Covered By Health Insurance!

MyMenopauseRx

MyMenopauseRx

Covered By Health Insurance!

MMRX

MyMenopauseRx

Frequently asked questions

Menopause

Menopause

1. What is menopause?

Menopause is the time in a woman's life when her ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone. Natural menopause is determined when a midlife woman has gone 12 months from their final menstrual period without any other associated medical conditions. This is called natural menopause. Surgical menopause occurs when both ovaries have been removed during a surgical procedure.

2. When does menopause occur?

The average age of natural menopause in the United States is around 51 years old but every woman's journey is different. Natural menopause can occur anytime between ages of 40 and 58.

3. What is perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the time period leading up to your natural menopause. It is during this time many women begin to experience symptoms of hormonal changes. Perimenopause can last for years in some women.

4. What is post menopause?

All the years beyond your menopause.

5. I had a hysterectomy. How will I know when I have gone through menopause?

If you had a hysterectomy, you will not be able to determine your final menstrual period based on vaginal bleeding. If your ovaries are in place, you will need to have blood testing of your hormone levels, FSH and ESTRADIOL, to determine when you have entered menopause. You can order lab testing without a visit.

If you had both of your ovaries removed at the time of your hysterectomy, you had a surgical menopause.

Symptoms

1. What are hot flashes?

Hot flashes are experienced by 75% of perimenopause women according to the North American Menopause Society. You may feel intense internal warmth along with profuse sweating, anxiety, skin reddening and palpitations that is followed by chills. Hormone therapy or a low dose antidepressant effectively treats menopause related hot flashes and is safe in most women.

2. What are night sweats?

Night sweats are hot flashes that occur during sleep. They may awaken you from sleep with your clothing drenched or they may just make you feel the need to kick the covers off. Treatment with hormone therapy or a low dose antidepressant can decrease your night sweats and allow you a restful night sleep.

3. Why am I gaining weight in my belly?

Unfortunately, women tend to gain weight as they age. Your metabolism naturally slows down. Hormonal changes cause your muscle mass to decrease. Since muscle burns more calories than fat, a woman may gain weight even if they have not changed their diet. The North American Menopause Society states there is no scientific evidence that menopause itself causes weight gain but the evidence is clear your hormonal changes do cause your extra weight to settle in your belly. Hormone therapy along with a healthy diet and exercise can help prevent unwanted weight gain in your midsection.

4. Why do I have trouble sleeping?

Many midlife women experience night sweats that awaken them from sleep. Others have difficulty falling or staying asleep. Midlife sleep disturbances can be related to your hormones but you may also be suffering from other conditions such as anxiety, depression, stress, sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome to name a few. Your menopause physician will help you sort this out.

5. Why am I moody, irritable and quick to fly off the handle?

The erratic change in your hormone levels during perimenopause may play a role in your mood changes but the science is not clear. We do know that women with a history of depression or premenstrual syndrome (PMS) often complain of mood changes as they go through menopause. Midlife can be a stressful time for many women for a whole host of personal reasons- marriage, job, children, and parents. Combine life stressors with the symptoms associated with hormonal changes and you have a perfect recipe for being moody and irritable. Thankfully, effective treatment is available.

6. Why does my vagina feel dry?

Your ovaries decrease the amount of estrogen in midlife and stop making estrogen in menopause. Estrogen loss causes your vagina to become dry and less stretchy. Some women notice dryness immediately at menopause, others complain years later and some lucky women have no symptoms at all. Luckily, a low dose of vaginal estrogen can safely restore your vaginal health.

7. Why is sex painful now?

Midlife and beyond, the most common cause of painful sex is dryness and thinning of the vagina caused by a lack of estrogen. You may experience less lubrication creating friction or a “sand paper feeling” during sex. Maybe you are experiencing vaginal tightness, burning, soreness, tearing or even bleeding with penetration of the vagina. Relief is available treating the vaginal tissues directly with low dose vaginal estrogen tablet or cream.

8. Why do I have no sex drive?

If you are not sleeping well, experiencing night sweats, vaginal dryness or are just moody from hormonal changes, I bet the last thing on your mind is an evening of intimacy. Maybe you are suffering from a low testosterone that has declined over time. Low hormone levels can definitely play a role in your sex drive and hormone therapy can help.

9. Why is my skin so dry?

Estrogen helps promote collagen and natural oil production in your skin. The decrease in estrogen associated with menopause causes a decrease in the production of collagen in your skin. The collagen loss causes your skin to thin, hold less moisture and feel dry. Topical moisturizers improve the feeling of dryness.

10. Why am I getting wrinkles?

Your decreasing estrogen at midlife and beyond contributes to your skin's loss of collagen and elasticity. Your skin becomes thinner and you begin to see wrinkles. Topical retinoid, can help slow the visible signs of aging. If you are taking hormone therapy for other symptoms, it will certainly help slow the skin's aging process.

Hormone Therapy

Hormone Therapy

1. Does hormone therapy really work?

Yes! The most recent medical studies determined hormone therapy is safest if begun within 10 years of the menopause transition. Topical estrogen therapy for vaginal symptoms can be begun safely at any age.

2. Is hormone therapy safe?

Yes! The most recent medical studies determined hormone therapy is safe if begun in your estrogen window - within 10 years of your final menstrual period or before age 60. Topical estrogen therapy for vaginal symptoms can be begun safely at any age.

3. How long can I continue hormone therapy?

The most recent medical studies indicate it is safe to continue your hormone therapy for as long as you need it.

4. What is natural bioidentical hormone therapy?

Natural bioidentical hormone therapy is derived from plants and has the same molecular structure as the hormones produced in your body. We prescribe bioidentical hormone therapy that has been approved by the FDA to ensure your treatment has gone through rigorous testing and quality for safety. Our hormone prescriptions are covered by your health insurance and are sent to a pharmacy of your choice.

5. What is compounded bioidentical hormone therapy?

Compounded bioidentical hormone therapy or widely known as bHRT, are hormones mixed in a specialty compounding pharmacy at doses chosen by the prescriber. These bioidentical hormones are still produced in a laboratory from many of the same sources as FDA approved hormones and carry the same risks as FDA approved bioidentical hormone therapy. When you think about it in simple terms- your yam based estradiol didn't go from the ground to a topi-click cream without a visit to the lab first! Compounded prescriptions do not need to undergo quality control, nor are they required to supply a standard patient package insert explaining potential risks or adverse events. Patients are led to believe custom compounded hormones are safer that FDA approved hormones when in fact the opposite can be true. In short- we feel compounded medications certainly have a place in treating menopause symptoms but only if an FDA approved product is not available.

6. Does Hormone Therapy cause weight gain?

According to The North American Menopause Society, there is no scientific evidence menopausal hormone therapy causes weight gain. In fact, there is great medical literature that indicates the use of estradiol in menopause helps prevent the accumulation of belly fat.

7. Can hormone therapy help my low sex drive/libido?

Yes, in women who suffer from low sex drive/libido related to hormonal changes associated with menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, vaginal dryness and painful sex.


The content is meant for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please seek the advice of your physician with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

MMRX Telehealth

Visits

1. Is my visit conducted with video or email?

All of our visits are conducted with live audio / video. We are human just like you and enjoy meeting the women we are treating. It is our opinion that healthcare visits conducted only via email are too impersonal for such personal decisions.

2. What is a video visit?

Imagine sitting across from your menopause specialist in their office. You focus on their face and the discussion regarding your symptoms and treatment. A video visit is exactly the same experience except on the screen of your personal device. If you have ever “face timed” or been on a zoom call, you have experienced a video visit. Our patients absolutely love them.

3. Is the video private?

Yes. Each video visit is conducted through our HIPAA compliant video platform.

4. Can I schedule with the same provider each visit?

Yes. Our online doctor's office is built to foster lasting doctor / patient relationships. All of our providers are menopause specialists and follow the same healthcare guidelines aligned with The North American Menopause Society. You can book any provider with confidence!

5. How long does each visit take?

MyMenopasueRx visits offer you longer appointment times of 20 minutes of face to face time with your provider. The average amount of time a traditional OB/GYN spends with you face to face at your office visit is only 10 minutes!

6. Why do I need to complete such a detailed medical history?

MyMenopauseRx virtual care is an online doctor's office, practicing medicine with the same standard of care as in-person. Quality personalized women's healthcare begins with obtaining your medical history and symptom tracking. Other common diseases such as anemia, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and depression could cause similar menopause symptoms.

7. Do I have to enter my medical history again before each visit?

No. After your first visit, you will be asked to verify and update your previously entered medical history.

8. Do you check my hormone levels?

We recommend lab testing personalized to your health needs. If you are curious, you can self-order lab testing at any time from your patient dashboard.

9. Will I need to have any testing prior to beginning hormone therapy?

No. If your menopause specialist recommends lab testing, an order will be provided at your visit.

10. How soon willl I begin to feel better?

Most women begin to feel better in about 2 weeks but most treatments take 8-12 weeks to see optimal benefit.

11. How often do I need to have a visit?

Your visit schedule will be personalized to your needs. Most women require a virtual visit with their menopause provider twice per year.

12. Where can I find my care plan?

Right on your patient dashboard. At the completion of each visit, your personalized care plan including health education, prescription medications, lifestyle and supplement recommendations will be made available for you to read and share with any other members of your medical team.

13. Where can I find my lab results?

Lab results are available on your patient dashboard.

14. Will MyMenopauseRx replace my Ob/Gyn?

No. We are your online doctor's office. Your general Ob/Gyn or primary care provider should remain your local go-to for your healthcare needs that require a physical exam.

15. Can my primary care provider refill my menopause prescriptions?

Yes, but our menopause specialists maintain certification with the North American Menopause Society to ensure you are getting the latest evidenced-based treatment recommendations.

16. What do I do if I have a medical emergency?

We do not provide emergency care and advise all patients to call 911 or proceed to the closest emergency room.

Billing & Insurance

1. Do you take health insurance?

Yes. We accept Aetna, Humana, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tricare and United Healthcare but we can process any PPO plan for payment. We are actively working on adding additional plans.

2. How do I know if MyMenopauseRx is in-network?

Your care coordinator will verify your coverage behind the scenes. We do recommend you also double check with your individual insurance plan to verify your coverage.

3. If I chose to use my health insurance, what is the process?

Using your health insurance at our MyMenopauseRx online doctor's office is the same standard procedure as using your health insurance for in-person care.

  • Select your appointment time and choose the option to use your health insurance.
  • Enter your health insurance information along with uploading a copy of the front and back of your insurance card plus a photo ID.
  • Enter a valid credit card to be used for any co-pay and deductible amounts, Behind the scenes, a MyMenopauseRx care coordinator will verify your insurance is current and any co-pay amount due. Your care coordinator will then notify you any amounts you owe before your card is charged! By law, we are required to collect your co-pay (if you have one) with your visit. MyMenopauseRx providers are considered specialists by your insurance.
  • If your insurance policy is determined to be invalid or MyMenopauseRx is out of network, your care coordinator will message you on your secure patient portal.
  • After your virtual visit is complete, MyMenopauseRx will send a bill to your health insurance company for payment.
  • Your health insurance company will process your claim according to your plan, and directly pay MyMenopauseRx for your healthcare visit.
  • If you have any out of pocket expenses as determined solely by your insurance plan, your care coordinator will message you with the amount prior to billing your credit card on file.

4. How do I obtain a receipt to submit to my FSA/HSA for reimbursement?

A copy of your receipt will automatically be emailed to you after you purchase a lab or virtual visit, if you choose to use our self-pay option. You can message your care coordinator from your patient dashboard 24/7 if you need assistance.

5. What happens if I miss an appointment?

We get it, things come up at the last minute. You can easily change your appointment day / time from your patient dashboard up to 3 days in advance. If you miss your appointment, your care coordinator will reach out to you to reschedule.

Lab Orders

1. Will MyMenopauseRx order and interpret labs recommended?

Yes. Your menopause specialist will order recommended labs. Your order will be sent electronically to Quest, but is also available for you to print from your patient dashboard. Once we receive your results, your menopause specialist will review and interpret them. Your lab results will be available for you to view on your HIPAA compliant patient dashboard.

2. Can I use a local lab close to my home?

Yes. Quest Diagnostics is nationwide.

3. Where can I view my lab results?

Lab results ordered by MyMenopauseRx and completed at Quest will be available on your patient dashboard.

4. What if I already had recommended labs completed?

Great! You can upload your lab results to your patient dashboard for our review. Your care plan will list what labs your menopause specialist recommended.

5. Can I use my health insurance to self-order my own labs?

No. Your health insurance company requires any lab testing to be ordered by a healthcare provider as a medical necessity. Your curiosity doesn't count to them! We recommend you use our self-pay lab testing to satisfy your healthcare curiosity.

6. Can I use my FSA/HSA to order my own labs?

Yes! Just send your MyMenopauseRx receipt along with any required paperwork to your benefit administrator or choose to pay for your labs with your FSA/HSA card.

7. If I self-order labs without using my health insurance, do I have to use Quest Diagnostics?

Yes. We are only contracted with Quest Diagnostics for lab testing.

8. Do I have to use Quest if I plan to use my health insurance for lab testing?

No, however MyMenopauseRx is directly contracted with Quest to receive your results.

Prescriptions

1. Can I use my insurance coverage for prescriptions?

Absolutely! Just provide your insurance information to your pharmacy.

2. I don't have health insurance, are prescriptions for menopause symptoms expensive?

Natural, plant based, bioidentical pills, patches, gels and creams are available in generic form.

3. Can I choose which pharmacy I would like my prescriptions to be sent?

Absolutely! Just update your preferred pharmacy information in your patient dashboard.

4. How do I change pharmacies?

If you would like to change pharmacies after your prescription has already been sent, please contact your preferred pharmacy and ask them to arrange a pharmacy-to-pharmacy transfer. Prior to each appointment we recommend you update your preferred pharmacy information in your patient dashboard.

5. Can I use my mail order pharmacy?

Yes. Just enter your mail order pharmacy information as your preferred pharmacy in your patient dashboard.

6. My pharmacy changed my generic medication brand. Is that ok?

In most cases, a change in generic brand is just fine. If you are feeling unwanted side effects from the generic change, please contact your pharmacy and request they order the generic brand that worked for you.

7. How do I request a refill?

Your provider will prescribe enough medication with refills to get you to your next recommended appointment. If you are in need of a refill, you must be due for a visit. Please schedule one through your patient dashboard. If you are not sure, please message us. Your care coordinator is here to help 24/7.

8. What do I do if my current dose does not seem to be working as well?

It is not unusual to need to tweak your treatment at times. We recommend you schedule a visit.

9. What do I do if my prescription is too expensive?

We strive to prescribe cost effective generic medications covered on most insurance plans. If you have checked with your insurance carrier regarding what they cover and are not satisfied with the cost of your medication, message your care coordinator from your patient dashboard. We are happy to assist you obtain the most cost effective pricing.

10. Can my menopause specialist choose to send any prescription they determine is best to treat my symptoms?

Yes. However, our online doctor's office does not prescribe any controlled substances.

Privacy

1. How is your site secure?

MyMenopauseRx uses the latest standards to protect your personal information, encrypting your data both in transit and at rest. Communication between your browser and MyMenopauseRx systems is 256 bit SSL/TLS encrypted, while data stored within our system is encrypted using the AES-256 standard. While medicine is our passion, security is a priority. We routinely conduct security audits and personnel training to ensure that our systems and staff are able to guard your data like it was our own.

2. Is your site HIPAA compliant?

Yes.

3. Do you sell my personal information?

No. We respect your privacy and will never sell your personal information.

Refunds

1. There was a technical issue during my appointment and it was not completed fully. How do I receive a refund?

We understand technology fails at times. If you experienced an interruption in your scheduled appointment after it was initiated, your menopause specialists will alert your care coordinator to reschedule your appointment free of charge.

2. I ordered lab testing and have changed my mind. How do I get a refund?

We are so sorry you have changed your mind. There are no refunds issued on lab testing. This policy is highlighted for you on the top of your order page just prior to completing your payment. We are sorry you missed it.