You’ll get the most out of your appointment for severe menopause symptoms if you do some prep work, says Stephanie Faubion, MD, medical director of The Menopause Society and director of Mayo Clinic’s women’s health center in Jacksonville, Florida.
Before you arrive, consider making a list that includes your:
Questions and Concerns
Jot down a list of questions or topics you want to discuss during that specific visit, says Dr. Faubion. “[Your visit] may be short, and you may have limited time [with the healthcare provider].”
Some examples of questions to ask are:
- Are these symptoms all due to menopause, or could they be something else?
- What are my treatment options?
- What are the risks and benefits of these options?
- What can I do to keep myself healthy going forward?
Symptoms and How They’re Affecting You
Depending on the symptoms you’re having, it could help to track them for a short time. Write down when and how often you’ve experienced them, especially if they’ve interfered with sleep, work, or other daily activities. This may help you communicate your experience and any notable patterns to your doctor.
But even if you haven’t kept a symptom log, don’t worry. You can still let your doctor know how you’ve been affected. “Tracking can be helpful for some people,” says Faubion. “It gives me some objective data, but all I need is for you to tell me how bothered you are by your symptoms.”
Health History
During the visit, your doctor will likely ask you a range of questions about your health history. Brown says these questions may be about:
- Menstrual history
- History of breast or uterine cancer
- History of blood clots, unexplained bleeding, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, migraines, or osteoporosis
- Medications and supplements you’re taking
- Treatments you’ve tried for symptoms
- Previous surgeries
“These details help determine which treatments may be most appropriate, which route or formulation may be most suitable, and whether additional monitoring is needed,” says Brown.
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