Please read: Important 2013 cancer research update from Dr. Michael Camilleri

Free

E-newsletter

Subscribe to Housecall

Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics.

Sign up now

Preparing for your appointment

By Mayo Clinic staff

You'll probably start by discussing your symptoms with your primary care provider. If you aren't already seeing a doctor who specializes in the female reproductive system (gynecologist), your primary care provider may refer you to one.

What you can do
To prepare for your appointment:

  • Take along a record of your menstrual cycles. Keep a journal of your menstrual cycles for the past few months, including first and last date of bleeding for each cycle, and whether the flow was light, moderate or heavy.
  • Make a list of any signs and symptoms you're experiencing. Include detailed descriptions. Include even symptoms that may seem unrelated.
  • Make a note of key personal information. Include any major stresses or recent life changes.
  • Make a list of all medications and the doses. Include prescription and nonprescription drugs, vitamins, and supplements that you're taking.
  • Consider taking a family member or friend along. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember all the information provided during an appointment. Someone who goes with you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
  • Prepare questions. Your time with your doctor is limited, so prepare a list of questions to help you make the most of your time together.

Some basic questions to ask include:

  • What is likely causing my symptoms or condition?
  • What are other possible causes for my symptoms or condition?
  • What kinds of tests do I need?
  • Is my condition likely temporary or chronic?
  • What is the best course of action?
  • What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
  • I have some other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
  • Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
  • Should I see a specialist?
  • Are there brochures or other printed materials that I can have? What websites do you recommend?
  • What will determine whether I should plan for a follow-up visit?

Questions your doctor may ask
To start a discussion about your perimenopausal experience, your doctor may ask questions such as:

  • Do you continue to have menstrual periods? If so, what are they like?
  • What symptoms are you experiencing?
  • How long have you experienced these symptoms?
  • How much distress do your symptoms cause you?
  • What medications, vitamins or other supplements do you take?
Tests and diagnosis Complications

  • See Also

    • Hand Scheduled
    Section Focus
    Related Links
    Related Guides
    Children
    Parent
  • Menopause
References
  1. Lentz GM, et al. Comprehensive Gynecology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-0-323-06986-1&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-06986-1..C2009-0-48752-X--TOP. Accessed March 10, 2013.
  2. Casper RF. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of menopause. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 10, 2013.
  3. Melmed S, et al. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/191205553-3/0/1555/0.html#. Accessed March 10, 2013.
  4. AskMayoExpert. What are the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved clinical indications for menopausal hormone therapy (HT) prescribing? Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2012.
  5. Menopause and menopause treatments. Office on Women's Health. http://www.womenshealth.gov. Accessed March 8, 2013.
  6. Harlow SD, et al. Executive Summary of the Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop + 10: Addressing the Unfinished Agenda of Staging Reproductive Aging. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2012;97:1159.
  7. Casper RF, et al. Menopausal hot flashes. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 10, 2013.
  8. Sood R, et al. Paced breathing compared with usual breathing for hot flashes. Menopause. 2013;20:179.
  9. Welt CK. Ovarian development and failure (menopause) in normal women. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 11, 2013.
  10. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Committee on Practice Bulletins — Obstetrics. ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 128. Diagnosis of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding: in Reproductive-Aged Women. Clinical Management Guidelines. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2012;120;197.
  11. Goodman AK. Initial approach to the premenopausal woman with abnormal uterine bleeding. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 4, 2013.
  12. Bedell S, et al. The pros and cons of plant estrogens for menopause. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. In press. Accessed April 7, 2013.
  13. MenoNote: Vaginal dryness. The North American Menopause Society. http://www.menopause.org/docs/for-women/mndryness.pdf. Accessed April 4, 2013.
  14. Zacur HA. Managing an episode of severe or prolonged uterine bleeding. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 4, 2013.
  15. 15. Lo JC, et al. Bone and the perimenopause. Obstetrics & Gynecology Clinics of North America. 2011;38:503.
  16. 16. Leach MJ, et al. Black cohosh (Cimicifuga spp.) for menopausal symptoms. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD007244.pub2/abstract. Accessed March 11, 2013.
  17. Lentz GM, et al. Comprehensive Gynecology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/linkTo?type=bookPage&isbn=978-0-323-06986-1&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-06986-1..C2009-0-48752-X--TOP. Accessed March 10, 2013.
  18. Fisher TE, et al. Lifestyle alterations for the amelioration of hot flashes. Maturitas. 2012;71:217.
  19. Kang HS, et al. The use of acupuncture for managing gynaecologic conditions: An overview of systematic reviews. Maturitas. 2011;68:346.
  20. Rosen HN, et al. Overview of the management of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed March 11, 2013.
  21. 21. Metzger ML, et al. Female reproductive health after childhood, adolescent and young adult cancers: Guidelines for the assessment and management of female reproductive complications. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2013;31:1239.
  22. Longo DL, et al. Harrison's Online. 18th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=4. Accessed Dec. 6, 2012.
  23. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Gynecologic Practice and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Practice Committee. Committee Opinion No. 532: Compounded bioidentical menopausal hormone therapy. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2012;120:411.
DS00554 April 20, 2013

© 1998-2013 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

  • Reprints
  • Print

  • Share on:

  • Email

Advertisement


Text Size: smaller largerlarger