What Every Woman In Menopause Should Know Before Visiting The Doctor

When researchers from Yale University looked at over five hundred thousand insurance claims from women in various stages of menopause, they found that three hundred thousand of the claims were related to patients seeking medical assistance for significant menopausal symptoms—and that 75 percent of the patients left without treatment.

I share this insight for a couple of reasons—first because it makes me want to scream profanities and shout, “Why?” (and then have my husband peek his head in and say, “What now?”); second, because it’s evidence that if you’re feeling frustrated trying to find relief from your menopausal symptoms, you’re certainly not alone; and third, because it demonstrates how you should approach your appointment—you need more than just questions and de- tails of your struggles; you need to be prepared with a strategy.

Consider getting ahead of menopause symptoms

In pregnancy, there’s a specific medical appointment referred to as a “prepregnancy” visit. The purpose of this visit is to help establish care, review what the options are, and get educated about what to expect. There’s no equivalent “premenopause” visit—but can you imagine how life-changing it could be if there was one as a standard part of women’s healthcare?

I have noticed a trend in my patients who have decided not to wait for this to become standard and are coming in to get a plan in place. They want to “get ahead of things” before the onset of symptoms and take any preventative measures possible. It’s a radical idea that I am 100 percent on board with.

Get an early appointment

I recommend trying to schedule the first appointment of the morning to ensure a fresh physician. I know this may sound like a small thing, but doctors are humans too, and their energy and attention can drag as the day goes. You may get the best version of your doctor if you see them in the morning.

Acknowledge the nature of your appointment

When you call to make your appointment, tell the staff you have issues you would like to discuss, so the scheduler knows to block off additional time if time is available. Don’t expect a menopause visit to be covered in a “Well Woman Exam”—that is a screening exam for things like breast and cervical cancer and common chronic illnesses, not for menopause.

Make it clear that you need a “problem visit” to ensure that you get the most amount of time allotted for this discussion.

Show up in a fasted state

Family history

Write down your family history of diseases and illnesses, which relative had them, and at what age. This is information that your provider will ask for, and having it written out in advance will save time and give them the notes they need for their files. And, importantly, this information could qualify you for certain medical tests you may not otherwise be qualified for.

For example, if you have fatigue and a family history of hypothyroidism, your physician can utilize that diagnostic code and increase your chances of insurance covering the test. Your family history can also determine if you are a candidate for certain hormone therapies.

Symptom journal

If you haven’t already, start keeping a symptom journal of any noticeable changes to your health. Make note of any new aches and pains, increases in fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, differences in hair or skin, weight gain or loss, mental health or memory challenges, and so on.

Be as detailed as you can–your doctor will want to know how long you’ve been experiencing the symptoms and if they’ve become more or less severe.

A sense of your personal preferences

Think about your preferences for managing your symptoms and long-term health. Do you want to consider hormone therapy or would you prefer a nonhormonal approach? Do you want recommended lifestyle modifications? Consider your goals and how you’d like to get there, and be ready to share the specifics with your healthcare provider.

You want to be prepared to advocate for yourself while at the same time making it clear that you are asking your provider for their professional medical opinion based on your medical history. How your doctor responds to this invitation for a collaborative practitioner-patient relationship should tell you a lot about your chances for getting the care you want from them.