Do You Have the Doctor You Need Now?
The chance that you’ll see the same health care professional at age fifty that you saw at age twenty grows slimmer with each passing day. With the ever-changing parade of health care workers we see over the course of our lives, it becomes easy to think of them as interchangeable cogs in the vast machine of our professional health care maintenance. But that’s a dangerous attitude to have toward the individuals responsible for helping you live a long, healthy life.
Your choice of a health care professional must always meet certain qualifications in training and ability—you should never accept second-rate health care, no matter how simple your health care needs may be. But when you’re approaching menopause, you require some special qualities in a health care provider. You need to be an active partner in your health maintenance throughout your life; if you have been a passive patient up to this point, now’s the time to get serious and get involved in ensuring your good health throughout menopause—and beyond.
Can’t my primary care physician handle my health care during menopause?
If both you and your primary care physician (PCP) are comfortable with that arrangement, there’s no reason for you to see a specialist during menopause. If you have severe or unusual symptoms, however, your PCP is likely to refer you to a specialist for diagnosis and treatment. Talk to your PCP about his or her recommendations for your health care during menopause.
Personal qualities aside, the most important factor in your choice of a health care provider should be professional training. When you’re choosing medical care specifically for your treatment during menopause, you need first to decide what kind of special training you want your caregiver to have. If you want someone with specialization beyond that of a general practitioner (GP), you can choose from among a number of types of traditional and nontraditional health care providers. Within the realm of traditional medicine, here are some of your choices:
An obstetrician/gynecologist (ob/gyn) is specially trained in prenatal care for expectant mothers and the delivery of babies (the obstetrician part) and care of women’s reproductive health from menarche to menopause and beyond (the gynecologist services). These physicians can provide long-term treatment for women at any development stage or age. You can also choose an ob/gyn with a specialization in menopause. With the menopausal population booming, more ob/gyns are specializing in menopause. These specialists remain up-to-date on menopause symptoms, testing, and treatment methods, and new developments in the use of HRT.
A reproductive endocrinologist is a doctor who specializes in
hormone imbalances and infertility. Since these physicians focus on
reproductive hormones, they are likely to remain current on HRT and
other treatments and issues that impact menopausal women. Some of
these physicians deal strictly with infertility issues, so check before
you make the appointment.
A nurse practitioner is a Registered Nurse (RN) who can perform
physical examinations, diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries,
prescribe edication, and provide other health care functions. A
women’s health nurse practitioner (WHNP) has special training in the
area of women’s health. Recent studies have shown that many people
of both sexes are choosing nurse practitioners as primary health care
providers, citing satisfaction with such factors as the amount of time
spent in discussing health issues and accessibility to patients.
Before you leave the office during your scheduled visits, make sure you understand all of the information you’ve received during your visit. If you need further explanation, ask for it. You won’t get points for pretending to comprehend information that confuses you. If your doctor or practitioner is using terminology you don’t understand, ask for a translation. Asking for clarification immediately is preferable to calling the office after you’ve returned home to report that you didn’t understand something you were told during your visit. Many doctors’ offices also have preprinted brochures regarding various aspects of menopause, so feel free to ask.
Finally, discuss all treatment options that interest you, regardless of the medical specialization of the health care provider you’ve chosen. If you’re interested in pursuing a combination approach to managing symptoms of menopause, you want to be certain that this doctor or practitioner is open to that approach. If you are looking for relief from specific symptoms, such as incontinence or insomnia, say so, and ask if any recommended treatment options specifically address those symptoms. If you think you may want certain tests that the doctor hasn’t actually offered, speak up.
