Women’s Health Guide

Women experience unique healthcare challenges throughout life due to age, reproduction, stress, environment, and much more.  Not only are women living longer, they can also enjoy better quality of life into old age. This is only possible, however, if women take charge of their own bodies and understand how they can maximize their personal health and wellness.

A women’s health does not refer only to her physical condition but also to her total wellbeing.  Because of the many roles women play, they too often are focused on caring for their spouse or children, while neglecting their own needs. Therefore, it is imperative that women take the time to maintain good health for themselves as well. There are so many different types of providers who help women like you with a variety of services that are vital to living your best life.

That is why we developed this guide! With helpful descriptions, links to websites, and all of the other necessary contact information right at your fingertips! It is very important to take care of yourself, and we at the San Diego Moms Blog want to help.

Make sure to share it with your friends. And a special thank you to Scripps Health, as well as Best Start Birth Center and San Diego Sexual Medicine, and all of our other practices for making this guide a true resource.

Scripps Health understands that women’s health needs are not only unique, but also change significantly as they move from early adolescence to child-bearing years. Our services include routine gynecological exams, pregnancy and reproductive care, hormone replacement therapy and specialized care for gynecologic cancer or other conditions that may require surgery.

Scripps provides comprehensive prenatal care and personalized health services for every stage of a woman’s life. Our prenatal care includes treatment for high-risk pregnancies in a caring environment where our sole focus is you and your baby. Our providers take a collaborative approach to care, not only partnering with our patients, but also working closely with other specialists, including perinatologists and genetic counselors, when additional high-risk care is required.   Scripps also offers a variety of pregnancy and childbirth classes, including prenatal classes, breastfeeding classes and support groups, as well as parenting and grandparenting classes.

Our comprehensive services include:

• Routine pelvic exams and Pap smears/well-woman care
• Contraception
• Infertility evaluations and treatment
• Vaccinations for human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Evaluation and treatment for abnormal Pap smear
• Treatment of menstrual problems
• Treatment of endometriosis
• Evaluation and treatment of chronic pelvic pain and interstitial cystitis
• Treatment of pelvic floor disorders and urinary incontinence

Please check out the listings below for all our convenient locations, contact information and learn more information about us.

Best Start Birth Center, California’s First Licensed and Nationally Accredited Birth Center offers: Personalized, family-centered Well Woman GYN care, Prenatal, Birth, and Postpartum care from midwives who work together with you, to meet your needs.

Who is a Candidate? Healthy women seeking personalized care, including a team of highly qualified professionals from midwifery, nursing, obstetrics, nutrition, social work, childbirth education, and postpartum support.

Pregnant Women receive a private room for giving birth where you can:
-Make yourself comfortable.
-Wear your own clothing.
-Eat when you feel hungry.
-Soak in a tub or have a WATER BIRTH!
-Best Start welcomes your children, your parents, and your friends so you can decide who will be with you or near you as you give birth.
-Best Start gives you continuing support; holistic pain management; and information on infant care, breastfeeding, parenting, and family planning.
-Laboratory, ultrasounds, and other diagnostic testing.
-Consultation with physicians as necessary.
-Transfer to a hospital if the need should arise.

Call Us For A Free Pregnancy Test!!! Si habla espanol!!!

Insurance and Payment Options:
Private Insurance, All PPOs or POS options, Medi-Cal, (including Medi-Cal HMOs- inquire with office), MCAP, Kaiser Medi-Cal clients, Tricare Prime and Select , AIM through Blue Cross, PCIP (Pre-existing Conditions- Government funded), Multiplan, Family PACT Provider
Best Start also has very reasonable Cash Programs for those who have insurance that does not cover Birth Centers or Midwives. For detailed insurance questions, please email: mail@beststartbirthcenter.com

San Diego Sexual Medicine is the first facility in the United States to exclusively diagnosis and treat sexual dysfunction problems through a multidisciplinary program. Led by world-renowned expert Dr. Irwin Goldstein, San Diego Sexual Medicine provides compassionate, state-of-the-art, evidence-based clinical management of sexual health problems for men and women. Established in 2007, SDSM is a 6,000-square-foot facility with a sex therapist, physical therapist and a full clinical research facility where scientists study male and female sexual dysfunction. Problems with sexual health can impact all aspects of your life—from your medical health to your intimate relationships. We provide female and male sexual medicine clinical and basic science research, patient management and education. San Diego Sexual Medicine specializes in treating all sexual dysfunctions: distressing low sexual desire (HSDD), arousal problems/erectile dysfunction (ED), orgasm/ejaculatory disorders, sexual pain, and penile curvature/Peyronie’s disease. We also manage less common problems such as persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD), post Finasteride syndrome (PFS), post orgasm illness syndrome (POIS), post SSRS-discontinuation sexual dysfunction (PSSD) and sexual anhedonia/pleasure dissociative orgasmic disorder (PDOD).

Dr. Goldstein has been honored for his achievements in the field by the World Association of Sexual Health, the International Society for Sexual Medicine, the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health and the Sexual Medicine Society of North America.

Before deciding whether or not you want to be a patient, speak with Dr. Goldstein for ten minutes on a free, courtesy call. No cost, no obligation. Call 619-265-8865 to schedule your free courtesy call.

IGO Medical Group physicians provide comprehensive women’s healthcare for all phases of a woman’s life. In addition to gynecology, obstetrics, infertility and menopausal care, IGO offers digital mammography, ultrasonography, bone densitometry and clinical laboratory services all in a comfortable private practice setting. Having a baby at IGO Medical Group means that your own obstetrician will see you at almost every visit. With this continuity, we can work together to help you have a great experience and a healthy baby. We are committed to a vaginal delivery whenever possible, but we are also skilled and experienced dealing with high risk pregnancies and complications. We provide seamless care from your first visit through your delivery and beyond. All deliveries and surgeries are done at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla.

Please visit our website for a list of insurance plans we accept and driving directions to our office.

Core Dynamics Physical Therapy and Wellness Inc is a mobile physical therapy clinic focused on helping women prevent and recover from injuries. We specialize in prenatal and postpartum health, pelvic health, post-lumpectomy and mastectomy health, female athlete health with return to sport focus, dancer health, and managing hypermobility. What sets us apart is the individual attention we provide. Our clients get an entire hour 1:1 with an expert physical therapist. We are available early mornings, evenings, and weekends in addition to regular business hours. We come to you, because we know you are busy. In addition to providing physical therapy services, we are well connected in the community with other providers both medical and holistic and will help connect you to other providers who can assist with your complete health. Our goal is to provide simple, efficient, and effective individualized care so you can return to your active lifestyle!

Scripps Clinic offers comprehensive obstetrics and gynecology services at our office near I-5 and Genesee Avenue in La Jolla. Located in the XiMED building on the campus of Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, our physicians care for women of all ages.

• Routine gynecologic care, including pelvic exams, colposcopies and biopsies, and STD screenings
• Birth control and family planning services
• Prenatal, pregnancy and postpartum care, including high-risk pregnancy care
• Infertility testing
• Menopause care
• Gynecologic imaging
• Gynecologic surgery, including minimally invasive and robotic-assisted options for hysterectomy, uterine fibroid removal, pelvic organ prolapse and endometriosis treatment

Our doctors serve many nearby communities, including Clairemont, Del Mar, La Jolla, Mira Mesa and University City.

Scripps Clinic Carmel Valley provides a “one-stop” health care experience for children and adults.

Conveniently located off I-5 and Highway 56, we offer many of the services you need under one roof, including:

• Primary care (pediatrics, family medicine and internal medicine) with evening and Saturday appointments available
• Specialty care (including allergy, cardiology, dermatology, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, pediatric ophthalmology, podiatry and rheumatology)
• Same-day, walk-in care for common illnesses and injuries at Scripps HealthExpress (adults and kids 5+) and Scripps HealthExpress pediatrics (children 3 months to 17 years)
• Ambulatory (outpatient) surgery center
• Mammograms, MRI and other imaging
• Blood tests and labs

Parking is free in the multilevel structure located next to the building.

If you’re waiting for a friend or loved one to undergo a procedure, we’re within walking distance of a coffee shop and several restaurants. You can also take advantage of our free Wi-Fi.

Our doctors serve many of San Diego’s North County communities, including Carmel Mountain, Carmel Valley, Del Mar, Del Mar Heights, Del Mar Mesa, Del Sur, East Del Mar, Pacific Highlands Ranch, Santaluz, Torrey Hills, Torrey Highlands and Torrey Pines.

Scripps Clinic Encinitas has served the North County community for more than 40 years. Conveniently located off I-5 at the Santa Fe Drive exit, we offer many of the services you and your family need — all under one roof:

• Family medicine (including Saturday and Sunday appointments)
• Specialty care (including allergy, cancer care, cardiology, dermatology, gastroenterology, nephrology, neurology, obstetrics and gynecology, ophthalmology and optometry, orthopedics, podiatry, rheumatology and urology)
• Imaging services
• Blood tests and labs
• On-site pharmacy

Our doctors serve many of North County’s coastal communities, including Cardiff-by-the-Sea, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Leucadia, Olivenhain and Solana Beach.

If you’re looking for primary care or obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) services in Encinitas, Scripps Coastal Medical Center physicians practice at several convenient locations:

• We offer comprehensive OB-GYN care at two locations on Santa Fe Drive.

  • Scripps Coastal Medical Center Encinitas OB-GYN – 332 Santa Fe

  • Scripps Coastal Medical Center Encinitas OB-GYN – 320 Santa Fe

• We also offer family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics and lab services in several suites within the North Coast Health Center building on El Camino Real.

  • Scripps Coastal Medical Center Encinitas – Primary Care

  • Scripps Coastal Medical Center Encinitas – Pediatrics

If you’re looking for medical care in Hillcrest, Scripps Clinic doctors practice at two convenient locations:

• We offer bariatric (weight-loss) surgery and minimally invasive general surgery at our office on Fourth Avenue
• We offer comprehensive obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) care, including gynecologic surgery, at our office on Fifth Avenue
  • Routine gynecologic care, including pelvic exams, colposcopies and biopsies, and STD screenings
  • Birth control and family planning services
  • Prenatal, pregnancy and postpartum care, including high-risk pregnancy care
  • Infertility testing
  • Menopause care
  • Gynecologic imaging
  • Gynecologic surgery, including minimally invasive and robotic-assisted options for hysterectomy, uterine fibroid removal, pelvic organ prolapse and endometriosis treatment

If you’re looking for specialty care in La Jolla, Scripps Clinic physicians practice at three convenient locations:

• Genesee Executive Plaza for obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) 
• Poole Building (on the campus of Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla) for dermatology, neurology, and endocrinology care
• Ximed Building (on the campus of Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla) for obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN)

Scripps Clinic doctors also practice nearby at Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines and the John R. Anderson V Medical Pavilion in La Jolla.

Located in the heart of Mission Valley’s retail and business district, near the I-163, I-805 and I-8 freeways, Scripps Clinic Mission Valley offers families a “one-stop” health care experience.

Our doctors practice in two buildings located 0.3 miles from each other, on a circular campus near the corner of Mission Valley Road and Metropolitan Drive.

Building 7425 offers the following services:

• Audiology
• Imaging and radiology
• Obstetrics and gynecology
• Orthopedics
• Pediatrics
• Podiatry
• Rheumatology

Building 7565 offers the following services:

• Allergy
• Dermatology
• Internal Medicine
• Otolaryngology
• Ophthalmology and optometry
• Urology
• Blood tests and labs

Both buildings offer free parking in our open-air lots.

If you’re looking for medical care in Oceanside, Scripps Coastal Medical Center doctors practice at two convenient locations.

• We offer comprehensive obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN), including gynecologic surgery, at our clinic on Vista Way.
  • Routine gynecologic care, including pelvic exams, colposcopies and biopsies, and STD screenings
  • Birth control and family planning services
  • Prenatal, pregnancy and postpartum care, including high-risk pregnancy care
  • Infertility testing
  • Menopause care
  • Gynecologic imaging
  • Gynecologic surgery, including minimally invasive and robotic-assisted options for hysterectomy, uterine fibroid removal, pelvic organ prolapse and endometriosis treatment

• We offer family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, imaging, laboratory services and other specialty services at our clinic on Mission Avenue.

Scripps Clinic in Rancho Bernardo provides expert specialty and primary care services for the whole family. Same-day, walk-in care is available for common illnesses and injuries at Scripps HealthExpress and Scipps HealthExpress pediatrics.

Located off Carmel Mountain Road, near the intersection of I-15 and Highway 56 (Ted Williams Parkway), Scripps Clinic Rancho Bernardo offers many of the services your family needs — all under one roof.

Our Services Include:

• Primary care (pediatrics, family medicine and internal medicine) with evening and Saturday appointments available
• More than 20 medical and surgical specialties (including allergy, cancer care, dermatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, nephrology, neurology, obstetrics and gynecology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, otolaryngology, plastic surgery, podiatry, pulmonary medicine, rheumatology and urology)
• Ambulatory (outpatient) surgery center
• Mammograms, radiology and other imaging
• Blood tests and labs
• Physical therapy
• Urgent care available 7 days a week
• Same-day, walk-in care is available for common illnesses and injuries at Scripps HealthExpress and Scipps HealthExpress pediatrics

Parking is free in the multilevel structure located next to the building.

Our doctors serve many of San Diego’s North Inland communities, including 4S Ranch, Black Mountain Ranch, Carmel Mountain Ranch, Mira Mesa, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Penasquitos, Poway and Sabre Springs.

Located off Highway 94 in La Mesa, Scripps Clinic Rancho San Diego offers families a “one-stop” health care experience.

Our doctors practice in two adjacent buildings, within walking distance of each other, near the corner of Avocado Boulevard and Calle Verde.

Calle Verde offers the following services:

• Primary care (family medicine)
• Specialty care, including cardiology, dermatology, ophthalmology and optometry, rheumatology and urology
• Imaging
• Blood tests and labs

Avocado Boulevard offers the following services:

• Obstetrics and gynecology
• Pediatrics

Both buildings offer free on-site parking.

Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas has served North County’s coastal communities since 1978. We’re located at Santa Fe Drive and I-5, within walking distance of a park, fitness center, grocery store, pharmacy and restaurants.

Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas shares a campus with many physician offices and medical buildings, including Scripps Clinic Encinitas and an outpatient imaging center.

We’re home to notable specialty programs including a 24-hour emergency room, accredited stroke care, physical rehabilitation services (including a brain injury day treatment program), our Baby Friendly birthing pavilion and a Level II neonatal intensive care unit.

See a complete list of services offered at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas

Located just off I-5 on Genesee Avenue, Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla has served the greater San Diego community since 1924. Nearly 100 years later we continue to provide some of the region’s most distinguished care, including several nationally ranked specialty programs.

Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla shares a campus with many physician offices and medical buildings, including the Barbey Family Emergency and Trauma Center, the renowned Prebys Cardiovascular Institute and Scripps Clinic’s John R. Anderson V Medical Pavilion.

We’re also home to notable specialty programs, including cancer care, heart surgery, orthopedic surgery, labor and delivery services (including a Level III neonatal intensive care unit) and a nationally designated Comprehensive Stroke Center.

See a complete list of services offered at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla.

Located less than 10 miles from the US-Mexico border, Scripps Mercy serves the cities of Chula Vista, Otay Mesa, National City, Imperial Beach, Bonita and beyond.

Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista provides a variety of medical and surgical services, including inpatient and outpatient care.

Within the hospital you’ll find our 24-hour emergency room, maternity ward (including a Level II neonatal intensive care unit) and many other specialty services ranging from cancer care to stroke care.

Several of our outpatient services are located across the street, in the 450 and 480 medical buildings on 4th Avenue. These include outpatient imaging and physical rehabilitation services.

See a complete list of services offered at Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista.

Scripps Mercy Hospital has served central and downtown San Diego since 1890. We’re located near the corner of 5th Avenue and Washington Street in Hillcrest, within walking distance of restaurants and shops.

Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego shares a campus with many physician offices and medical buildings, including Scripps MD Anderson Cancer Center, Fifth Avenue and the O’Toole Breast Care Center.

We’re home to notable specialty services, including a 24-hour emergency room that is a Level I Trauma Center, outpatient physical rehabilitation, minimally invasive robotic surgeryand our childbirth unit (including a Level II neonatal intensive care unit).

And several of our programs, including nephrology, heart failure, colon cancer surgery and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, were recently ranked as “high performing” by U.S. News & World Report.

See a complete list of services offered at Scripps Mercy Hospital San Diego.