10 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?
  

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