Download the pdf version of Questions to Ask Your Health Care Provider.
- Based on my age, when can I expect symptoms of perimenopause or menopause, and what are the symptoms?
- What can I do to relieve and address my menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, insomnia, low energy, vaginal dryness or decreased sexual desire?
- How do you test hormone levels? What hormones do you test and why?
- What tests do you use and why?
- What is your philosophy about hormone therapy? What can you tell me about natural or bioidentical hormones?
- Am I a candidate for bioidentical hormones? If so, and you prescribe them, how can we work together to ensure that I am getting a dose that is appropriate for me?
- If I choose hormone therapy, are there different ways I can take them such as capsules, topical creams, vaginal creams or suppositories? What are the advantages or disadvantages to these different options?
- What are my risk factors for breast cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis, and what can I do to prevent these problems? When should I get my first bone density scan to detect osteoporosis?
- How often should I get a mammogram, clinical breast exam and pap smear?
- When should I have my cholesterol, triglycerides and Vitamin D levels checked?
- Are there foods, nutritional supplements, and herbs that can help with symptoms and address health problems?
- What types of exercise and lifestyle changes will keep me healthy? How does exercise influence my bones, my heart, or other health issues?
