GP prep

How to prepare for your GP appointment

By Kerri Hopkins · 11 min read · 20 October 2026

GP appointments are short, and it is easy to leave realising you forgot to mention something important. A few minutes of preparation can help you feel heard and make the time count.

Printable

Want a version to fill in and take with you? Use the printable GP appointment checklist.

Open the checklist

Before your appointment

Write down what you're experiencing. List your symptoms, such as low energy, poor sleep, brain fog, mood changes, heavy or painful periods, digestive issues or headaches.
Note how long it has been happening. Days, weeks or months, and whether it is getting better, worse or staying the same.
Describe how it affects daily life. For example work, exercise, relationships or concentration. This helps your GP understand the impact.
Gather relevant background. Your cycle and flow, pregnancy or postpartum history, diet, medicines and supplements you take, and any family history.
Bring previous blood results if you have them. Including the dates and the reference ranges printed on the report.
Write your questions. Put the most important one first.

Be specific: details worth noting

The more precise you are, the easier it is for your GP to see the pattern. Try keeping a simple diary for two to four weeks, and for each symptom write down how often it happens, how long it lasts, how bad it is out of 10, when it started and what makes it better or worse. Many of these symptoms can have more than one cause, so you are gathering information rather than reaching a conclusion.

Your periods

How long do they last? Count the days of bleeding, including spotting at the start and end.
How long is your cycle? Count from the first day of one period to the first day of the next.
How heavy are they? How often do you change a pad, tampon or period underwear, or empty a cup? Is it every one to two hours on your heaviest days? Do you need to double up, such as a tampon and a pad together?
Do you leak or flood? Have you leaked onto clothes or bedding, or avoided plans, work or exercise because of it?
Do you wake in the night to change? How many times?
Clots: how big are they (larger than about 2.5 cm?), how many, and on which days?
Bleeding at other times: between periods, after sex or after your periods have stopped for a year.
Pain: where, how bad out of 10, on which days, and whether painkillers help.
Has anything changed? For example since having a baby, starting or stopping contraception, or in the last few months.

Symptoms to be precise about

Tiredness: is it there every day, even after a full night of sleep? Do you need a nap? Is it worse around your period?
Hair loss: do you notice hair coming out daily when you brush or wash it? Roughly how much compared with before? Is it thinning in one area or all over? When did it start?
Headaches: how many days a month? What time of day? Do they come with your period? How often do you take painkillers for them?
Muscle cramps: where (for example your calves)? Do they wake you at night? How often?
Dizziness or fainting: does it happen when you stand up, or after a heavy period day?
Heart palpitations or a racing heart: when, how long they last and whether you are resting.
Breathlessness: on stairs or a short walk, or at rest? If it is at rest, do not wait for a routine appointment.
Brain fog, mood and sleep: trouble concentrating, feeling anxious or low, trouble falling or staying asleep.
Other things to note: feeling cold, pale skin, brittle nails, restless legs, sore or cracked corners of the mouth, or craving ice or non-food items.
Gut: any change in your bowel habit, blood in your stool, or black stools.

Background that helps

Blood loss in the past, such as childbirth, surgery or an injury, and when it happened.
Your diet, for example how often you eat meat, fish, beans or leafy greens, and whether you drink tea or coffee with meals.
Medicines and supplements, including painkillers, antacids and iron, with doses if you know them.
Whether you donate blood, and how often.
Family history of anaemia, heavy periods, thyroid problems or bowel conditions.

Questions you might ask

Could these symptoms need further investigation?
Are there any relevant blood tests worth discussing?
Could my menstrual history or life stage be relevant?
If my tests come back normal, what would the next step be?
Could we review whether anything has changed over time?
When should I follow up, and what should I do if things get worse?

During the appointment

Start with your main concern and say how much it is affecting you.
Share your list. It is fine to read from it or hand it over.
Ask what the plan is and why. If a test is not offered, you can ask for the reasoning to be explained.
Check you understand what happens next, and write it down.

After the appointment

Note what was discussed, any tests or treatments, and the follow-up date.
If you still have concerns, you can book a follow-up, or ask to speak to another clinician at your practice.

If your results come back as "normal"

"Normal" means inside the range the lab uses, and that range covers a lot of people. Where you sit within it can matter, especially if your symptoms are real and persistent. A result at the low end of normal does not mean something is wrong, but it is a fair reason to ask a question. Always ask for the actual numbers, the lab's range and the date, and compare them with any earlier results.

Ferritin (your iron stores): lab ranges vary, and guidelines use different cut-offs. The 2021 British Society of Gastroenterology guideline suggests 45 µg/L as the best balance for spotting iron deficiency, and says that treating iron deficiency without anaemia is reasonable in premenopausal women with symptoms such as fatigue. Ask: "My ferritin is low in the range. Could it still explain my symptoms?"
Haemoglobin: a result can be in range but lower than your usual. Ask whether it has dropped compared with previous results.
Inflammation can hide low iron: ferritin rises with inflammation, so a "normal" result can be falsely reassuring. Ask whether inflammation (CRP) or transferrin saturation was checked.
Vitamin B12 and folate: the NHS notes that symptoms can occur without anaemia. If your B12 is low in the range and you have symptoms, ask whether it needs following up, especially if you are vegan, take acid-reducing medicine or have a gut condition.
Thyroid (TSH): ask for the number, and whether T4 was checked. If the result is borderline, ask whether it should be repeated and when.
Vitamin D: ask if it was tested, particularly if you are rarely outdoors, have darker skin, or it is autumn or winter.

If everything is genuinely fine, ask what else could explain your symptoms and what the next step is. Keep your diary going and ask when to come back.

For what each marker does and example ranges, see our blood test markers guide.

Supplements and food: what might be worth discussing

Test first, then treat. Taking supplements without knowing your levels can hide a problem or cause harm, and too much iron is dangerous, particularly for children. Talk to your GP or pharmacist before starting any supplement, and ask for a recheck so you can see if it is working.

Low ferritin or iron: the NHS lists dark-green leafy vegetables, pulses, fortified cereals and bread, meat and dried fruit as iron-rich foods. Tea, coffee, milk and dairy, and wholegrains high in phytic acid, can reduce how much iron you absorb, so try to have them away from iron-rich meals. The NHS says orange juice after an iron tablet may help absorption. If your GP prescribes iron tablets, treatment usually lasts about six months. Side effects such as constipation, stomach pain and nausea are common, so tell your GP, who may suggest taking them on alternate days or trying a different type.
Low B12: found in meat, fish, eggs, dairy and fortified foods. Vegans need fortified foods or a supplement. A low result usually needs a GP to find the cause, and some people need injections, so do not rely on diet alone.
Low folate: green vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts and peas are good sources. A folate deficiency is usually treated with folic acid tablets prescribed by your GP.
Vitamin D: the NHS advises considering 10 micrograms (400 IU) a day in autumn and winter, and all year round if you are rarely outdoors, cover your skin outside or have darker skin. Do not take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) a day.
Thyroid: an underactive thyroid is treated with medicine from your GP, not with supplements. Ask before taking anything marketed for thyroid health.
Food first: aim for a varied diet with plenty of fibre, protein, vegetables, pulses and wholegrains. If you are cutting out food groups, ask your GP for a referral to a dietitian.

Know the guidance behind your symptoms

NICE guidelines are written for clinicians, but they are public, and knowing what they say helps you ask better questions. You can say: "What is the usual next step for these symptoms?" or "Which guidance are we following?" Practices and local pathways differ, and the guidance does not replace your doctor's judgement of your own situation.

Heavy periods: NICE NG88 covers how heavy menstrual bleeding is assessed and the treatment options.
Iron deficiency and tiredness: NICE CKS: iron deficiency anaemia covers symptoms, tests and treatment.
Perimenopause and menopause: NICE NG23 covers diagnosis and management, including HRT and premature ovarian insufficiency.
Thyroid problems: NICE NG145 covers thyroid disease assessment and management.
Severe period pain or suspected endometriosis: NICE NG73 covers diagnosis and management.
After birth: NICE NG194 covers postnatal care for mothers and babies.
Bleeding after menopause, or blood in your stool: these should always be checked. NICE NG12 covers when a suspected cancer referral is appropriate.

Tests and checks worth asking about

Whether a test is right for you is your doctor's decision, but you can ask about it and ask why it is or is not being offered. Print this list or keep it on your phone and tick off what you discuss. Bring the symptoms that match yours.

If you are tired, breathless, dizzy or losing hair

☐ Full blood count (checks haemoglobin and red blood cells)
☐ Ferritin (your iron stores), alongside the full blood count
☐ Vitamin B12 and folate
☐ Thyroid function (TSH, and T4 if TSH is outside the range)
☐ Whether a coeliac blood test is appropriate, if iron is low and the cause is not clear
☐ Vitamin D, if you are rarely outdoors or it is autumn or winter

If you have heavy or painful periods

☐ Full blood count and ferritin, to see whether blood loss is affecting your iron
☐ Whether an examination or a scan is needed to look for a cause
☐ Treatment options for heavy bleeding, and which suits your plans for pregnancy
☐ Whether a specialist referral is appropriate, particularly if the pain is severe or your symptoms are not improving

If you have gut symptoms, low iron or blood in your stool

☐ A FIT test, if the cause of low iron is unclear
☐ Whether a coeliac blood test should be done before any investigations
☐ A referral, if you have bowel changes that do not settle, black stools or blood in your stool

If you are in your 40s or 50s with changes to your cycle, sleep or mood

☐ Whether your symptoms fit perimenopause, and why a blood test may or may not be needed at your age
☐ The options for managing symptoms, including HRT, and the risks and benefits for you
☐ Whether anything else, such as thyroid, iron or B12, needs ruling out

After a baby, surgery or other blood loss

☐ A full blood count and ferritin, even if some time has passed
☐ A check of your thyroid if you feel exhausted or low after birth
☐ Whether you need a postnatal check or a referral, such as a physiotherapist, before you start exercise

For any test result

☐ Ask for the actual numbers, the lab's range and the date
☐ Ask whether any result is low in the range and could still fit your symptoms
☐ Ask when to repeat the test and who will review the results
☐ Ask what the next step is if the results are normal but your symptoms continue

If you are not making progress

You do not need to be afraid to ask for a second opinion or a referral to a specialist if your symptoms continue and you feel you are going round in circles. Asking is reasonable, and doctors should respect your wish to seek another view. On the NHS, a second opinion is not a legal right, so your GP is not obliged to agree, but you can ask for their reasons and for those to be noted. Here is how to go about it.

Name the problem calmly. For example: "My symptoms have continued for X months and I have had Y tests. What are the next steps? Would a referral to a specialist help?"
Ask which kind of specialist. Depending on your symptoms this could be gynaecology, haematology, endocrinology, gastroenterology or a menopause clinic. Ask what the GP would need to see to make a referral.
Ask for the reasons if the answer is no. Ask what would change their mind, and when to come back. You can ask for your concerns and their decision to be written in your notes.
See a different GP at your practice. You can ask for an appointment with another GP, or one with a special interest in women's health or menopause, if the practice has one.
Ask to be referred for a second opinion. If you are already under a specialist, you can ask your GP to refer you to a different one. A second-opinion referral means you are treated as a new patient, so it can mean a longer wait or further travel.
Bring your evidence. Your diary, previous results with dates and the questions you have already asked make it easier for any doctor to see the pattern.
Bring someone with you, or ask a friend or relative who knows your situation to help you prepare, with your consent.
If you are still not heard, your local Healthwatch can give advice, and your practice or integrated care board has a complaints process.

Keep your tone factual rather than confrontational. You are not doubting your doctor, you are asking for a plan.

When not to wait

Do not wait for a routine appointment if you have severe bleeding, chest pain, difficulty breathing or any symptoms that feel urgent. Call 111 for urgent advice, or 999 in an emergency.