To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment

You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions:

• What was the date of your last menstrual period?
  • When was your previous period? Was it normal?
  • Do you have regular cycles, such as a period every 25 to 35 days?
  • If you have been through menopause, how long ago was your last menstrual period?
• How severe (heavy) is your usual menstrual flow? What is the average length of each period, and how many pads or tampons do you use per day during your period? Do you pass many clots and how big are they? Do you change pads or tampons during the night? Keep track of your menstrual flow on a calendar, and take your calendar to show your doctor.
• Are you sexually active?
• Do you engage in high-risk sexual behaviors?
• Are you currently using any type of hormonal birth control method?
• Have you missed any birth control pills or failed to have your Depo-Provera injection according to schedule?
• Have you done a home pregnancy test? If so, when did you do the test and what was the result?
• Have you been under increased physical or emotional stress?
• Have you recently changed your diet or exercise habits?
• Have you recently gained or lost weight?
• What prescription or nonprescription medicines are you taking, if any?
• Do you have any other symptoms, such as lower abdominal pain?
• Have you had other similar episodes and, if so:
  • What evaluation was done?
  • What was the diagnosis?
  • What was the treatment?
  • What were the results?
• Do you have any health risks?