How To Talk to Your Gynecologist About Menopause: 3 Steps To Getting Better Care
Autumn F Elms, MD
Obstetrics and Gynecology
With brain fog, belly fat, sleep problems and other ailments, menopause can be distressing. And finding a health provider well-versed in these issues can be challenging. That’s why it’s important for you to go to your appointments armed with information so you can get the care you need.
The Gap in Menopause Education
While most women’s health practitioners know a lot about topics such as menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth, their knowledge bank is often smaller when it comes to issues related to perimenopause and menopause. As a result, they might not be tuned into how challenging change-of-life happenings like hot flashes or a lower sex drive can be.
A 2019 survey showed that barely over 6 percent of OB-GYN and family and internal medicine residents felt adequately trained in older women’s medical issues. Twenty percent said they had zero training. Adding to that, since 2025 the medical community has re-embraced estrogen supplementation to treat a wide variety of perimenopausal, menopausal and post-menopausal medical conditions. You’ll want a doctor who is fully up to date on the latest studies.
Three Ways To Talk to Your Doctor About Menopause Symptoms
If you want to discuss your menopause issues, you’ll need to make it happen. Here’s how:
Do — and show — your research. Instead of saying, “It hurts when I have intercourse,” spend time online researching specific causes and symptoms – using legitimate web sites, which typically have .org or .edu in their address. Then specify what you think the reasons might be and what possible solutions you want to discuss.
Bring along test results. For 60 years, the Greene Climacteric Scale has helped women identify their peri-menopause and menopause symptoms. Find it online, fill in your responses and share your results.
Book a separate appointment. Discussing midlife changes and menopause are not part of a well-woman exam. Your annual exam can serve as a great way to ensure you are up to date on preventive labs and imaging, such as mammogram and bone scans, which are imperative when discussing hormone therapy options.
Next Steps for Comprehensive Menopause and Hormonal Care
It often takes time to pinpoint the best treatment plan for your array of symptoms. While you’re most likely to experience vasomotor symptoms — that surge of intense heat that can take you by surprise day or night — you might also be concerned with bone loss, vaginal dryness or brain fog, among other medical changes. A well-versed gynecologist can help guide the proper therapy for your concerns.
Get a regular check-up. Don't assume your symptoms are always related to hormones. Have a primary care physician check your blood and more to see what non-menopause-related issues might be going on. For example, insulin resistance, diabetes, thyroid issues and immune disorders tend to present themselves at about the same age as menopause. They require different treatments than change-of-life symptoms. For example, your joints might hurt because of sinking estrogen levels or because you have rheumatoid arthritis.
See a menopause-trained provider. Once you’ve ruled out other causes of your symptoms, book that second appointment with a doctor specifically trained in menopause by checking the Menopause Society. Ask for someone who specializes in hormones, because many women benefit from vaginal estrogen cream or hormone replacement therapy.
Choose a mainstream provider. Depending on where you live, there may not be a convenient in-person option. There are many online and telehealth platforms. Just be wary of programs selling their own branded supplements. Good menopause care can almost always be provided with FDA -approved, insurance-covered prescriptions. Getting relief from your menopausal symptoms should not break the bank.
You’ll need strong medical care to navigate the onset of perimenopausal, menopausal and post-menopausal bodily changes. Find a gynecologist who will respond to you thoughtfully, then keep seeking information until you find the answers, and treatments, you need.
This content is not AI generated.
