My Doctor Online The Permanente Medical Group
Are you having back pain with any of the following?
- Severe pain, weakness or tingling in your leg(s).
- Difficulty stopping urination or loss of control of bladder or bowels.
- Unexplained fever, nausea or vomiting.
- A history of cancer or unexplained weight loss.
We understand that you are experiencing one or more of the health issues that might be impacting your back pain.
We recommend that you discuss these health issues with your doctor before proceeding with this program.
Once you are cleared by your doctor to do this program, we hope it helps you find relief from your back pain.
Marc Jaffe, MD
Endocrinology
Welcome to my home page! Check out the links to learn about my Endocrinology practice and use the online features to e-mail me (using secure messages), check your laboratory results, and refill prescriptions.
My Offices
- South San Francisco Medical Center
- Appt/Advice: 650-742-2230
Quick Links
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- The Hormone Foundation
- The American Thyroid Association
- American Diabetes Association
- Healthy Weight Resources
General References
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Endocrinology Frequently Asked Questions
An endocrinologist is a physician who specializes in how the endocrine system works in your body. The endocrine system consists of several glands that produce hormones. The hormones are released into the bloodstream to regulate many activities throughout your body. Your hormones regulate your growth and development. They also regulate reproduction, food metabolism, water balance, calcium metabolism, and help your body respond to stress.
What conditions might require the care of an endocrinologist?
The glands of your endocrine system include the thyroid, parathyroid, pancreas, ovaries (women), testes (men), adrenal, pituitary, and hypothalamus. You may be referred to an endocrinologist for hormone problems such as:
- Diabetes
- Thyroid diseases
- High or low blood calcium
- Bone problems such as osteoporosis
- Reproduction problems such as PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), low testosterone and menopause
- Growths or cancers on any of the glands
- Metabolic disorders (hyperparathyroidism)
- Cholesterol (lipid) disorders
- Transgender hormone support
Glands are tissues that make chemical substances and release them directly into the bloodstream. These glands include:
- Adrenal. A pair of glands located above your kidneys that produce stress-regulating hormones, like cortisol and epinephrine.
- Ovary. A pair of female reproductive glands that produce estrogen, progesterone, and some testosterone. These hormones control development of a woman’s breasts, body shape and body hair, and they regulate the menstrual cycle and pregnancy.
- Parathyroid. Tiny glands found next to the thyroid gland. They produce parathyroid hormone, which regulates the level of calcium in your blood.
- Pancreas. A gland that produces several hormones which work with your digestive system to absorb nutrients in your body. Insulin is the most important of these hormones.
- Pituitary. The “control center,” or master gland, is a pea-sized gland at the base of the brain. It makes hormones that regulate the function of the thyroid and adrenal glands, the testes and ovaries, growth, and water balance.
- Testes. A pair of male reproductive glands that produce and store sperm and make testosterone.
- Thyroid. A butterfly shaped gland in your lower neck. It makes thyroid hormones that help regulate activities in your body
A hormone is chemical that is made by endocrine glands in the body. Hormones are released into the bloodstream by these glands in response to signals from your body or other glands. Hormones help regulate many body activities and affect cells throughout your body. Hormones can be found in the blood. The levels vary, and many have daily or monthly cycles. Most hormones are excreted through the kidneys into the urine.
What diagnostic tests do you conduct in endocrinology?
A diagnosis of an endocrine system-related disease requires a complete physical exam, discussion about your symptoms, and a review of your medical history. Because the endocrine glands secrete hormones into the bloodstream, we most commonly order blood tests. Some tests may need to be done at certain times of the day. The blood tests will determine if your hormones are too high (hyper) or too low (hypo). In certain cases we may need more information that will require us to order urine tests or scans of your glands using ultrasound, CT, or MRI. When there are growths on glands, we may recommend a biopsy or a sample of the tissue.
When should I see an endocrinologist?
Many health problems related to the endocrine system can be taken care of by your personal physician, or in the diabetes clinic, or Women’s Health, for instance. Our integrated system allows us to refer, consult, and communicate easily to coordinate your care. Most likely, your personal physician will refer you to us if necessary.