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Karen Meckstroth, MD, MPH
Karen Meckstroth, MD, MPH

Clinical Professor
Medical Director, Women's Options Center-Mt. Zion
Consulting Medical Director, Women's Community Clinic

[email protected]

If you are a patient, please do not contact a physician by email without his/her prior expressed consent due to confidentiality concerns.

Contact Information
Mailing Address: 1001 Potrero Ave, 6D-19
San Francisco, CA 94110
Academic Phone: (628) 206-8713
Academic Fax: (628) 206-3112
Clinical Specialties

General Obstetrics & Gynecology; Contraception; Early and mid-trimester pregnancy management (miscarriage and abortion).

Research/Clinical Interests:

Pain with office gyn procedures, Contraception, Abortion, Misoprostol in gynecology, Medical abortion, Abortion training

Education/Training
Year Institution & Location Degree Field of Study
1995 University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine MD Medicine
1995-1999 University of Southern California, LA County Women's & Children's Hospital Residency Ob/Gyn
1999-2001 University of California, San Francisco Fellowship Family Planning Clinical Care & Research
2000-2001 University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health MPH Health Policy & Management
Achievements & Recognition
Year Major Honors
2006 Outstanding Guest Teacher Award, Obstetrics & Gynecology residents, Kaiser Permanente-San Francisco
2007 Hellman Family Award for Early Career Faculty, University of California, San Francisco
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Outstanding Faculty Award in Medical Student Teaching, UCSF Dept of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
2011 Excellence in Teaching in Medical Education, UCSF Academy of Medical Educators
2014 Exceptional Faculty Award in Medical Student Teaching, UCSF Dept of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences

Selected Publications

Frye LJ, Winikoff B, Meckstroth K. Claims of misoprostol use based on blood sampling should be viewed with skepticism. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2014 Nov; 127(2):125-6. PMID: 25220862

Dunn JT, Mraz J, Cassard Schultz E, Drey EA, Meckstroth KR. Abortion in California: A Medical-Legal Handbook. Lulu Publishing, 2012

Meckstroth KR, Paul M. First trimester aspiration abortion. Management of Unintended and Abnormal Pregnancy: Comprehensive Abortion Care. Wiley. Oxford, UK 2009

Meckstroth KR, Mishra K. Analgesia/pain management in first trimester surgical abortion. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Jun; 52(2):160-70. PMID: 19407522

Meckstroth KR, Whitaker AK, Bertisch S, Goldberg AB, Darney PD. Misoprostol administered by epithelial routes: Drug absorption and uterine response. Obstet Gynecol. 2006 Sep; 108(3 Pt 1):582-90. PMID: 16946218

Meckstroth KR. Physical examination before initiating hormonal contraception: what is necessary? Am Fam Physician. 2006 Jul 1; 74(1):32, 34. PMID: 16848378

Goldberg AB, Carusi DA, Meckstroth KR. Misoprostol in gynecology. Curr Womens Health Rep. 2003 Dec; 3(6):475-83. PMID: 14613669

Meckstroth KR, Darney PD. Prostaglandins for first-trimester termination. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2003 Oct; 17(5):745-63. PMID: 12972012

Meckstroth KR, Darney PD. Implant contraception. Semin Reprod Med. 2001 Dec; 19(4):339-54. PMID: 1172717

Jain JK, Meckstroth KR, Mishell DR. Early pregnancy termination with intravaginally administered sodium chloride solution-moistened misoprostol tablets: historical comparison with mifepristone and oral misoprostol. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1999 Dec; 181(6):1386-91. PMID: 10601917