How to Prepare for Your Appointment
1. Sign up for MyChart before your visit.
Please upload any screenings or blood test results to before your visit or bring them with you during your visit. We may also ask you to fill out a personal and family medical history questionnaire in MyChart as well.
2. Track your symptoms.
For a few weeks before your appointment, keep a diary of the following symptoms:
- Perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms you may be experiencing
- Changes to your periods
- Date of your last menstrual cycle
We recommend ranking your symptoms based on most bothersome to least bothersome.
3. Compile your personal health history.
Please bring a list of the following to your appointment:
- Medications and supplements taken currently and previously
- Surgeries or past injuries
- Past and current diagnoses
- History of medical conditions:
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Bone health and fractures
- Dates of your last health screenings (if applicable):
- Hysterectomy history (if applicable):
- Age you had the hysterectomy
- Reason for the hysterectomy
- State of your ovaries (e.g. were they kept in tact)
4. Know your family health history.
Your family health history helps your menopause specialist give you a more accurate estimate of your risk of certain diseases and cancers. You鈥檒l want to find out the following:
- If your relatives have had these health conditions:
- Cancer
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- High cholesterol
- Bone disease
- Age when your relatives received their diagnosis
5. Write down your health goals and questions.
- Are these perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms that I鈥檓 experiencing?
- Are there any labs or treatment options I need to rule out anything else?
- What treatment options are available for me?
- List of treatment preferences you鈥檇 like to try, avoid, or ones that haven't worked for you in the past
What to Expect at Your First Menopause Specialist Appointment
On the day of your visit, make sure you bring your photo identification and insurance card. Your first appointment will last 40鈥60 minutes.
During your appointment, a nurse or a medical assistant will ask about your last menstrual period and take your vital signs:
- Blood pressure
- Breathing (respiration) rate
- Pulse
- Temperature
- Height and weight (if desired)
They鈥檒l also ask if you have any specific concerns you鈥檇 like to discuss with your menopause specialist.
Meeting Your Menopause Specialist
Our compassionate menopause specialists want to make you feel comfortable, heard, and understood so they can effectively address your concerns.
Your menopause specialist will review your health chart and ask questions related to your symptoms, age, health, and medical history:
- Have you experienced any menopausal symptoms? Do these symptoms bother you?
- When was your last menstrual period? Do you have regular menstrual cycles?
- When was your last Pap smear, colonoscopy, mammogram, or bone density screening?
- Who have you seen for your menopause symptoms before today鈥檚 visit?
- Do you smoke or drink alcohol? How often?
- Do you take birth control? Would you like to discuss birth control options?
- What are your eating habits and daily physical activity habits?
- Do you have any dietary restrictions?
- Have you had an eating disorder in the past?
- Would you like any screenings for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?
Menopause symptoms are different for each person. These questions are an essential part of helping your menopause specialist fully understand your unique experience.
Your menopause specialist will discuss your health risks based on your answers. They may recommend the following measures:
- Additional blood work
- Preventive cancer screenings
- Vaccinations for certain conditions
- And more
When Should You See a Menopause Doctor?
Menopause changes your body in many ways. You may have trouble identifying what changes are normal or not鈥攂ut you don鈥檛 need to live with disruptive, uncomfortable menopause symptoms.
Schedule a visit with your primary care provider or your gynecologist first for help navigating this new phase of your life. Seek out a menopause specialist if you feel like your provider didn鈥檛 effectively address your menopause symptoms or questions.
Your provider may refer you to one of our menopause specialists if you have a history of the following conditions:
- Estrogen-sensitive cancer
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Blood clots
Menopause specialists from the Midlife Women's Health & Menopause Program will ask questions to better understand how your symptoms affect your quality of life. Our specialists are also trained to know if additional testing or treatment may help you.
