Portrait of Julianne E. Zweifel
Julianne E. Zweifel, PhD
Clinical Health Psychologist
Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility

Clinic Address

Generations
2365 Deming Way
Middleton, WI, 53562
Phone: 608-824-6160

Dr. Zweifel’s area of expertise is in working with individuals and couples facing reproductive health issues including infertility, high risk pregnancies, multiple gestation, miscarriage and infant death. She developed a private practice in the Madison area in 1994, began consulting with the UW Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2003, and joined the UW Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2005. Her research interests include psychological aspects of egg donation, decision making processes for patients in infertility and the role of stress in infertility.

She plays a vital role in the care available to patients in reproductive medicine. Dr. Zweifel provides supportive and educational consultations to patients facing complex decisions regarding treatment choices and to patients having anxiety, depression or relationship strain as they pursue their dream of having a child. Patients participating in these consultations can expect to find a supportive environment in which to discuss concerns about the impact of their treatment choices for themselves as well as their hoped for children. Patients can also expect to receive helpful advice on managing the stress and emotions that are often a part of their efforts to have a child.

B.S. Psychology University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
M.A. Clinical Psychology Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH
Doctoral Fellowship Clinical Psychology Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH
Clinical Psychology Internship Program Health Psychology University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
Ph.D. Clinical Psychology Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, OH

Licensed in Wisconsin as a Psychologist

American Psychological Association 

National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology 

American Society for Reproductive Medicine

Healthy Women Community Talk: Navigating Your Fertility Journey – April 10, 2023

Starting or growing a family is a deep desire for many people, but the path to parenthood is not always straightforward.

 All are invited to a free, virtual community talk about navigating your fertility journey, presented by the UW Department of Ob-Gyn! Bring your questions about all aspects of fertility to a panel of experts at 6:30pm on April 10, 2023:

  • Generations Fertility Care Director Dr. Bala Bhagavath will discuss physical and medical aspects of fertility care
  • Clinical Psychologist Dr. Julianne Zweifel will talk about common mental and emotional concerns during fertility treatment
  • Panelists at different points of their own fertility journeys will talk about their experiences with expanding their families

Register today for this free event and invite your friends!

Healthy Women Community Talk: Navigating Your Fertility Journey

Starting or growing a family is a deep desire for many people, but the path to parenthood is not always straightforward. 

A panel of experts answered fertility questions during the well-attended virtual community talk "Navigating Your Fertility Journey" on April 10, 2023:  

  • Generations Fertility Care Director Dr. Bala Bhagavath discussed physical and medical aspects of fertility care 
  • Clinical Psychologist Dr. Julianne Zweifel talked about common mental and emotional concerns during fertility treatment 
  • Panelists at different points of their own fertility journeys shared their experiences with expanding their families 

Watch the whole Community Talk now! 

Local family hosts fundraiser for Hope after Loss clinic

In early October, during Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, a local family hosted the fundraiser Cheers to Hope at Octopi Brewing in Waunakee to support the Hope After Loss Clinic!

Kristen Sharp, MD, associate professor in the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn and founder of the Hope After Loss Clinic, and Julianne Zweifel, PhD, clinical assistant professor and psychologist in the Hope After Loss Clinic, were on hand to give short remarks at the fundraiser. Cheers to Hope raised $3,200 for the clinic.

The Hope After Loss Clinic offers a supportive atmosphere for those who have experienced pregnancy loss, working with people who have recently experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or infant loss, or are pregnant or considering pregnancy after a prior loss. The family that hosted the fundraiser also established the Joan M. Gilles Memorial Fund in the department.

Zweifel publishes article in Fertility and Sterility

Julianne Zweifel, PhD, assistant clinical adjunct professor in the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, published a Views and Reviews piece in the journal Fertility and Sterility!

In “The risky business of advanced paternal age: neurodevelopmental and psychosocial implications for children of older fathers”, Zweifel and co-author Julia Woodward, PhD, out of Duke University, review literature investigating the association between advanced paternal age and their children’s mental and behavioral health:

“This analysis revealed that children, and even grandchildren, of older fathers face significantly increased incidence rates of psychiatric disease and behavioral impairment. The data do not show evidence of superior parenting behaviors among men with APA. Finally, children of men with APA are significantly more likely to experience early bereavement, which is associated with psychological and developmental consequences.”

Read the whole article here.

Zweifel shares causes, signs of postpartum depression with CNET

While emotional changes after having a baby are not uncommon, many may not know how to identify the more severe symptoms of postpartum depression.

In an article on CNETJulianne Zweifel, PhD, of the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, outlines the differences between baby blues and postpartum depression, and discusses the factors that can cause PPD:

“Many factors can contribute to depression after childbirth, including social factors like not having a support system, societal pressure to feel a certain way and the way a person's body reacts to hormonal changes.”

Read the rest of “Postpartum depression: What to look for and how to cope” here.

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