Take Charge:

A Guide to Finding and Getting the Menopause Care You Deserve

You’re in the prime of your life and want to feel healthy, energized, and fully you. Your healthcare practitioner is an important partner. On this page, learn how to be your own menopausal health champion, to feel more confident and prepared to have a high-quality discussion with your healthcare practitioner, and to get the care that best fits your needs—and your life.

Download the full guide here:

“Advocating for your own health is never wrong. If you feel like people are not listening to you, if you feel like something is not right and you are being dismissed, keep advocating. Keep looking for better quality information. Keep looking for a provider that can help.

Dr. Kelsey Mills, Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Menopause Specialist
Victoria, British Columbia
MFC Medical Advisory Board Member

A Note on Menopause and Health Equity

Access to menopause care isn’t equal, and for many women and gender-diverse people, getting help is harder than it should be. Read more about menopause and health equity.

Finding a Menopause Healthcare Practitioner

Is your healthcare practitioner unable to help? Don’t have a regular health provider and need menopause care? You are not alone. For options, visit Find a Physician.

Getting the Care You Need: Top Tips

  • 1

    Book a dedicated appointment.

    Menopause deserves your full attention—and your healthcare practitioner’s. Don’t tack it onto another visit. Schedule time (ask for a longer appointment) just for this.

  • 2

    You are an equal partner in your menopause care team.

    You’ve tracked symptoms, done your research, and know your body. Share your insights; your voice matters.

  • 3

    Don’t assume menopause is the cause of every symptom.

    Hot flashes? Probably. Heart palpitations? Maybe. Some symptoms overlap with other conditions. Get a full evaluation to make sure you get the right diagnosis and care.

  • 4

    There is no “one-size fits-all” approach.

    There are lifestyle changes, prescription options, and non-prescription options available today to manage the broad range of symptoms people experience.

  • 5

    If symptoms persist, talk to your healthcare practitioner.

    If symptoms aren’t improving, don’t settle, speak up. Adjustments to your dose or type of treatment may be needed, and you don’t have to suffer in silence.

Remember, the menopause transition is part of mid-life health. Be proactive and talk to your healthcare practitioner about recommended checks and screenings related to heart, bone and genitourinary health, certain cancers, and mental health. Read more about mid-life health checks in Menopause Essentials™.

Track, Learn, Prepare

Ready to make the most out of your time with your healthcare practitioner? Track, learn, and prepare so you are primed for positive progress.

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Track
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Learn
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Prepare
1 TRACK

Appointments are short, and remembering everything on the spot is tough. Tracking your symptoms provides your healthcare practitioner with a clear view of what you’re experiencing.

Ideally track your period (if you are still having it) and symptoms for at least three months to give a full picture and to help your practitioner rule out other possible causes. The MenoPause Symptom Tracker from the Menopause Foundation of Canada, endorsed by the Canadian Menopause Society, is a quick and simple way to monitor common symptoms.

Now is a great time to get familiar with the wide range of menopause symptoms—there are more than 30. That’s because estrogen receptors are found throughout the body, including the brain, which means menopause can affect you in many ways. Symptoms generally fall into four key categories:

  • Physical – i.e., hot flashes, night sweats, headaches, heart palpitations

  • Mood & Mental Health – i.e., anxiety, irritability, depression

  • Genitourinary & Sexual Health – i.e., vaginal dryness or burning, painful sex, urinary urgency or incontinence

  • Cognition & Sleep – i.e., brain fog, memory issues, sleep disturbances

2 LEARN
Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to understanding your body. With more and more conversation about menopause in media, books, and on social media, it can be hard to figure out what’s credible. Start with evidence-based resources like these:
There are resources written for a medical audience, including Treatment Guidelines, that you may wish to share with your healthcare provider. For a list, visit the Find a Physician page.
3 PREPARE

Appointment coming up? Let’s get organized.

Jot down the questions you want to ask. Here are a few to get you started:

  • Do my symptoms and their pattern suggest perimenopause/menopause?
  • Are there other potential causes for my symptoms? How will we rule them out?
  • What other tests/evaluations should I be doing (cholesterol, thyroid, etc.)?
  • What are my lifestyle and treatment options, and the risks/benefits of each?
  • How long should it take before I notice a difference?

Your family history is another part of the puzzle. Make note of anything relevant—especially your mother’s or siblings’ menopause experience and any personal or family history of breast cancer. This information may help guide your treatment choices.

The day before your appointment, gather your list of questions, your notes on your family history, your symptom tracker, and any resources you would like to share. You’re ready!

It’s finally here! Time to maximize your appointment

  • Start strong.

    Open with your goal: “I’m here to talk about menopause and find the best way to manage my symptoms and reduce long-term risks.”

  • Be direct about symptoms.

    Use your tracker to highlight key symptoms, how often they happen, and how they affect your life. Focus on what’s impacting you most. For example:

    • “I wake up drenched in sweat almost every night and can’t sleep.”
    • “It feels like sandpaper during sex—it’s painful and stressful.”
    • “I am feeling very anxious, and it is impacting my family and work.”

  • Share what you’ve learned.

    Discovered research or guidelines you feel might be helpful? Speak up. Try openers like:

    • “I came across the Guidelines and saw that…”
    • “I found some evidence-based info I’d love to share…”
    • “I think this might help explain my symptoms…”

  • Ask your questions.

    Have the list of questions you prepared before your appointment out and ready. Ask them, and make sure you get the answers you need, especially about treatment options, risks, and benefits.

  • Leave with a plan.

    Don’t leave your appointment without a plan forward.

    • Got a treatment plan? Fantastic! Time to get started on the path to feeling better.
    • Need a follow-up? Fantastic! Book it before you leave
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After your appointment, take a moment to thank yourself for being proactive about your health…for taking charge. Way to go!

“I have been treating menopausal women for decades and know the serious toll symptoms can have on their health and quality of life. Menopause is seen as something women must endure, like a woman’s burden. This is unacceptable. Women deserve to feel healthy and they should not suffer in silence. There is preventative care, lifestyle choices, and safe and effective treatment options to help women thrive during their menopausal years.”

~Dr. Wendy Wolfman, MD, FRCS(C), FACOG, NCMP, president of the Canadian Menopause Society and a member of the Medical Advisory Board of the Menopause Foundation of Canada