivity, response habituation, and functional coupling. Cereb Cortex (Nov), 19(11): 2499-2507.
- Merz CN, Johnson BD, Berga SL, Braunstein GD, Azziz R, Yang Y, Reis SE, Bittner V, Hodgson TK, Pepine CJ, Sharaf BL, Sopko G, Kelsey SF. (2009) Total estrogen time and obstructive coronary disease in women: insights from the NHLBI-sponsored Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE). J Womens Health (Larchmt) (Sep), 18(9): 1315-1322.
- Moses-Kolko EL, Berga SL, Kalro B, Sit DK, Wisner KL. (2009) Transdermal estradiol for postpartum depression: a promising treatment option. Clin Obstet Gynecol (Sep), 52(3): 516-529.
- Pauli SA, Berga SL, Shang W, Session DR. (2009) Current status of the approach to assisted reproduction. Pediatr Clin North Am (Jun), 56(3): 467-488.
- Loucks TL, Berga SL. (2009) Does postmenopausal estrogen use confer neuroprotection?. Semin Reprod Med (May), 27(3): 260-274.
- Braunstein GD, Johnson BD, Stanczyk FZ, Bittner V, Berga SL, Shaw L, Hodgson TK, Paul-Labrador M, Azziz R, Merz CN. (2008) Relations between endogenous androgens and estrogens in postmenopausal women with suspected ischemic heart disease. J Clin Endocrinol Metab (Nov), 93(11): 4268-4275.
- Ahmed B, Bairey Merz CN, Johnson BD, Bittner V, Berga SL, Braunstein GD, Hodgson TK, Smith K, Shaw L, Kelsey SF, Sopko G. (2008) Diabetes mellitus, hypothalamic hypoestrogenemia, and coronary artery disease in premenopausal women (from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute sponsored WISE study). Am J Cardiol (Jul), 102(2): 150-154.
- Dorn LD, Rose SR, Rotenstein D, Susman EJ, Huang B, Loucks TL, Berga SL. (2008) Differences in endocrine parameters and psychopathology in girls with premature adrenarche versus on-time adrenarche. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab (May), 21(5): 439-448.
- Moses-Kolko EL, Wisner KL, Price JC, Berga SL, Drevets WC, Hanusa BH, Loucks TL, Meltzer CC. (2008) Serotonin 1A receptor reductions in postpartum depression: a positron emission tomography study. Fertil Steril (Mar), 89(3): 685-692.
- Scheier MF, Helgeson VS, Schulz R, Colvin S, Berga SL, Knapp J, Gerszten K. (2007) Moderators of interventions designed to enhance physical and psychological functioning among younger women with early-stage breast cancer. J Clin Oncol (Dec), 25(36): 5710-5714.
- Bender CM, Sereika SM, Brufsky AM, Ryan CM, Vogel VG, Rastogi P, Cohen SM, Casillo FE, Berga SL. (2007) Memory impairments with adjuvant anastrozole versus tamoxifen in women with early-stage breast cancer. Menopause (Nov), 14(6): 995-998.
- Wieser F, Cohen M, Gaeddert A, Yu J, Burks-Wicks C, Berga SL, Taylor RN. (2007) Evolution of medical treatment for endometriosis: back to the roots?. Hum Reprod Update (Sep), 13(5): 487-499.
- Abt JP, Sell TC, Laudner KG, McCrory JL, Loucks TL, Berga SL, Lephart SM. (2007) Neuromuscular and biomechanical characteristics do not vary across the menstrual cycle. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc (Jul), 15(7): 901-907.
- Jain A, Polotsky AJ, Rochester D, Berga SL, Loucks T, Zeitlian G, Gibbs K, Polotsky HN, Feng S, Isaac B, Santoro N. (2007) Pulsatile luteinizing hormone amplitude and progesterone metabolite excretion are reduced in obese women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab (Jul), 92(7): 2468-2473.
- Williams NI, Berga SL, Cameron JL. (2007) Synergism between psychosocial and metabolic stressors: impact on reproductive function in cynomolgus monkeys. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab (Jul), 293(1): 270-276.
- Hoffman JB, Kaplan JR, Kinkead B, Berga SL, Wilson ME. (2007) Metabolic and reproductive consequences of the serotonin transporter promoter polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) in adult female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Endocrine (Apr), 31(2): 202-211.
- Berga SL, Loucks TL. (2006) Use of cognitive behavior therapy for functional hypothalamic amenorrhea. Ann N Y Acad Sci (Dec), 1092: 114-129.
- Fisher PM, Meltzer CC, Ziolko SK, Price JC, Moses-Kolko EL, Berga SL, Hariri AR. (2006) Capacity for 5-HT1A-mediated autoregulation predicts amygdala reactivity. Nat Neurosci (Nov), 9(11): 1362-1363.