Menopause is a major life transition, but it doesn’t mean you have to just deal with the symptoms. From hot flashes and sleep disruptions to mood changes and bone health, the right specialist can help you navigate this phase with confidence and comfort.
Step 1: Look for the Gold Standard (MSCP)
Not every women’s health provider is an expert in the nuances of midlife health.
- Seek Out Experts: Look for a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP). These providers (formerly known as NAMS-certified or NCMPs) have passed a rigorous competency exam specifically on menopause management.
- Many people assume menopause providers are all women’s health specialists like OBGYNs and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners. However, menopause specialists can include primary care, family practice, internal medicine, urologists, urogynecologists, sexual medicine specialists and even some rheumatology and endocrinology professionals.
- Use the Directory: The Menopause Society maintains a searchable directory of these certified experts.
- It’s also important to note that not all knowledgeable menopause providers are MSCPs.
Step 2: The Interview – Questions to Ask
During your first consultation, notice if the provider treats you as a partner. Try asking:
- “How comfortable are you with current treatment options for common perimenopause and menopause symptoms? Do you prescribe hormone therapy?
- “What preventative care can I expect and how often will I need screenings for things like bone health, cancer, and heart disease?”
- “If my symptoms change or I have side effects from a new treatment, how quickly can I get in touch with the team?”
Step 3: Know Your Red Flags
You deserve a provider who validates your experience. Here are a few examples of experiences that may have you continuing your search for a new provider::
- The Ageism Brush-Off: They tell you that your symptoms are “just a part of getting older” or “every woman goes through menopause” and offer no solutions.
- Tough it Out: You have life-changing symptoms and are told to push through.
- Up Selling: Be wary of providers who want to sell you their line of supplements or alternative treatments. This is a conflict of interest for a provider to profit from a treatment they recommend. So if they insist you purchase products from their office or a link associated with their name, consider whether or not you trust this advice because it is not without bias.
- Dismissing Mental Health: They ignore the brain fog, anxiety, or mood changes that often accompany the hormonal shifts of menopause.
Pro Tip: Your Menopause Symptom Tracker
Because hormones fluctuate, your symptoms might change from week to week and month to month. To help identify the best treatment, bring a 4-week log of:
- Intensity & Frequency: How many hot flashes/night sweats are you having a day?
- Sleep & Mood: Are you having trouble falling asleep, or waking up at 3 AM? Are you feeling more irritable or low than usual?
- Physical Changes: Note any new joint pain, skin changes, or vaginal dryness.
- Cycle Changes (this one is longer term): are you having cycles closer together or further apart than you’re used to? Are your periods heavier or lighter than usual?
You can log these any way you prefer, but using Ovia in Menopause mode can really help!
