Meet Dr. Bahar Yilmaz
Bahar D. Yilmaz, M.D., joins Reproductive Science Center of the San Francisco Bay Area (RSC), following the completion of her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of California, San Francisco. She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University’s McGaw Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Dr. Yilmaz’s clinical interests center on uterine health, including endometriosis, adenomyosis, pregnancy loss, artificial intelligence in medicine, fertility preservation, and personalized medicine. Her research has examined endometrial receptivity, chronic endometritis, and the environmental factors associated with early pregnancy loss, with findings published in journals including the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics and Cell Reports Medicine. She was recognized with the American Society for Reproductive Medicine’s Endometriosis Special Interest Group Prize Paper Award and a Pacific Coast Reproductive Society Research Grant, both in 2025.
In her approach to care, Dr. Yilmaz slows down to listen first, taking time to understand where each patient stands emotionally as well as medically. She works to make sure every patient feels heard, supported, and confident in the plan ahead, bringing evidence-based, whole-person care to patients across San Mateo and Menlo Park.
Read More- Residency: Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital
- Fellowship: Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California
- Harvard Medical School Award for Outstanding Teaching in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2017, 2019 and 2020
- Merit Scholarship from Pacific Coast Reproductive Society in 2018 and 2019
- Dean’s Research Scholarship from Keck School of Medicine of USC 2022
- Agarwal R, Winer S, Ho JR, McGinnis LK, Stanzyck F. Prevalence of endometrial hyperplasia and cancer in women with PCOS: a cross-sectional analysis. [Manuscript in preparation]. 2023.
- Place TL, Agarwal R, Najafzadeh P, Walia S, McGinnis LK, Kohli P, Felix JC, Paulson RJ. Consistency of ERA and histologic dating of spatially distinct endometrial samplings: a prospective, blinded study. Fertility and Sterility Reports. 2023.
- Violette C, Agarwal R, Mandelbaum R, Gonzalez J, Hong K, Roman L, Wright J, Paulson RJ, Matsuo K. Potential role of GLP-1 agonist targeting in fertility-sparing treatment in obese patients with endometrial pathology: a call for research. Expert Review of Anticancer Therapy. 2023.
- Awadalla MS, Agarwal R, Ho JR, McGinnis LK, Ahmady AA. Effect of trophectoderm biopsy for PGT-A on live birth rate in good prognosis patients. Reprod Biomed Online. 2022.
- Bakkensen JB, Agarwal R, Shapiro M. Recent advances and current perspectives on endometrial receptivity. Curr Obstet Gynecol Rep. 2021.
- Residency: Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University, McGaw Medical Center, Chicago, IL
- Fellowship: Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of California, San Francisco, CA
- Ji X, Yilmaz BD, Edwards J, Nagasuri A, Bukhari SH, Oskotsky T, Cakmak H, Huang D, Cedars MI, Howell B, Wang M, Park JS, Sirota M, Rajkovic A, Abrahamsson D.
A case–control design of environmental exposures and metabolic alterations in early pregnancy loss using non-targeted analysis. Environmental Chemistry and
Ecotoxicology. 2026;8:2018-2033. doi:10.1016/j.enceco.2026.04.004. - Schwartz KM, Yilmaz BD, Chan M, Cedars MI, Cakmak H, Huang D. Endometrial aging and uterine receptivity: endometrial receptivity analysis outcomes in female
patients of diverse age groups. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics. 2026 Apr;43(4):1169-1177. doi:10.1007/s10815-026-03824-2. Epub 2026 Feb 9. - Yin O, Almonte-Loya A, Appierdo R, Yang M, Yilmaz BD, Oskotsky TT, Gonzalez-Velez JM, Giudice LC, Afshar Y, Sirota M. Transcriptomic comparison of early-onset
preeclampsia and placenta accreta identifies inverse trophoblast and decidua functions at the maternal-fetal interface. NPJ Women’s Health. 2025;3(1):59.
doi:10.1038/s44294-025-00106-7. Epub 2025 Oct 24. - Yilmaz BD, Schwartz KM, Chan M, Cedars MI, Cakmak H, Huang D. Chronic endometritis and its association with implantation history, BCL6, and ERA in infertility
patients. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics. 2025 Oct;42(10):3303-3310. doi:10.1007/s10815-025-03614-2. Epub 2025 Aug 26. PMID:40856970. - Khan U, Oskotsky TT, Yilmaz BD, Roger J, Gjoni K, Irwin JC, Opoku-Anane J, Elhadad N, Giudice LC, Sirota M. Comorbidity analysis and clustering of endometriosis
patients using electronic health records. Cell Reports Medicine. 2025 Aug 19;6(8):102245. doi:10.1016/j.xcrm.2025.102245. Epub 2025 Jul 31. - Yilmaz BD, Bakkensen J, Yeh C, Muhammad LN, Feinberg EC. Development of a novel calculator to predict gonadotropin dose and oocyte yield in oocyte
cryopreservation cycles. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics. 2025 Jan 7. doi:10.1007/s10815-024-03372-7. PMID:39775731. - Bakkensen JB, Heisler E, Bolten K, Yilmaz BD, Smiley J, Hirshfeld-Cytron JE, Feinberg EC. Validation of prognosis-based in vitro fertilization grant selection criteria.
F&S Reports. 2023;4(3):286-291. doi:10.1016/j.xfre.2023.06.006. - Yildiz S, Bilir E, Yilmaz BD, Bulutay P, Turkgeldi E, Ata B. Painful catamenial vulvar lesions misleading gynecologist. Journal of Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain
Disorders. 2022;22840265211067126. doi:10.1177/22840265211067126. - Kohlmeier A, Sison CA, Yilmaz BD, Coon J, Dyson M, Bulun SE. GATA2 and progesterone receptor interaction in endometrial stromal cells undergoing
decidualization. Endocrinology. 2020;161. doi:10.1210/endocr/bqaa070. - Ruderman R, Yilmaz BD, McQueen D. Treating the couple: how recurrent pregnancy loss impacts the mental health of both partners. Fertility and Sterility.
2020;114. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2020.09.165. - Yilmaz BD, Sison CA, Yildiz S, Miyazaki K, Coon VJ, Yin P, Bulun SE. Genome-wide estrogen receptor-α binding and action in human endometrial stromal cells. F&S
Science. 2020;1:59-66. doi:10.1016/j.xfss.2020.06.0024. - Bulun SE, Yilmaz BD, Sison CA, Miyazaki K, Bernardi L, Liu S, Kohlmeier A, Yin P, Milad M, Wei J. Endometriosis. Endocrine Reviews. 2019;40. doi:10.1210/er.2018-
00242. - Piunti A, Smith E, Morgan M, Ugarenko M, Khaltyan N, Helmin K, Ryan C, Murray D, Rickels R, Yilmaz BD, Rendleman E, Savas J, Singer B, Bulun SE, Shilatifard A.
CATACOMB: an endogenous inducible gene that antagonizes H3K27 methylation activity of Polycomb repressive complex 2 via an H3K27M-like mechanism.
Science Advances. 2019;5:eaax2887. doi:10.1126/sciadv.aax2887. - Yilmaz BD, Bulun SE. Endometriosis and nuclear receptors. Human Reproduction Update. 2019;25(4):473-485. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmz005.
- Miyazaki K, Dyson M, Coon VJ, Furukawa Y, Yilmaz BD, Maruyama T, Bulun SE. Generation of progesterone-responsive endometrial stromal fibroblasts from
human induced pluripotent stem cells: role of the WNT/CTNNB1 pathway. Stem Cell Reports. 2018;11. doi:10.1016/j.stemc
- American Society for Reproductive Medicine Endometriosis Special Interest Group Prize Paper Award (2025)
- Pacific Coast Reproductive Society Research Grant Recipient (2025)
- Institutional National Research Service Award, T32 Fellow (2024)
- UCSF OBGYN Outstanding Resident Teaching Award (2023-2024)
- Recipient of Nezhat Family Foundation Grant for Endometriosis Research (2022)
- Teaching Excellence Award (2020-2022)
- Recipient of Northwestern University EDW/Biostatistical Support Grant (2021)
- Society of Reproductive Investigation Travel Award (2019)
- Koc University School of Medicine Dean’s High Honor Roll (2011-2016)
Outside of his practice, Dr. Harris is a former NCAA scholarship soccer player and proudly embraces his Jamaican heritage. He enjoys staying active and sharing his love for Jamaican cuisine with family and friends, bringing the same warmth and connection to his personal life that he offers his patients.
Dr. Harris is thrilled to be part of the team at the Los Gatos clinic, where he serves the San Francisco Bay Area community with dedication and expertise.
