Diagnosis

Is it menopause? Although more than 50% of the population will experience menopause, it can be difficult to identify that it’s the cause of the symptoms you’re experiencing. You might find you have been experiencing symptoms but not putting two and two together. It’s very common to dismiss things until one day the penny drops and ‘Ah-ha maybe I’m perimenopausal?!’.

If you find that you are struggling to manage the symptoms or their impacting on your quality of life, book an appointment with your GP. They will look at your age, period frequency and symptoms and should be able to tell if you’re perimenopausal.

For some people, those under 40 or between 40 and 45 who are experiencing menopausal symptoms, they may be offered a blood test to measure their level of follicle-stimulating hormone. For healthy women aged over 45 years with menopausal symptoms a blood test is not necessary for a diagnosis.

Once perimenopause + or menopause + is confirmed, your GP should discuss treatment options with you. These will range from lifestyle changes + to hormone replacement therapy + depending on your health, lifestyle and medical history.

Take a look at our symptoms + and treatment + pages for more information.