Karen Meckstroth, MD, MPH

Clinical Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
Medical Director, UCSF Center for Pregnancy Options

Dr. Meckstroth is Clinical Professor at UCSF, working as a generalist at San Francisco General Hospital and as the Medical Director of the UCSF Center for Pregnancy Options (formally the Women’s Options Center), which provides abortion and miscarriage care for UCSF and other patients.  In addition to general gynecology and obstetrics, she has special academic and research interests in medication abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol, pelvic procedure pain and care for underserved women.

Areas of interest:

    • Mifepristone and misoprostol, medication abortion
    • Pain with pelvic procedures pain control
    • Contraception, particularly progestin-only and IUDs
    • Equity and patient-centered care in gynecology

    Awards

    • UCSF Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences' Exceptional Teaching award for Medical Student Teaching, 2014, 2021
    • UCSF Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences' Outstanding Teaching award for Medical Student Teaching, 2010-2013, 2015-2020
    • UCSF Academy of Medical Educators Excellence in Teaching in Medical Education, 2011
    • Women’s Community Clinic Hysterical Hero, 2016
    • Hellman Family Award for Early Career Faculty, 2007

    Education:

    • University of Chicago, Medical Doctorate
    • University of Southern California LA County Hospital, Residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology
    • University of California, San Francisco, Fellowship in Family Planning Clinical Care and Research
    • University of California, Berkeley, Masters of Public Health in Health Policy and Management

    In the news:

    Publications: 
    1. O03Safety and effectiveness of synchronous and asynchronous telehealth medication abortion provided by us virtual clinics. Contraception. 2022 Dec 1; 116:69-70. Upadhyay UU, Koenig KL, Ko KJ, Valladares VE, Meckstroth MK, Biggs BM. .
      View in: Publisher Site   Mentions:
    2. "No Big Deal": A Qualitative Study of Pharmacists' Perspectives on Dispensing Mifepristone for Medication Abortion. Womens Health Issues. 2022 Nov-Dec; 32(6):571-577. Kaller S, Ma M, Gurazada T, Baba CF, Rafie S, Raine-Bennett T, Averbach S, Chen M, Berry E, Meckstroth KR, Grossman D. PMID: 35918240.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    3. Effect of Paracervical Block Volume on Pain Control for Dilation and Aspiration: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2022 08 01; 140(2):234-242. Crouthamel B, Economou N, Averbach S, Rible R, Kully G, Meckstroth K, Mody SK. PMID: 35852274.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    4. Safety and Efficacy of Telehealth Medication Abortions in the US During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Netw Open. 2021 08 02; 4(8):e2122320. Upadhyay UD, Koenig LR, Meckstroth KR. PMID: 34427682; PMCID: PMC8385590.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 9     Fields:    Translation:HumansCellsPHPublic Health
    5. Pharmacists' knowledge, perspectives, and experiences with mifepristone dispensing for medication abortion. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2021 Nov-Dec; 61(6):785-794.e1. Kaller S, Morris N, Biggs MA, Baba CF, Rafie S, Raine-Bennett TR, Creinin MD, Berry E, Micks EA, Meckstroth KR, Averbach S, Grossman D. PMID: 34281806.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    6. Medication Abortion With Pharmacist Dispensing of Mifepristone. Obstet Gynecol. 2021 04 01; 137(4):613-622. Grossman D, Baba CF, Kaller S, Biggs MA, Raifman S, Gurazada T, Rafie S, Averbach S, Meckstroth KR, Micks EA, Berry E, Raine-Bennett TR, Creinin MD. PMID: 33706339; PMCID: PMC7984759.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    7. Pharmacists’ knowledge of medication abortion and attitudes towards mifepristone dispensing at the pharmacy. Contraception. 2019 May 1; 99(5):317. Raifman RS, Kaller KS, Baba BC, Averbach AS, Creinin C, Meckstroth MK, Rafie RS, Raine-Bennett RT, Grossman GD. .
      View in: Publisher Site   Mentions:
    8. Distance Traveled for an Abortion and Source of Care After Abortion. Obstet Gynecol. 2017 Sep; 130(3):616-624. Upadhyay UD, Johns NE, Meckstroth KR, Kerns JL. PMID: 28816736.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 10     Fields:    
    9. Distance traveled and source of care after abortion: evidence from the California state Medicaid program. Contraception. 2016 Oct 1; 94(4):392. Upadhyay UU, Johns JN, Kerns KJ, Meckstroth MK, Foster FD. .
      View in: Publisher Site   Mentions:
    10. Claims of misoprostol use based on blood sampling should be viewed with skepticism. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2014 Nov; 127(2):125-6. Frye LJ, Winikoff B, Meckstroth K. PMID: 25220862.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:Humans
    11. Women's decision making regarding choice of second trimester termination method for pregnancy complications. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2012 Mar; 116(3):244-8. Kerns J, Vanjani R, Freedman L, Meckstroth K, Drey EA, Steinauer J. PMID: 22169044.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 14     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    12. Cervical preparation for second trimester dilation and evacuation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2010 Aug 04; (8):CD007310. Newmann SJ, Dalve-Endres A, Diedrich JT, Steinauer JE, Meckstroth K, Drey EA. PMID: 20687085.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCells
    13. Analgesia/pain management in first trimester surgical abortion. Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Jun; 52(2):160-70. Meckstroth KR, Mishra K. PMID: 19407522.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    14. First-Trimester Aspiration Abortion. Management of Unintended and Abnormal Pregnancy. 2009 Apr 3; 135-156. Meckstroth MK, Paul PM. .
      View in: Publisher Site   Mentions:
    15. Cervical preparation for second trimester surgical abortion. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2008 Jul 16; (3). Newmann NS, Dalve-Endres DA, Diedrich DJ, Drey DE, Meckstroth MK, Steinauer SJ. .
      View in: Publisher Site   Mentions:
    16. Misoprostol administered by epithelial routes: Drug absorption and uterine response. Obstet Gynecol. 2006 Sep; 108(3 Pt 1):582-90. Meckstroth KR, Whitaker AK, Bertisch S, Goldberg AB, Darney PD. PMID: 16946218.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 12     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    17. Physical examination before initiating hormonal contraception: what is necessary? Am Fam Physician. 2006 Jul 01; 74(1):32, 34. Meckstroth KR. PMID: 16848378.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions:    Fields:    Translation:HumansPHPublic Health
    18. Misoprostol compared with laminaria before early second-trimester surgical abortion: a randomized trial. Obstet Gynecol. 2005 Aug; 106(2):234-41. Goldberg AB, Drey EA, Whitaker AK, Kang MS, Meckstroth KR, Darney PD. PMID: 16055570.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:HumansAnimalsCTClinical Trials
    19. Misoprostol in gynecology. Curr Womens Health Rep. 2003 Dec; 3(6):475-83. Goldberg AB, Carusi DA, Meckstroth KR. PMID: 14613669.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4  Translation:Humans
    20. Prostaglandins for first-trimester termination. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2003 Oct; 17(5):745-63. Meckstroth KR, Darney PD. PMID: 12972012.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    21. A Prospective Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial Comparing Mifepristone and Vaginal Misoprostol to Vaginal Misoprostol Alone for Elective Termination of Early Pregnancy. Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey. 2003 Jan 1; 58(1):35-37. Jain JJ, Dutton DC, Harwood HB, Meckstroth MK, Mishell MD. .
      View in: Publisher Site   Mentions:
    22. A prospective randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial comparing mifepristone and vaginal misoprostol to vaginal misoprostol alone for elective termination of early pregnancy. Hum Reprod. 2002 Jun; 17(6):1477-82. Jain JK, Dutton C, Harwood B, Meckstroth KR, Mishell DR. PMID: 12042265.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 15     Fields:    Translation:HumansCTClinical Trials
    23. Implant contraception. Semin Reprod Med. 2001 Dec; 19(4):339-54. Meckstroth KR, Darney PD. PMID: 11727176.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 5     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    24. Serum beta-human chorionic gonadotropin levels and endometrial thickness after medical abortion. Contraception. 2001 May; 63(5):255-6. Harwood B, Meckstroth KR, Mishell DR, Jain JK. PMID: 11448465.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    25. Early pregnancy termination with vaginal misoprostol combined with loperamide and acetaminophen prophylaxis. Contraception. 2001 Apr; 63(4):217-21. Jain JK, Harwood B, Meckstroth KR, Mishell DR. PMID: 11376649.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 1     Fields:    Translation:HumansCTClinical Trials
    26. Implantable contraception. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2000 Dec; 27(4):781-815. Meckstroth KR, Darney PD. PMID: 11091988.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 2     Fields:    Translation:Humans
    27. 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. Jain JK, Meckstroth KR, Mishell DR. PMID: 10601917.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 3     Fields:    Translation:HumansCTClinical Trials
    28. A comparison of tamoxifen and misoprostol to misoprostol alone for early pregnancy termination. Contraception. 1999 Dec; 60(6):353-6. Jain JK, Meckstroth KR, Park M, Mishell DR. PMID: 10715370.
      View in: PubMed   Mentions: 4     Fields:    Translation:HumansCTClinical Trials
    Tags: 
    Contraception
    Abortion