Drgigikroll

Drgigikroll Women’s Healthcare at every stage of life.

08/23/2026

What did you love to do when you were a child?

Ballet
Dance
Coloring
Painting
Legos
Playing games
Reading
Comics
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
The beach
Horses. . .

The list is different for each individual. But we each had passions. We dreamed. We played. We believed. . .

As we aged and responsibilities set in, we often lose sight of those hobbies that brought us joy. We lose a little piece of ourself.

In midlife, when we are navigating hormone changes, aging, change and stress, I encourage patients to find that joy again.

When I was young, my room was decorated with horse posters. I read every book I could about horses- Black Stallion at the top of the list. My family didn’t have the means to have a horse, or any know how- but I had friends that allowed me to ride, and I scraped up for a few lessons.

And that love is still inside me.

With two of my best friends from medical school, I traveled to The Hideout lodge in Shell, WY. We rode for 5 days. The terrain was always different. The wranglers were all women- amazing, accomplished. The guests were from all over the world.

And the horses brought the same joy they always did for me.
Friendship filled my cup.
Mother Nature brought a deep peace and awe.

I encourage you to tap into your younger self. Remember the passion. Then book the trip, start the lessons, join the bookclub. . . Ride the horse. It is good for the soul.

08/15/2026

This is a comprehensive list of all the products I include in my daily routine, from morning to night-These products are available to purchase in our office!

Morning:
• ZO Skin Health Gentle Cleanser
• plated Intense Serum
• PCA Skin C&E Advanced Antioxidant Treatment
• ZO Skin Health Daily Power Defense
• elta MD UV AOX Elements Tinted Face Sunscreen (SPF 50)

Night:
• ZO Skin Health Gentle Cleanser
• ZO Skin Health Retinol Skin Brightener
• GK Face
• ZO Skin Health Renewal Crème

Morning & Night Eye Serums:
• plated Eye Serum
• ZO Skin Health Growth Factor Eye Serum

Yesterday I got my mammogram.I went to Pacific Breast Care because the radiologist will read the images while you are th...
08/06/2026

Yesterday I got my mammogram.

I went to Pacific Breast Care because the radiologist will read the images while you are there. That is not standard at most screening facilities. She came in to tell me that she needed some additional views. They took me back immediately for a more images. Fortunately she then told me that everything looked fine and I was clear for another year.

Breast cancer is common. One in eight women will get it in their lifetime, regardless of family history. However if caught early, it has a high cure rate.

There are multiple types of breast cancers including ductal and lobular. Some are slow growing and some are rapid and aggressive.

Younger women tend to have more aggressive breast cancers.

3-D Mammogram is the gold standard for screening. If a woman has dense breast on mammogram, adding ultrasound will increase the sensitivity of screening, and should be ordered. If a patient is high risk based on personal history, ethnicity, and family history (read about the Tyrer-Cusick score) an MRI is also recommended.

I recommend a baseline mammogram at age 35. At a minimum, I recommend annual screening starting at age 40. I personalize my recommendations based on the patient.

Many of my patients are concerned about the radiation associated with 3-D mammograms and therefore choose to avoid and not do this test. The radiation is equivalent to an airplane flight to New York City from California. There is NO OTHER test that picks up microcalcifications similarly or that has proven evidence to lower morbidity and mortality from breast cancer when screening is used. Skipping it, especially in your younger years puts you at risk of failing to detect breast cancer at its earliest stage.

Our screening tests aren’t perfect, but they do save lives. I encourage you to know your risks, your density, and what screening protocol is best for you.

So proud of Aileen- we are committed to providing the best evidence based, current, perimenopause and menopause care for...
07/30/2026

So proud of Aileen- we are committed to providing the best evidence based, current, perimenopause and menopause care for the women of our community. Becoming a certified Menopause provider is not easy. It takes education, experience, study and practice. Well done!

07/21/2026

What does it mean to be a certified menopause practitioner?

It actually takes study, training and work.

It is a designation awarded by the
Menopause Society upon passing a 3 hour written examination.

It requires continued medical education by attending national meetings, reading journal articles and educational forums.

It is a commitment to understanding the science, and providing evidence based care.

It is not just for OB/GYNs- as menopausal changes affect every organ system. Menopause education should be required for every healthcare professional that cares for women-

Orthopedics
Urology
Neurology
Cardiology
Internal medicine
Family practice
Endocrinology
Sleep medicine
Psychiatry

There is ongoing advocacy work attempting to get more menopause education into medical school curriculum- but for now a patient can find an educated provider by looking at the directory on the Menopause Society Website.

When you optimize menopause care, you optimize women’s health, and that affects EVERYBODY.

My heart is full. This weekend I practiced what I preach. Stress reduction. Exercise. Connection. Rest. Fun. Self-care. ...
07/19/2026

My heart is full. This weekend I practiced what I preach. Stress reduction. Exercise. Connection. Rest. Fun. Self-care. New experiences. Mother Nature. Friendship. From “Founding Partner” Amy VanBlaricom to “Current Partner” Doug McConnaughey, MD - this is “Ohana.”

07/13/2026

5 things I tell patients about exercise:

1. Its the most important thing you can do for your health
2. Something is better than nothing!
3. It’s never too late to start
4. Consistency is better than perfection
5. You deserve it!

We lose muscle mass and bone mass after age 30.
Strong and lean is much more important than small and skinny.

We have metabolic shifts that make us more prone to insulin resistance and increasing visceral fat gain.

Most predictors of longevity have to do with our fitness: grip strength, VO2 max, and balance.

If we could have a pill or a “a peptide” that provided what exercise does everyone would be on it!

You are worth finding the time. Some days it will only be 15 minutes. Some days it will be an hour. Make it fun. Find things you like to do. Work out with other friends. Juststop making excuses and invest in yourself.

07/08/2026

My approach when I see a new patient-

1. Take a comprehensive history
2. Listen to them and ask what brings them into the office what are their complaints?
3. Discuss the four pillars of health and inquire about their sleep, exercise, nutrition, and stress management
4. Educate about hormone decline & symptoms that may arise including physical, cognitive, mood, and genitourinary as well as impending health risks
5. Discuss hormone and other therapies that are available to ameliorate symptoms and reduce risks- both hormonal and nonhormonal
6. Develop a plan- and this may include imaging, blood tests, hormone therapy. It takes time and tinkering

This is a whole person approach.

And the best part is seeing the progress, the improvement, the smiles on their faces.

There is no “one size fits all.”

Care needs to be individualized, and it is a process.

To my patients:
Thank you for trusting me and allowing me to help through your midlife transition!

06/15/2026

Prostate cancer screening

A man’s lifetime risk of developing Prostate cancer is 1 out of 8.  The chances of developing prostate cancer increases with age.   

The blood test PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) can help identify individuals at risk.  

The PSA is a protein made by the prostate.  The larger the prostate is, the more PSA will be made. Therefore Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) and prostate cancer can cause a rise in PSA values. 

I find the trend of the total PSA value extremely helpful in identifying a potentially concerning rise, even when below the normal value of 4.0. If a value is consistently stable and there is a sudden rise, that is a “red flag.”

By ordering bloodwork and checking the free and total PSA one can also help distinguish between cancer and BPH.   

I like to start screening my patients at 40 years old by ordering PSA total/free values. Early detection saves lives! 

06/09/2026

Why should a 40 year-old man see a physician?

Women are used to having an annual exam starting early in their lives- yearly paps, need for contraception, pregnancy. . .

But men aren’t.

At 40 men should start getting yearly exams and blood work -

Generally men feel well at that point- but disease may be developing before symptoms arise-
And preventative opportunities are missed:

For example- just to name a few

Heart disease and stroke risk- they are affected by high cholesterol and high blood pressure-
2 things that patients “don’t feel”

Cancer risks- again waiting until symptoms develop is often too late-
Examples include:
Colon cancer
Prostate cancer

Family history, lifestyle, risk factors all play a role

Recognition, early detection, prevention and intervention saves lives!

Start seeing a preventative primary care physician annually-
Learn how to optimize your health!

Address

Newport Beach, CA
92660

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+19497060181

Website

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