Preparing for an appointment

Your first appointment will likely be with your primary care physician or gynecologist.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment and know what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

To get ready for your appointment:

• Write down details about your symptoms, including when they started and the date and duration of your last period, if you know when your last period was.
• Make note of key medical information, including other conditions for which you're being treated and the names and dosages of any medications, vitamins or supplements you regularly take.
• Review your family history, checking to see whether your mother or any sisters have also had menstrual problems.
• Write down questions to ask your doctor, listing the most important ones first in case time runs short.

For amenorrhea, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• What might be causing me to miss my periods?
• Do I need any tests? How should I prepare for those tests?
• What treatments are available? Which do you recommend for me?
• Do you have any informational brochures on this topic? What websites do you recommend?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor will likely ask you a few questions, such as:

• When was your last period?
• Are you sexually active?
• Could you be pregnant?
• Do you use birth control?
• Are you under any stress?
• Have you experienced unexplained weight gain or weight loss?
• How often and how intensely do you exercise?
• Do you have any other medical conditions?