Preparing for an appointment

For hot flashes, you'll likely start by seeing your family doctor or gynecologist.

What you can do

Before your appointment, make a list of:

• Your symptoms, including how many hot flashes you have a day and how severe they are
• Medications, herbs, vitamins and supplements you take, including doses
• Questions to ask your doctor

Take a family member or friend with you, if possible, to help you remember the information you get. Bring along a notepad or device to jot down information you receive.

Some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

• Do I need any tests?
• What treatments are available to help with my symptoms?
• What else can I do to relieve my symptoms?
• Are there alternative therapies I can try?
• Do you have printed information I can have? What websites do you recommend?

If other questions occur to you during the appointment, don't hesitate to ask them.

What to expect from your doctor

Some questions your doctor might ask include:

• Are you still having periods?
• When was your last period?
• How often do your symptoms bother you?
• How uncomfortable do your symptoms make you?
• Does anything seem to help?
• Does anything make your symptoms worse?