Natalia C. Llarena, MD, FACOG

Areas of Interest & Research

• Male and Female Infertility
• Restorative surgery
• Fertility Preservation

Education and Training

• Jul 2019 – Jul 2022
  Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH
  Fellowship, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
• Jul 2015 – Jun 2019
  Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH
  Residency, Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Aug 2011 – May 2015
  Northwestern Univ. Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
  M.D. (Distinction in Research)
• Sep 2006 – Jun 2010
  Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
  B.A. in Human Biology (Honors)

Positions

• 2018 – 2022
  Clinical Instructor of Surgery
  Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
  Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
  Appointed by the Case Western Reserve School of Medicine for the mentorship and teaching of medical students.
• 2018 – 2019
  Administrative Chief Resident
  Cleveland Clinic Foundation
  Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
  Elected by co-residents and faculty to serve as a resident advocate, mentor, and liaison with program administration.
• 2010 – 2011
  Research Health Science Specialist
  VA Women’s Health Practice-Based Research Network;
  VA Palo Alto Healthcare System
  PI: Susan M. Frayne, MD, MPH
  Participated in the design and execution of health services research projects to improve healthcare outcomes for women
  veterans.

Hospital Affiliations

Coming Soon!

Professional Organizations

• Fellow of The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
• American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and infertility
• American Society for Reproductive Medicine
• American Medical Association

Honors and Recognition

• 2021:  Excellence in Teaching, Awarded by the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine for excellence in medical student teaching.
• 2019: ASRM Video Abstract Award, 2nd Place, Awarded to a video abstract at the 2019 American Society for Reproductive Medicine conference. Philadelphia, PA.
• 2018: Tommaso Falcone Award for Excellence in REI, Awarded to the resident who demonstrates a commitment to promoting excellence in reproductive health while incorporating exceptional professionalism. Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
• 2018: Research Program Committee Grant, Awarded $13,384 by the Cleveland Clinic to pursue endometriosis research. Cleveland, OH
• 2018: Caregiver Awards (Feb and March, 2018), Awarded for providing exceptional patient care, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
• 2014:  Global Health Initiative Scholarship, Awarded funding to pursue clinical work related to infectious disease in Cape Town, South Africa. Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
• 2012: Cancer Prevention and Control Travel Scholarship, Awarded funding to present original research at a national conference. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
• 2011: Lizzie Walser Oliphant, MD Student Scholar 50% medical school tuition scholarship. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
• 2011: Medical Student Summer Research Program Grant, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
• 2009:  Vice Provost of University Education Major Grant, Awarded $5200 to undertake an intellectually rigorous research project. Stanford University, Stanford, CA
• 2008: Haas Center African Service Grant, Granted $2500 to undertake a service-learning project in Accra, Ghana. Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
• 2006: National Merit Scholarship

Publications

1. Llarena NC, Krivanek K, Yao M, Kim DD, Devarajan J, Ayad S, Chiang E. A multimodal approach to reducing post-caesarean
   opioid use: a quality improvement initiative. BJOG. 2022 Jan 11
2. Llarena NC, Hur CE, Yao M, Schwartz K, Falcone T, Desai N. The impact of endometriosis on embryo morphokinetics:
   embryos from endometriosis patients exhibit delayed cell cycle milestones and decreased blastulation rates. J Assist Reprod
   Genet. 2022 Jan 31.
3. Franasiak JM, Alecsandru D, Forman EJ, Gemmell, LC, Goldberg JM, Llarena N, Margolis C, Laven J, Schoenmakers S, Seli
   E. A review of the pathophysiology of recurrent implantation failure. Fertil Steril. 2021 Dec;116(6):1436-1448.
4. Henderson YO, Bithi N, Link C, Yang J, Schugar R, Llarena N, Brown JM, Hine C. Late-life intermittent fasting decreases
   aging-related frailty and increases hydrogen sulfide production in a sexually dimorphic manner. Geroscience. Mar 2021.
5. Llarena NC, Richards EG, Flyckt RL. Characterizing the endometrial fluid cytokine profile in women with endometriosis.
   Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics. Dec 2020.
6. Llarena N & Hine C. Reproductive longevity and aging: geroscience approaches to maintain long-term ovarian fitness. J
   Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. Aug 2020.
7. Hur C, Llarena N, Flyckt R, Falcone T. Fertility preserving surgery for benign gynecologic disease. Clin Med Insights Reprod
   Health. 2020 In press.
8. Schwartz K, Llarena NC, Rehmer JM, Richards EG, Falcone T. The role of pharmacotherapy in the treatment of
   endometriosis across the lifespan. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2020 Mar 12:1-11.
9. Llarena N, Falcone T. Does hysterectomy result in better quality of life than myomectomy? Fertil Steril. Mar 2020; 113(3): 549-
   550.
10. Llarena NC, Falcone T, Flyckt RL. Fertility preservation in women with endometriosis. Clin Med Insights Reprod Health. Sep
    2019.
11. Llarena NC, Shah AB, Biscotti CB, Falcone T and Uy-Kroh MJ. Histologic characteristics of ovarian injury in a porcine model:
    a comparison of four energy sources. Clinical and Experimental Obstetrics and Gynecology. Jan 2019.
12. Hickman LC, Llarena NC, Valentine LN, Liu X, Falcone T. Preservation of gonadal function in women undergoing
    chemotherapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the potential role for gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists. J
    Assist Reprod Genet. 2018 Feb 22.
13. Llarena NC & Flyckt RL. Strategies to preserve and optimize fertility for patients with endometriosis. Journal of Endometriosis
    and Pelvic Pain Disorders. 2017.
14. Kim S, Luu TH, Llarena N, Falcone T. Role of robotic surgery in treating fibroids and benign uterine mass. Clinical Obstetrics &
    Gynecology. 2017.
15. Vu JV, Llarena NC, Estevez SL, Moravek MB, Jeruss JS. Oncofertility program implementation increases access to fertility
    preservation options and assisted reproductive procedures for breast cancer patients. J Surg Oncol. 2017 Feb; 115(2): 116-
    121.
16. Llarena NC, Estevez SL, Tucker SL, and Jeruss JS. Impact of fertility concerns on tamoxifen initiation and persistence.
    Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 2015 Aug 25; 107 (10).
17. Llarena NC, Shah AB, and Milad MP. Bowel injury in gynecologic laparoscopy: a systematic review. Obstetrics and
    Gynecology. 2015 Jun; 125(6); 1407-17.
18. Shah AB, Dangle PP, Llarena NC, Gundeti MS. Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Pyeloplasty in the Infant: Critical Steps for
    Successful Completion. Journal of Endourology Part B, Videourology. First published January 2013. doi:
    10.1089/vid.2013.0016

Book Chapters

1. Hine C, Yang J, Zhang A, Llarena N, Link C. H2S supplementation and augmentation: approaches for healthy aging. In:
   Hydrogen Sulfide: Chemical Biology Basics, Detection Methods, Therapeutic Applications, and Case Studies (Wiley Series in
   Drug Discovery and Development); 2022.
2. Rangi S, Llarena NC, Falcone T. Surgical Treatment of Endometriomas: Impact on Ovarian Reserve. In: Endometriosis-
   Related Infertility: A Comprehensive Guide. Springer Nature. In press.
3. Rehmer JM, Llarena NC, Hur CE, Goldberg J. Hydrosalpinges: Repair or Excise? In: Reproductive Surgery. Spring
   Vancouver. In press.
4. Rehmer JM, Llarena NC, Richards EG, Flyckt R. Uterine transplantation. In: Operative Techniques in Obstetric Surgery.
   Wolters Kluwer Health: Medical Practice. In press.
5. Llarena NC, Kollikonda S, Falcone T, Flyckt RL. Managing the infertility patient with endometriosis. In: Grynberg M and
   Patrizio P, editors. Female and Male Feritlity Preservation. Springer. In press.
6. Goldberg JM, Gingold J, Llarena N. Anatomic Abnormalities and Recurrent Implantation Failure. In: Franasiak JM and Scott
   RT, editors. Recurrent Implantation Failure. Springer Link; 2017; p153-174.
7. Llarena NC, Walters MD, Uy-Kroh MJ. Vestibulectomy and hymenectomy surgery. In: F Tommaso, MJ Uy-Kroh, L Bradley,
   JS Berek editors. Operative Techniques in Gynecologic Surgery. Lippincot Williams and Wilkins; Feb 2017.
8. Llarena NC and Jeruss JS. Fertility communication to high-risk patients. In: Woodruff TK, Clayman ML, Waimey KE editor.
   Oncofertility communications: sharing information and building relationships across disciplines: Springer; 2014. p. 61-72.