Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Menopause

Talk about menopause treatment options with your doctor. Together, you can reach the best decision about your menopause treatment. To prepare for your appointment, it's a good idea to write down your questions. It is also a good idea to bring a friend for support and a pen and paper to take notes.

Here are some questions that you may want to ask your doctor.

Questions About Menopause

  • What should I expect during menopause?
  • Should I have an exam to make sure my symptoms aren't caused by other health issues?
  • Do I need to be examined for possible health issues related to menopause?
  • Where can I get more information about menopause and menopause treatment options?
Questions About Treatment
  • What treatments are available to help my menopause symptoms?
  • What are the risks and benefits of hormone therapy?
  • If I choose hormone therapy, how long should I take it?
  • How long will it take to feel a difference?
  • What are the side effects?
  • Would a healthier lifestyle such as proper diet, exercise, sleep or reducing stress help reduce my symptoms?
Questions About Osteoporosis
  • What is my risk for postmenopausal osteoporosis?
  • How can I decrease my risk?
  • If I have osteoporosis, what treatments are available?


WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT VIVELLE-DOT (AN ESTROGEN HORMONE)?

Estrogens increase the chances of getting cancer of the uterus (womb). Report any unusual vaginal bleeding right away while you are taking estrogens. Vaginal bleeding after menopause may be a warning sign of cancer of the uterus (womb).

Do not use estrogens with or without progestins to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes. Using estrogens with or without progestins may increase your chances of getting heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer, and blood clots. Using estrogens with progestins may increase your risk of dementia (decline in memory and thinking skills).

Vivelle-Dot should not be used if you have unusual vaginal bleeding; currently have or have had certain cancers, including cancer of the breast or uterus; had a stroke or heart attack in the recent past (for example, in the past year); currently have or have had blood clots; currently have or have had liver problems; or think you may be, or know that you are, pregnant.

The most common side effects that may occur with Vivelle-Dot are headache, breast tenderness, and back pain.

Vivelle-Dot is used after menopause to: reduce moderate to severe hot flashes; treat moderate to severe dryness, itching and burning in or around the vagina; help reduce your chances of getting osteoporosis (thin weak bones); and treat certain conditions in which a young woman’s ovaries do not produce enough estrogens naturally. Vivelle-Dot 0.025 mg/day is only used to prevent osteoporosis from menopause. If you use Vivelle-Dot only to treat your dryness, itching, and burning in and around your vagina or if you use Vivelle-Dot only to prevent osteoporosis from menopause, talk with your healthcare professional about whether a different treatment or medicine without estrogens might be better for you.

You and your healthcare professional should talk regularly about whether you still need treatment with Vivelle-Dot.