Woman holding tablet while receiving online menopause treatment consultation

Online menopause treatment: how it works

Medically reviewed on April 4, 2023 by Jordan Stachel, M.S., RDN, CPT. To give you technically accurate, evidence-based information, content published on the Everlywell blog is reviewed by credentialed professionals with expertise in medical and bioscience fields.

Table of contents

Signs you might be transitioning into menopause
6 steps for getting online menopause care
What should you consider before seeking online menopause treatment?
Learn more about your transition into menopause with Everlywell
Related content

If you’ve been experiencing hot flashes, changes in your menstrual cycle, or mood changes, you might be transitioning into menopause [1]. While menopause is a completely normal part of aging, the transition can be difficult for some—going from decades of predictable periods to a host of new symptoms to navigate.

If you or a loved one could use some guidance managing uncomfortable menopause symptoms and possible treatments, a healthcare provider can help develop a plan of action for you. Plus, patients can seek online menopause treatment via telehealth services for women: a virtual appointment that connects patients with providers no matter where they are located [2].

Online menopause treatment is accessible and convenient. But if you’ve never used telemedicine services before, you might not know what to expect. In this guide, we’re breaking down everything you need to know about seeking virtual treatment for menopause, including a step-by-step guide to the telehealth process.

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Signs you might be transitioning into menopause

Before we explore some signs that you might be experiencing menopause, it’s helpful to understand the three unique phases of menopause:

Menopause: this first phase of transitioning into menopause occurs immediately after your last menstrual cycle [1].
Post-menopause: this describes the time after menopause—the phase during which you’re no longer menstruating [1].
Perimenopause: the phase leading up to menopause. During perimenopause, you’re still menstruating, but you may already be experiencing the symptoms of menopause [1].

What are those uncomfortable symptoms? If you’re between the ages of 45 and 55 and you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, you might be perimenopausal [3]:

Hot flashes
Irregular menstrual periods, which might look like: Periods very far apart; Periods very close together; Heavier or lighter periods than usual; More or less cramping than usually experienced
Increased prevalence of vaginal infections
Trouble sleeping
Mental health changes, including: Sudden mood swings; Depression; Anxiety
Changing libido
Bladder control changes or urinary incontinence
Brain fog or trouble focusing

These symptoms can persist into the postmenopausal phase, so they could be experienced long-term.

6 steps for getting online menopause care

If you’re experiencing the menopausal symptoms above, and you’re considering seeking online menopause treatment, the six steps below describe what you can do (and what you can expect) during your telehealth care visits.

Examine your insurance coverage

If you have insurance and you’re interested in using your policy to cover some of the costs of treatment, closely examining your coverage could help you make cost-saving decisions throughout the treatment process.

We recommend finding out:

Which services your policy covers – Every insurance policy is different. You might have coverage for wellness visits with a primary care provider or OBGYN, but limited coverage for specialist care. Consider this information when choosing a provider.
Who’s in your network – Choosing an in-network provider can help you keep your costs down during treatment [4]. But, if your insurer doesn’t have any telemedicine providers in their network, ask about filing a claim for out-of-network reimbursement if your policy covers this.
How much treatment might cost – Learn more about your policy’s copayment or coinsurance requirements (for both in-network and out-of-network providers) to estimate your costs during treatment.

Choose a telehealth provider

After you examine your insurance policy (or if you won’t be using insurance), it’s time to choose an online menopause treatment provider. We recommend looking for providers with:

A specialty in OBGYN, reproductive medicine, or endocrinology – While primary care providers and generalists can also help you treat early menopause, OBGYNs, reproductive health professionals, and endocrinologists may be able to provide more specialized care.
Local office care options – While it’s unlikely, your virtual provider may recommend in-person testing or examinations during your menopause treatment. These might be more convenient if your telehealth provider also offers in-person services in your area.

Schedule and attend your initial appointment

Once you’ve chosen a provider, call their office or use their online portal to schedule an appointment.

In the meantime, we recommend keeping a journal of your menopausal symptoms. Every day, record information about:

Pelvic pain, cramping, or discomfort rated on a scale of 1 through 10
Physical changes (e.g., unexpected body temperature fluctuations)
Mental health or mood changes
Sleep quality and duration
Libido or your attitude toward sex
Frequency of urination

At your first appointment, your provider will primarily review your symptoms to help diagnose your symptoms and begin formulating a treatment plan. Information from your journal could help them determine both the cause and severity of your menopause symptoms.

Complete tests or screenings recommended by your provider

Even if your provider is confident that your symptoms are being caused by (or are related to) menopause, they may still recommend [1]:

Lab testing to measure hormone levels.
Physical exams to assess your reproductive health.
Related health screenings to develop treatment plans for: Mental health issues; Bladder control; Sleep disruption

Testing, exams, and screenings may or may not be covered by your insurance policy, but your provider may be able to help you determine your coverage and recommend affordable testing options.

Discuss test results and build a care plan

After completing any testing recommended by your provider, schedule a follow-up appointment. During this appointment, your provider may:

Discuss the results – Your provider can help you interpret the results of your tests to help diagnose your current menopausal phase (or other health conditions caused by or related to menopause).
Provide a formal diagnosis – While your provider may officially diagnose your symptoms as signs of early menopause or definitively tell you which menopausal stage you’re in, this isn’t always the case.
Create a care plan – Whether or not your provider offers a diagnosis, they’ll still help you develop a treatment plan.

Your treatment plan might include:

Lifestyle or eating changes
Treatment for associated conditions, like anxiety or depression
Prescription medications to help regulate: Hormone balance; Mood; Bladder control; Healthy sleep patterns

Schedule follow-up appointments as needed

Managing menopause can be a long-term proposition: the perimenopausal phase alone can last for seven to fourteen years, and the duration of the menopausal phase can depend on factors like age, ethnicity, and smoking history (to name just a few) [1].

While your provider’s recommended care plan will include considerations for short- and long-term care, they may also recommend making regular follow-up appointments to:

Discuss the status and effectiveness of your care plan
Manage prescription medications
Address new or worsening symptoms
Order additional tests or screenings

During your treatment, they may also refer you to additional providers who can offer specialized care for menopause-related conditions. For instance, if menopause-related bladder control or an increase in urination frequency is severely impacting your quality of life, your online menopause treatment provider might recommend making an appointment with a urologist.

What should you consider before seeking online menopause treatment?

Seeking online menopause treatment options is relatively simple. But, what should you keep in mind as you navigate the process? Let’s explore three factors to consider on your menopause journey.

Staying in touch with your primary care provider

If you continue seeing an in-person primary care physician for yearly checkups and care for minor illnesses (like a cold or seasonal allergies), we recommend keeping your primary care provider in the loop about your online menopause treatment plan.

While your primary care provider and your virtual provider might communicate or work together to tweak your treatment plan over time, this isn’t always the case. However, it’s important to keep your primary care provider in the loop about any ongoing or major health conditions you might have—menopause included.

Your primary care provider might even be able to recommend or refer you to an online menopause treatment provider. Since they’ll likely have familiarity with your insurance plan, your primary care provider or their office might be able to help you keep your treatment costs down.

Asking your provider about contraceptive options

If you’re sexually active and trying to avoid pregnancy, the first signs of menopause don’t usually indicate that you’re no longer able to get pregnant [1].

If you’re not interested in getting pregnant, you should discuss your contraception options with your online menopause treatment provider. Healthcare experts recommend that people trying to avoid pregnancy should continue using contraception for 12 months after their last menstrual period [1].

But, since menopause can impact your hormone balance, your provider may recommend a non-hormonal birth control method, like [5]:

Condoms
Sponges
Diaphragms or cervical caps
Spermicides
Non-hormonal birth control pills (or progestin-only pills)
A non-hormonal Intrauterine device (IUD) (like the copper IUD)
Permanent contraceptive methods for you or your partner, like tubal ligation or vasectomy

Menopause doesn’t change your risk level for contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) [1]. If you’re sexually active, you can prevent STIs by wearing condoms correctly and getting tested regularly [6].

Testing with at-home collection kits

If your provider recommends additional lab testing as part of your online menopause treatment, you might be looking for a more convenient testing option than an in-person lab testing facility.

Consider at-home menopause testing collection kits. At-home collection kits are simple to use, convenient, and offer fast results. All you must do is:

Order a collection kit online and register your kit once it arrives
Collect the sample using the materials provided in the kit
Send your sample to a lab facility using prepaid postage
Await your secure results

Learn more about your transition into menopause with Everlywell

Online menopause treatment is an accessible, convenient method for people looking for answers about their menopause symptoms. While menopause symptoms can be long-lasting, a healthcare provider can help you with menopause management by providing a personalized care plan.

If you want an easy, convenient way to understand whether you’re experiencing menopause, try the Perimenopause Test from Everlywell. With a simple finger prick, you can test for levels of hormones common in the menopausal transition period. Or, try our services for online women’s health and partner with our team of telehealth experts to review your results and engage in an action plan for your health.

Book women's health virtual visit

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References