How to Find a Certified Menopause Practitioner
There is no better time than the present to commit to making this next part of your life as healthy as it can be. Many of us need tools to get started on being and staying healthy, and the best place to start is with a visit to a healthcare professional for a checkup.
Getting Started
There is much to consider when choosing a healthcare professional that will best meet your needs, including things such as where they are located, whether they accept commercial insurance or Medicare, do they offer telemedicine services, and areas of specialty.
It’s also important that you prepare for your checkup by putting together a list of questions you have regarding your health or any symptoms you would particularly like to discuss. The Menopause Society encourages you to advocate for your health by bringing up the issues that are important to you.
It’s also important to have mutual respect between you and your healthcare professional. It’s important that the healthcare professional listens to your needs and concerns, makes it comfortable for you to discuss the symptoms or issues you are experiencing, answers any questions you may have, and respects your decisions.
The Menopause Society Certified Practitioner Credential
The Menopause Society recognizes the need to set essential standards for healthcare professionals, thereby assuring high-quality care for women at menopause and beyond. To meet this need, we developed a competency examination. All licensed healthcare professionals are eligible to sit for this examination. Those who pass have demonstrated their expertise in the field and are awarded the credential of MSCP or The Menopause Society Certified Practitioner. The credential is valid for 3 years and can be maintained by either passing a new examination or submitting appropriate continuing education credits that demonstrate ongoing education in the field of midlife women’s health.
Professional Credentials and Their Meanings
When you’re looking for a healthcare professional, many of the credentials you find may be a bit confusing. The clinicians in The Society’s “Find a Menopause Clinician” searchable database include several types of healthcare professionals, including, among others:
- MD is a physician
- DNP, NP, ANP, ARNP, CRNP, FNP, and WHNP are nurse practitioners
- DNPs are Doctors of Nursing Practice
- DO is an osteopathic physician
- ND and NMD are naturopathic physicians
- PA is a physician assistant
- CNM are nurse midwives
- RPh and PharmD are pharmacists
- APRN, RN, RNC, BSN, and MSN are nurses
- PT and DPT are physical therapists
- LCSW and MSW are social workers
- PhD means a doctorate degree, such as in psychology, among others
Where should I begin my search?
To help you find a menopause clinician who is right for you, The Menopause Society has assembled a search feature of healthcare professionals who provide healthcare for women from perimenopause and beyond. This list includes contact information for those who are members of The Menopause Society and indicates those who have earned the MSCP credential.