A short, judgment-free checklist for the conversations that actually matter — with your clinician, and with yourself.
Print it. Take it to appointments. Tick what's true.
SECTION 1 · WHAT CHANGED
When did you first notice something was different?
It started gradually
It started suddenly
I cannot pinpoint when
The change I noticed first:
Less interest or desire
Dryness or discomfort
Pain during intimacy
Low energy or fatigue
A sense of emotional distance
Avoiding it altogether
I have not noticed changes yet
SECTION 2 · WHAT I HAVE ALREADY TRIED
Talked to a clinician
Looked into hormone therapy
Moisturizers or lubricants
Pelvic floor exercises or physiotherapy
Adjusted sleep, movement, or stress
Nothing yet
SECTION 3 · WHAT I ACTUALLY WANT TO ASK
Bring this to your appointment. These are the questions people often leave out.
Is what I am experiencing expected at my stage?
Would a pelvic floor assessment help?
Are moisturizers or lubricants worth trying before anything else?
Could local estrogen be relevant for me, and what would that involve?
Are there positions or pacing changes that make this easier?
Is it normal for this to have affected my mood as well as my body?
How would I know if this needs something more than self-care?
SECTION 4 · BEFORE YOUR NEXT APPOINTMENT
Date symptoms started
Anything that makes it noticeably better or worse
Products, medications, or supplements you already use
Whether you would rather start with non-hormonal options
Whether you would like written information to take away
A NOTE FOR YOU
You do not have to have this figured out before you ask. "Something has changed and I do not know why" is a complete enough sentence to bring to a clinician — and a much better one than waiting until next year.
If you would rather not start with an appointment, our full guide covers the physiology, the practical adjustments, and the questions worth asking, in detail.