• adolescent gynecology
• well-woman exams for all ages
• in-office surgery for heavy bleeding and permanent contraception
• perimenopausal health
• menopausal health
• and preventative medicine

Your medical needs may not always be predictable or routine and we make every effort to accommodate urgent appointments as quickly as possible.

I value integrity, and will speak truthfully to you, and would expect that you speak truthfully to me so that we can achieve your goals together. I will ask you questions about your health, nutrition, energy levels, your environment, and your relationships, and will take the time to listen closely to your answers.

I will offer you a full spectrum of health care that is both professional and compassionate… all within a warm, peaceful, and healing environment.

Thank you again for your time, and my staff and I look forward to speaking with you soon.

Bio‐identical hormones, specifically estrogen and progesterone, are hormones with are chemically identical to the hormones that your ovaries produce during your reproductive years. They are often called “natural” hormones because of this and thought to be safer. Interestingly, these hormones are not necessarily “natural” in that they are synthesized in a laboratory and then sent to various pharmacies, called Compounding Pharmacies, for formulation into gels, creams, capsules, or vaginal inserts.

There are 2 kinds of bio‐identical hormone products. The first is the type that has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This means that the manufacturing process is overseen by the manufacturer to ensure a consistent product.

The second kind of bio‐identical hormone has been the source of much media attention. These hormones are formulated by Compounding Pharmacies that mix the medications according to a physician’s prescription. The estrogen component usually contains 2 ‐3 types of naturally occurring estrogen. The FDA does not regulate compounded hormones so it is very important that Compounding Pharmacies being used by your doctor have strict quality control to ensure highest quality and consistency of dosage.

Bio-identical hormones compounded by a Compounding Pharmacy have not been shown to be any “safer” than a bio‐identical formulation synthesized by a pharmaceutical company.

Bottom line, there are risks and benefits to hormone therapy. Your individual risk factors, timing of initiation, dosage and route of administration need to discussed in depth with your physician.

To learn more please call our office today at 760—635-5600.

-        Approximately 25% of women are troubled at some time by heavy menstrual bleeding, or menorrhagia.  This condition causes excessively heavy blood flow with your period  or abnormally frequent periods, resulting in physical and emotional distress.  You may experience periods that last a long time with bleeding so heavy that you need to change your pad or tampon every 1-2 hours.  Also, you may need to changed pads at night and worry about leaving the house during your period.

-        If your periods are affecting your work, social, athletic or sexual activities, call my office for a consulation today – there are treatment options to get you back to living your life again!

-        How can it be treated?

-        Depending on your history and contraceptive needs,there are various hormonal regimens and intrauterine contraception to treat heavy bleeding.  If you are tired of heavy bleeding and have completed child – bearing, then Endometrial Ablation System may the right option for you!

-        Novasure Endometrial Ablation System is a one-time, in – office procedure that successfully treats most cases of menorrhagia.

Dr. Hoppe can perform this procedure in the privacy and comfort of her office.  You will be able to return to your normal activities within a day or two.  You will experience a dramatic reduction in your menstrual bleeding, with 40% having no bleeding at all after the procedure, as well as avoid general anesthesia and surgery in a hospital or surgery center, as well as the need for hysterectomy.

For more information regarding Novasure, please visit: www.novasure.com

Or call our office today at 760—635-5600.

In my practice I believe in treating my patients holistically.  This includes making sure they are taking care of their minds as well as their bodies.

Below is truly the simplest way to immediately reduce your stress level.  And when I tell you it can be done anywhere, I mean… ANYWHERE.  At your desk, in your car, while cooking in the kitchen — or any place where stress seems to be overwhelming you. All it requires is that you take time to breathe…

Here’s how to do it:

Take a deep breath, inhaling over 5 seconds and exhaling over 5 seconds.

With each inhale, visualize the sources of your stress.

With each exhale, visualize these stresses leaving your body and flowing outside of you.

Do this for 5 complete, full breaths. If you have more time, continue for a few more breaths until you really feel your body letting go and lightening up.

I do this breathing exercise a few times a day. Depending on the day, I may do it 5-6 times! And I can assure you that it makes my life, and the lives of those around me, much, much better!

There is a physiological reason for this and Buddhist monks have used conscious deep breathing during meditation for centuries. By concentrating on your lungs and expanding in your chest, you are bringing highly oxygenated blood to your tissues, centering your body and clearing your mind.

For more tips like this and to join the conversation and share YOUR ideas on reducing stress, join me here: www.ListenToYourLibido.com

This is especially true during perimenopause and menopause. Studies have shown that some simple changes in your diet can help decrease the symptoms of menopause. Plus they are great for your overall heart-health. Begin these today!

Increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids: These are polyunsaturated fats, which not only play role in reducing menopausal symptoms, but also play crucial role in reducing harmful inflammation that leads to heart disease and diabetes.

The two main types of omega-3s are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These can be found in seafood, certain oils (flaxseed, canola and soybean), nuts and vegetables.

The latest FDA guidelines recommend an average daily intake of 250 mg of each EPA and DHA. See if some your favorites are listed:

• Salmon: 1,200-2,400 mg.
• Bluefin Tuna: 1,700 mg.
• Anchovies: 2, 300-2,400 mg.
• Sardines: 1,100 – 1,600 mg.

• Nuts: Walnuts, Almonds
• Oils: Flaxseed Oil, Canola Oil, Soybean Oil
• Vegetables: Spinach, Broccoli

Drink green tea: Potent anti-oxidants, such as polyphenols, are found in green tea and have shown to alleviate hot flashes and night sweats.

For more tips like this and to join the conversation and share YOUR ideas on eating healthy during all stages of your life, join me here: www.ListenToYourLibido.com

Many studies have shown that the physical act of just touching or holding your partner releases a calming hormone known as oxytocin, often called the “bonding hormone”.

By increasing the levels of oxytocin with sex and decreasing the levels of cortisol, we are actually improving our physical and emotional health. As well as our sleep! According to the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction, “The release from orgasm does much towards calming people. It helps with sleep, and that is whether we talk about solo sex or sex with a partner.”

Many studies also show that sleep may be deeper and more restful after engaging in satisfying sexual intercourse because it allows the release of distracting thoughts and negative thinking behaviors. Engaging in sex prior to falling asleep at night also decreases instances of insomnia.

James Coan, Ph.D., professor of psychology at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, says “Being in an intimate relationship correlates to healing faster, getting sick less often and living longer.” “Good relationships offset tension in daily life.” Anxiety spikes blood pressure, which hobbles the immune system. “But when you have sex, you release feel-good hormones, including oxytocin and endorphins,” Coan adds. Eventually, you begin to associate your partner with those positive feelings, and he becomes someone you trust to be your soother during tough times.

A study at the University of Gottingen in Germany found that people who have less sexual activity actually tend to take on more work to compensate for their frustration. And the increased labor results in—you guessed it—even less sex. And not having sex can often create the cycle of getting even more tense…thus having even less sex!

So, take the time… better yet, MAKE the time to spend quality, intimate time with your significant other on a regular basis. As you can see, it has health benefits that shouldn’t be ignored.

The healing hormone responsible for this is oxytocin, also known as the “bonding hormone”. By physically touching someone you care about, such as giving a hug, the levels of oxytocin made by your brain, markedly rise. This causes you – and the person you hugged – to feel calm, happier and more connected as well as producing other health benefits.

Oxytocin has long been known as the “pair bonding” hormone and the “cuddle” hormone for its effect on stable monogamous relationships. As an Ob/Gyn, I have been very familiar with the role of oxytocin in childbirth, allowing for uterine contractions and the birth of a baby, as well as breast-feeding with milk “let-down”.

Initial research in early 1990’s found that breastfeeding women tended to have lower blood pressure. Lactation is a time when huge amounts of oxytocin are released from the brain to the breast tissue allowing milk to flow. The connection between decreased blood pressure and oxytocin then led to further investigation into its breadth and healing power. Oxytocin receptors have now been identified in other tissues, including the heart, kidney, thymus, and pancreas.

New exciting research has shown that oxytocin can play a powerful role in protecting your heart. By touching another person, oxytocin is produced in your heart and travels throughout your blood vessels dilating them through a mechanism of increased nitric oxide. ( Not nitrous oxide, which is laughing gas!) Nitric oxide dilates our blood vessels, leading to a decrease in blood pressure, less inflammation and less plaque build-up. Excess chronic inflammation is the key player in plaque buildup in our arteries, known as atherosclerosis. Oxytocin has been shown to reduce free radical formation and other inflammatory markers decreasing the risk for heart attack.

For more information on the health benefits of oxytocin, and to join the conversation and share YOUR ideas, join me here: www.ListenToYourLibido.com

And menopause is normal! Every woman will eventually go through menopause during her lifetime. A woman has reached menopause when she has had an absence of periods for 12 consecutive months.

The average age of onset of menopause in the U.S. is approximately 51 years of age, but can range from 40-55. During this “change” a woman’s ovaries stop producing the high hormone levels that she was producing during her reproductive years. The ovaries stop ovulating, releasing an egg, and they levels of estrogen and progesterone plummet to very low levels. The marked decrease in estrogen, and progesterone, are responsible for the many symptoms plaguing many women during this time.

In the United States, the average life expectancy for a woman is approximately 81 years of age. Given the average age of menopause is 51, then a woman will be spending at least 1/3 of her life in this stage. To understand how best to make this time of life, a review of symptoms is needed.

What are the most common symptoms during this time?

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Mood swings
• Irritability
• Decreased concentration/focus
• Decreased sex drive
• Vaginal dryness

Am I alone in this stage of life?

No, you are definitely not alone! Millions of women are experiencing these symptoms every day! In fact, women undergoing the menopausal transition represent the fastest growing population in the United States today. It is critical to have the correct information so you can achieve the highest quality of life during this potentially challenging time.

For more information on perimenopause, menopause, including Hormone Replacement Therapy, and to be part of the conversation, join me here: www.ListenToYourLibido.com