How Medical Professionals Can Help You Through Menopause

There are many healthcare professionals you may see along your perimenopause and menopause journey. They may be able to help you manage various symptoms related to hormonal changes that you may experience. Those healthcare professionals can include:

• Primary Care Physicians (including allopathic (MD), osteopathic (DO),and naturopathic providers): Address concerns and questions patients have about their health. They provide exams, take medical histories, prescribe medications, and order and read diagnostic tests.
• Specialized Physicians
  • Obstetricians/Gynecologists (OB-GYN): Provide care for pregnancy, childbirth, and the female reproductive system, and the menopausal transition, perimenopause through postmenopause.
  • Endocrinologists: Specialize in diagnosing and treating hormone-related diseases and conditions. 
  • Orthopedists: Help people get relief from pain and address mobility problems caused by conditions that affect the bones, cartilage, joints, ligaments, muscles, nerves, and tendons.
  • Neurologist/Neuropsychologist: Diagnose, treat, and help manage brain and nervous system disorders.
  • Gastroenterologists: Specialize in treating concerns with the digestive system organs (esophagus, stomach, intestines, live, bile ducts, pancreas, and gallbladder).
• Physician Assistants: Work on a team with physicians to provide care.
• Nurse Practitioners: Prescribe medications, order and read diagnostic tests, assess patients, determine how to manage a patient’s health, and discuss ways to build healthy lifestyle habits. They consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals as needed.
• Pharmacists: Dispense prescription medications and offer advice on safe use of prescriptions. They may also conduct health and wellness screenings, provide immunizations, and provide advice on healthy lifestyles.
• Nurses: Provide and coordinate patient care and educate patients about various health conditions. They also provide advice and emotional support to patients and their families.
• Clinical Social Workers: Can help diagnose and treat mental, behavioral, and emotional problems.
• Psychologists: Assess, diagnose, and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Help patients deal with and understand problems, including issues at home, at work, or in their community.
• Registered Dietitians: Expert in the use of food and nutrition to promote health and manage disease. Offer advice on nutrition and healthy eating habits to help people improve their health.

Ideally, your primary care provider or OB-GYN can help you navigate which specialists you may need to see depending on your symptoms. Start a discussion with them, a menopause practitioner, or a telemedicine provider.