You know something is going on with your body, maybe you’re having increased weight gain around the middle, even though you work out regularly and eat well. Or you are having an increase in heavy, painful periods? Are your mood swings suddenly making you a not very nice human to be around? Or maybe acne has returned and you suddenly have night sweats and hot flashes? You think it may be hormone-related. It’s time to talk to your health care practitioner about getting your hormones tested.
Not Always Easy
Getting your hormones tested is sometimes harder than it needs to be, so you may need to ask and ask again. Then when you get the results it can be overwhelming and confusing. If you get push back, keep asking or find a new practitioner who is willing to take the time to explain the results to you. It is so important to work with someone who has the time to listen to your questions and spend time answering your questions. Here are some questions to ask your health care practitioner to get your hormones tested and your questions answered.
Questions to Ask to get what you want for hormone testing
- I am having significant x, y, and z symptoms. I would like to get my hormones tested.
- How do you test hormone levels? What hormones do you test and why?
- What tests do you use and why?
- I would like to use a DUTCH test? Can you supply me with the test? If I purchase it myself, can you read it for me?
- I know my TSH is within the normal range on the results, what is my actual TSH?
- I would like you to run a full thyroid panel.
- I would like to run a general blood test, can you check my iron saturation, anemia, and c-reactive protein?
- Ask for a vitamin D test, as well as for a blood sugar test. These can be good indicators of your hormone health.
- If your doctor recommends birth control (100% up to you) to help with your symptoms, you can always ask what lifestyle and diet he/she recommend that could help your symptoms improve. Utilize the recommendations for 3-6 months and see how you are feeling at that time.
- Everything on the test results shows I’m in the normal range, but I’m having terrible symptoms. Where on the range am I falling? High? Low? Could these be indicative of moving towards a hormone imbalance?
- Always ask for a print out of your lab results to take home with you. This is a huge piece of being your own advocate and the CEO of your own health.
If you are having significant perimenopause or menopause symptoms and are thinking about hormone replacement therapy, here are some questions you should ask your doctor.
Hormone Replacement Therapy Questions
- What can I do to relieve and address my menopausal symptoms such as insomnia, hot flashes, night sweats, brain fog, low energy, low libido, or vaginal dryness?
- What is your philosophy on hormone replacement therapy? What can you tell me about bioidentical hormone therapy?
- Do you think I’m a candidate for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy?
- How can we work together to ensure I’m getting the right dose for me?
- What is the difference between bioidentical pharmaceuticals and compounded hormones therapy?
- If I choose hormone therapy, are there different ways I can take them such as topical creams, vaginal creams, capsules, suppositories? What are the pros and cons of each?
- Are there foods, supplements, or herbs that can help with the symptoms that I could try before going straight to hormone replacement therapy?
- If I opt for hormone replacement therapy, how long will it be before I notice a change in my symptoms?
Asking your doctor the right questions, can help you know if you are aligned with your doctor and empowers you to be your own health advocate.
I love hearing from readers and hope you found this blog helpful. Please let me know in the comments. If you think we would be a good fit for health coaching, check out my coaching options here.
Be sure to share this post with any woman you think might benefit from it and share on social media.
Follow me on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook for more awesome period info and to see what I’m up to in Nigeria.
