16 Questions to Ask Your OBGYN

MenoLabs News | Fri, Sep 03, 2021

These days, it feels like you get into the doctor’s office and you are in and out in seconds. But as you approach menopause, you need to take your time to cover all of your symptoms so that your doctor doesn’t misdiagnose it, or worse yet, tell you that it can’t be what you think it is, menopause! That is why we highly recommend tracking your symptoms on our app, so that you are prepared to cover all of your bases with your doctor. It’s also helpful to have questions prepared to review with your doctor to ensure that nothing is missed. We understand that sometimes it’s uncomfortable to share intimate information, but it is necessary to get the help you need. Writing things down can help you to discuss your various symptoms. We recommend printing this list as a reference during your appointment.

Come prepared:

Sometimes you might feel rushed and forget important information, so it’s important to have the following information ready:

Share your symptoms and what you think the triggers are for these symptoms. You can use our app to help you track this information.

Come with your lists:

All of your meds, including prescriptions, over-the-counter meds, supplements and vitamins.

Your lifestyle habits, including diet, physical activity, smoking, alcohol or drug use.
Your sexual history. This is very personal information, but you should feel comfortable sharing with your doctor because withholding information could result in a misdiagnosis.
Your known allergies, including to drugs, foods, environmental allergies, or anything else you may be allergic to.

Don’t forget to ask these questions:

Here are a few to start you off with. Everyone has a different experience with menopause, so please take the time to consider all of the questions you might have.

Am I too young for menopause?
What tests do I need and why?
What are my treatment options?
How can these treatments help me?
My sex drive isn’t what it used to be. Why? What can I do about it?
Menopause has made my sex painful. What can I do to help?
How do I know if the symptoms I am experiencing are from menopause or something else?
How long do menopause symptoms usually last?
Do I still need birth control?
What lifestyle changes can help?
Can you recommend a therapist or counselor if I need more support?
Does menopause put me at a higher risk for heart disease, osteoporosis, or other complications?
I’m experiencing incontinence. Will that go away?
Is my brain fog normal? What can I do to help it?
Can you recommend any books, magazines, organizations or online resources that focus on perimenopause or menopause?
If you have any other symptoms you are concerned about, list them out and be sure to discuss your options with your doctor.

Don’t forget to take notes during your appointment!

Perimenopause, sadly, isn't going away soon. Any tips or prescriptions the doctor provides can make a difference during this phase of your life. Your doctor may have lifestyle changes, tests, specialists to refer to you. Write it all down and follow up!

More on Meds:

If your doctor prescribes medications to help with your symptoms, ask how long you will have to take each medication, how long it will take to work, and what side effects you could expect. Also ask if you need to avoid taking other medications, foods, or activities while taking the medication.

The follow up:

You aren’t done. Make a follow up appointment to see how the medication works and how your symptoms are going. Don’t forget about cancer screening, mammograms and bone density scans during mid-life appointments.

Second Opinion, please:

Unfortunately, we know that every doctor is not an expert with menopause. With that said, don’t feel bad about getting a second opinion. If you have a doctor that you have been with your entire adult life and they think you’re too young to be experiencing menopause, they could be wrong. We have heard stories about women who never got a second opinion and their doctor finally took their labs and found out they were in postmenopause! Those women went through their entire menopause experience with no answers, assistance, or community support. It’s worth it to do a search in your area for a doctor that specialises in menopause. Just be sure to check with your insurance to make sure a second opinion is covered.

Menopause Labs - the tests you should know about:

Dr. Arianna Sholes-Douglas’s book, “The Menopause Myth”, is a fantastic resource for learning more about the common menopause tests. She suggests creating an excel spreadsheet to follow your important labs, and lists these specifically as a great baseline for what to request from your doctor: