In the U.S., more than 2 million people enter menopause each year.1 Despite menopause being a natural phase of life, many people report feeling underinformed on the issue.
A 2021 State of Menopause Survey revealed that 45% of women were unaware of the difference between perimenopause and menopause prior to experiencing symptoms. And almost a third (32%) felt they had insufficient access to information on the topic before symptoms began.
To shed light on what you can expect during this midlife transition, we sat down with Elaine Bishop, an Ovia Health Coach and Menopause Society Certified Practitioner (MSCP).
What is the biggest question that people have when facing menopause?
I think the biggest question is, “Am I in menopause?”
It’s a unique and individual experience, so not everyone’s going to have the same symptoms or challenges. A lot of people start to feel their body changing and notice their cycle changing, but it can happen in waves. You might have some cycle irregularity and then notice that it goes back to being normal for a while. It makes people question, “What’s happening with my body?” And that can be confusing.
Tip: Check out our recent blog if you want to know more about the various stages and symptoms of menopause.
What is an MSCP and why should you see one?
MSCP stands for Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. An MSCP is a healthcare provider with a special interest in menopause care who has taken a certification exam after many hours of study on the current data we have on menopause care and treatment.
It's beneficial to seek the care of an MSCP because menopause is an area that is evolving and growing rapidly. Seeing someone who is up to date on the most current evidence will give you the best chance of having effective treatment.
For instance, a commonly reported issue amongst people in perimenopause is that symptoms are not always directly addressed and in some cases, are dismissed. Imagine sitting at your desk concentrating, and then all of a sudden, you are dripping sweat, feeling hot and your heart is racing. You feel awful. That’s disruptive to your work cycle or to your home life. It’s a very bothersome symptom for some people, and very often, the response is, “Yeah, that’s menopause.” But there are effective treatments out there for hot flashes that can improve your quality of life.
If you can find a provider who has familiarity with the broad set of symptoms that come with perimenopause and menopause, you're going to have the best chance at having relief from your symptoms and managing your menopause in a way that is most life-giving to you.
What is the difference between an MSCP and a gynecologist who specializes in menopause?
[Becoming an] MSCP is an additional professional certification for healthcare providers who haven’t specialized in menopause previously in their career. MSCP certification demonstrates specialization above and beyond their original specialty. If [a healthcare provider without MSCP training] was working with menopausal people, I would hope they have a very strong base in menopause.
How can you find an MSCP and what can you expect at an MSCP appointment?
The Menopause Society website has a nationwide search tool where you can look for a provider by zip code or name.
The appointment will involve history taking, a discussion of what’s been going on, a physical exam, and depending upon symptoms, a speculum exam. It’s helpful if you can give the provider concrete information about your symptoms and cycle irregularity because it helps your provider offer you the most effective treatments.
Tip: Learn how the Ovia app can help you track your cycle and symptoms with ease.
What are your best tips for people looking for menopausal support?
Finding reliable sources of information is so important. In general, large health facilities will put out information that’s reliable, but I would steer clear of smaller blogs. Those sources of information are more personal-experience-based, which has its place in some circumstances but isn’t a reliable source of evidence-based information.
We have menopause-specific content within the Ovia Health app , so there are several articles educating people about the most up-to-date evidence on what to expect. Users with premium access can interact with our MSCPs through the app for education and for support to advocate for themselves at their healthcare provider appointments. These users can write in with their symptoms or questions about menopause and we will provide them with evidence-based information and general treatment guidelines that are standard of care. They can then bring this information to their own healthcare provider to develop an individual treatment plan that works best for them.
Finally, I still think it’s important to have a support group you can confide in. Lean on your elders, maybe a grandma or your mom or older sister who has been through menopause.
When should you consider taking a menopause test?
An important point to consider in testing for menopause is that menopause is sort of a continuum, not a momentary event where you’re going to be positive or negative for menopause. While a lab test can be informative about your hormone levels, you do need the help of a provider to interpret it accurately. There are lab values to indicate you are postmenopausal, but sometimes those ratios can show up in perimenopause as well. So, if you're borderline perimenopausal and you're not really sure so you take this test, it's most helpful to then go to a provider and tell them, “Here's when I took the test,” so they can help you interpret results.
Tip: Labcorp’s OnDemand Menopause Test measures key hormones related to normal reproductive functioning and menopause. This all-in-one test empowers you to understand your symptoms and have more informed conversations with your provider.
Your Next Steps
Menopause can be a challenging time, but you don’t have to face it alone. There are many resources and treatments available to help you through this natural stage in life. If you are experiencing physical or mental changes that are bothering you, we highly recommend you find a healthcare provider who is knowledgeable about menopause and with whom you feel comfortable talking about your symptoms and concerns.
Finally, tracking your symptoms and getting hormone testing can help you have more informed conversations with your doctor about your menopause experience. This will help your provider develop a treatment plan that is right for you. For more information on menopause, check out Ovia’s Menopause 101 content gallery.
Sources cited:
- Mayo Clinic. Pausing to learn more about menopause. November 30, 2021. Accessed October 2, 2023. https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/too-embarrassed-to-ask-part-3
