🌸 Menopause

Health Navigator Workbook

Understanding Your Symptoms

Menopause is a natural transition. This workbook helps you document your experiences and identify patterns to share with your healthcare provider.

Common Menopause Symptoms

Check any symptoms you're experiencing:

Hot flashes & night sweats — sudden intense heat, flushing, sweating

Mood changes — anxiety, depression, irritability, emotional sensitivity

Sleep disruption — insomnia, waking at night, unrefreshed sleep

Vaginal dryness — discomfort, dryness, reduced lubrication

Weight gain — increased belly fat, slower metabolism, difficulty losing weight

Brain fog — difficulty concentrating, memory issues, mental fog

Joint & muscle pain — aching joints, muscle tension, stiffness

Heart palpitations — racing heart, irregular heartbeat, chest awareness

Reduced libido — decreased sexual desire, difficulty with arousal

💡 Track your patterns: Note when symptoms start, how long they last, and what triggers them (stress, heat, certain foods).

Page 1 of 3

🌸 Menopause — Lab Work

What to Request from Your Provider

Critical Lab Tests for Menopause

Print this list and bring it to your annual wellness visit. These tests reveal the full hormonal picture.

📋 FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone)
Level above 30 IU/L suggests menopause. Elevated FSH = declining estrogen.

📋 Estradiol (E2)
Measures circulating estrogen. Low levels confirm menopause. Normal ranges shift during transition.

📋 Progesterone (Serum)
Low progesterone = unopposed estrogen = heavy bleeding, mood changes, anxiety.

📋 Total & Free Testosterone
Low testosterone = low libido, fatigue, muscle loss, brain fog.

📋 TSH, Free T3, Free T4, TPO Antibodies
Thyroid disease mimics menopause symptoms. Critical 6-point thyroid panel.

📋 Lipid Panel (Advanced)
LDL, HDL, triglycerides, Lp(a). Estrogen decline increases cardiovascular risk.

📋 Fasting Glucose & Insulin
Menopause increases insulin resistance. Detect early metabolic shift.

📋 Vitamin D (25-OH)
Low D = bone loss, mood changes, immune dysregulation. Target: 60-80 ng/mL.

📋 Iron Panel (Ferritin, TIBC, Serum Iron)
Heavy periods = iron loss, fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath.

📝 Provider script: "I'd like a comprehensive hormone panel including FSH, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid panel, lipids, glucose, insulin, vitamin D, and iron — to understand my menopause transition fully."

Page 2 of 3

🌸 Root Cause Discovery

Investigate What's Really Happening

Key Questions to Explore

Answer these to identify your menopause pattern:

1. Age at symptom onset?
Early menopause (before 45) suggests different interventions than late-onset.

2. Which symptoms dominate?
Hot flashes? Brain fog? Mood? Weight gain? Each points to different hormonal imbalances.

3. Period pattern?
Skipping periods? Heavy bleeding? Irregular cycles reveal where you are in transition.

4. History of hormonal dysfunction?
PCOS, endometriosis, fibroids, or thyroid disease? These predict menopause severity.

5. Family menopause age?
Your mother's menopause age often predicts yours. Early family history = early menopause risk.

6. Cardiovascular risk factors?
Family history of heart disease, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol? Menopause increases risk further.

7. Bone health concerns?
History of fractures, osteoporosis risk, or low bone density? Menopause accelerates bone loss.

Bioidentical HRT Considerations

Micronized Progesterone — For all women, regardless of uterus status (protects brain, cardiovascular, bone)
Estradiol — Transdermal patch/cream preferred (bypasses liver, mimics natural form)
Testosterone — Often overlooked; restores libido, muscle, energy, cognition
Monitoring: Retest labs after 6-8 weeks to adjust doses

🔑 Remember: Menopause is not a hormone deficiency to "treat away" — it's a transition to support intelligently with labs, lifestyle, and targeted bioidentical hormones if needed.

Page 3 of 3