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Preparing for your appointment
By Mayo Clinic staffIf your usual doctor is a family doctor or general practitioner, he or she may refer you to a specialist (gynecologist) to evaluate your condition.
Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.
What you can do
- Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there's anything you need to do in advance to prepare for common diagnostic tests.
- Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
- Make a list of your key medical information, including any other conditions for which you're being treated, and the names of any medications, vitamins or supplements you're taking.
- Consider questions to ask your doctor and write them down. Take along notepaper and a pen to jot down information as your doctor addresses your questions.
What to expect from your doctor
Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may reserve time to go over any points you want to spend more time on. Your doctor may ask:
- What vaginal symptoms are you experiencing?
- How long have you experienced these symptoms?
- Do you still have regular menstrual cycles?
- How much do your symptoms bother you?
- Are you sexually active?
- Does the condition limit your sexual activity?
- Do you use scented soap or bubble bath?
- Do you douche or use feminine hygiene spray?
- What medications or vitamin supplements do you take?
- Have you tried any over-the-counter moisturizers or lubricants?
- Bachmann G, et al. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of vaginal atrophy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 25, 2010.
- Casper RF. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of menopause. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 25, 2010.
- The North American Menopause Society. The role of local vaginal estrogen for treatment of vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women: 2007 position statement of The North American Menopause Society. Menopause. 2007;14:357.
- Bachmann G, et al. Treatment of vaginal atrophy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 26, 2010.
- Cedars MI, et al. Menopause. In: Gibbs RS, et al. Danforth's Obstetrics and Gynecology. 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008:725.
- Ibe C, et al. Vulvovaginal atrophy: Current and future therapies. Journal of Sexual Medicine. 2010;7:1042.
- Fox R, et al. Clinical manifestations of Sjogren's syndrome: Exocrine gland disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 25, 2010.
- Vaginitis. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp028.cfm. Accessed May 26, 2010.
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