Questions to ask your OB about menopause (English and Taglish)

• Pick your top three to five questions. A short consult will not cover all of them, so lead with what bothers you most.
• Ask the most important one first, before the doctor starts writing.
• Write the answers down, or ask if you can record a voice note.
• If you run out of time, ask: "Can we continue this at a follow-up, or by teleconsult?"

Pair it with the Health Report so your doctor has your symptoms and history in front of them. If you have been dismissed before, the "It's just stress" script helps.

International guidance supports offering hormone therapy for moderate to severe hot flashes in healthy women under 60 or within 10 years of menopause (The Menopause Society 2022). PGH OB-GYN faculty have said HRT can be started as soon as symptoms appear (UP Manila 2025). Asking about it is reasonable.

About what is happening

• Do you think this is perimenopause, menopause, or something else?
• Could my thyroid, iron, B12 or a medicine be causing any of this?
• Do I need any blood tests, or can you tell from my age and symptoms?
• Can I still get pregnant? Do I still need contraception?

About treatment

• Am I a candidate for hormone therapy (HRT)? Why or why not?
• What are the benefits and risks for someone with my history, in numbers?
• Gel or tablets: which estrogen would you suggest, and why?
• Which progestogen would I need to protect my womb lining?
• If not HRT, what non-hormonal medicines could help my hot flashes or sleep?
• Is there something for vaginal dryness I can use, even with or without HRT?
• Are any of my supplements a problem with my other medicines?

About tests and the future

• Do I need a bone density (DXA) scan? A mammogram? A Pap or HPV test?
• How will we know if the treatment is working?
• When should I come back?
• What symptoms mean I should see you sooner?

If the answer is no

• Can you explain why, so I understand?
• Is there a menopause specialist you can refer me to?

Tungkol sa nangyayari sa akin

• Doc, perimenopause na po ba ito, menopause, o iba?
• Pwede po bang thyroid, kulang sa iron o B12, o gamot ko ang dahilan?
• Kailangan ko po ba ng blood test, o sapat na ang edad at sintomas ko?
• Pwede pa po ba akong mabuntis? Kailangan ko pa ba ng contraception?

Tungkol sa gamutan

• Pwede po ba ako sa HRT? Bakit po oo, o bakit hindi?
• Ano po ang benefits at risks para sa akin, in numbers po sana?
• Gel o tablet po ba ang estrogen na bagay sa akin, at bakit?
• Anong progestogen po ang kailangan ko para protektado ang matres ko?
• Kung hindi HRT, may gamot po bang walang hormone para sa hot flashes o sa tulog ko?
• May pwede po ba ako para sa vaginal dryness?
• May problema po ba ang mga supplement ko sa ibang gamot ko?

Tungkol sa tests at sa susunod

• Kailangan ko po ba ng bone density (DXA) scan? Mammogram? Pap o HPV test?
• Paano po natin malalaman kung umeepekto ang gamutan?
• Kailan po ako babalik?
• Anong sintomas po ang dapat kong ipakonsulta agad?

Kung "hindi" ang sagot

• Doc, pwede po bang i-explain kung bakit, para maintindihan ko?
• May menopause specialist po ba kayong mare-refer sa akin?