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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffYour first appointment will likely be with either your primary care provider or a gynecologist.
Because appointments can be brief, and it can be difficult to remember everything you want to discuss, it's a good idea to prepare in advance of your appointment.
What you can do
- Keep track of symptoms you're experiencing. For instance, write down how many hot flashes you experience in a day or week and note how severe they are.
- Make a list of any medications and vitamin supplements you take. Write down doses and how often you take them.
- Have a family member or close friend accompany you, if possible. You may be given a lot of information at your visit, and it can be difficult to remember everything.
- Take a notebook or notepad with you. Use it to write down important information during your visit.
- Prepare a list of questions to ask your doctor. List your most important questions first, in case time runs out.
Some basic questions to ask include:
- What kind of tests might I need?
- What treatments are available to minimize my symptoms?
- Is there anything I can do to relieve my symptoms?
- What steps can I take to maintain my health?
- Do you have any printed material or brochures I can take with me? What Web sites do you recommend?
Make sure that you understand everything that your doctor tells you. Don't hesitate to ask your doctor to repeat information or to ask follow-up questions for clarification.
What to expect from your doctor
Some potential questions your doctor might ask include:
- Are you still having periods?
- When was your last period?
- How often do you experience bothersome symptoms?
- How uncomfortable do your symptoms make you?
- Does anything seem to improve your symptoms?
- Does anything make your symptoms worse?
- Bradshaw KD. Menopausal transition. In: Schorge JO, et al. Williams Gynecology. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=3158526. Accessed June 5, 2009.
- Manson JE, et al. The menopausal transition and postmenopausal hormone therapy. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aid=2881945. Accessed June 5, 2009.
- Menopause. National Institute on Aging. http://www.nia.nih.gov/HealthInformation/Publications/menopause.htm. Accessed June 3, 2009.
- Cedars MI, et al. Menopause. In: Gibbs RS, et al. Danforth's Obstetrics and Gynecology. 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008:725.
- Col NF, et al. In the clinic: Menopause. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2009;150:ITC4.
- Gass MLS. Menopause. In: Hillard PJA. The 5-Minute Obstetrics and Gynecology Consult. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008:292.
- National Institutes of Health state-of-the-science conference statement: Management of menopause-related symptoms. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2005;142:1003.
- Cohen BE, et al. Feasibility and acceptability of restorative yoga for treatment of hot flushes: A pilot trial. Maturitas: The Europena Menopause Journal. 2007;56:198.
- Chattha R, et al. Treating the climacteric symptoms in Indian women with an integrated approach to yoga therapy: A randomized control study. Menopause: The Journal of the North American Menopause Society. 2008;15:862.
