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Is There a Test for Perimenopause?

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Is there a test you should get for perimenopause?

If you’ve noticed changes – like irregular periods, mood changes (low mood, increased anxiety), or trouble sleeping – you might wonder if you’re in perimenopause. But is there a test for perimenopause? Here’s what you need to know about identifying this stage of life.

Is there a test for perimenopause?

What Is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause, when your hormone levels begin to fluctuate and gradually fall. You are usually still having periods during this time, but they may start to change. They can become lighter, heavier, shorter, longer or simply less predictable.

Perimenopause most often starts in your 40s, although it can begin earlier. Some women experience an earlier menopause because of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), which is when the ovaries stop working normally before the age of 40.

Typically, this phase can can last for 3 to 10 years. Menopause itself is reached when you have gone 12 consecutive months without a period (as long as there is no other medical reason for your periods to have stopped). After this, you are considered postmenopausal.

Menopause doesn’t always happen naturally. Surgical menopause happens if both ovaries are removed and causes hormone levels to fall very quickly. Medical menopause can be brought on by certain medications or treatments, including some cancer treatments, and may be temporary or permanent.

Common symptoms of perimenopause include:

  • Irregular periods that may be lighter, heavier or less frequent
  • Hot flushes and night sweats
  • Mood changes or increased anxiety
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Brain fog, such as memory problems, trouble finding words or difficulty concentrating
  • Changes in libido, hair and skin

Not everyone will experience all of these symptoms, and how you experience them is very individual too. Symptoms can sneak up on you gradually, come and go or change throughout the month. This is one of the reasons it isn’t always obvious at first that perimenopause is what’s going on.

Menopause can also happen for reasons other than the natural ageing process. Surgical menopause happens when both ovaries are removed, which causes hormone levels to drop very quickly. Medical menopause can be caused by certain treatments or medications, including some cancer treatments, and may be temporary or permanent.

Common symptoms of perimenopause include:

  • Irregular periods that may be lighter, heavier or less frequent
  • Hot flushes and night sweats
  • Mood changes or increased anxiety
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Brain fog, including memory problems, trouble finding words or difficulty concentrating
  • Changes in libido, hair and skin

Not everyone will experience the same symptoms and the way you experience them can be very individual. Symptoms can also come and go, build up gradually or change throughout the month, which is one reason perimenopause is not always easy to recognise at first.

Is There a Single Test for Perimenopause?

There’s no single test to confirm perimenopause. A doctor might typically diagnose it based on your age, symptoms, and medical history.

However, tests can help rule out other conditions and give clues about your hormone levels:

  1. Hormone Blood Tests. These measure levels of oestrogen, progesterone, and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). During perimenopause, FSH levels often rise.
  2. Thyroid Tests. Thyroid conditions can mimic perimenopause symptoms like fatigue and mood swings, so doctors may check your thyroid function.
  3. Other Tests. Other blood tests might be done to ensure there are no underlying health issues, for iron, vitamin D, or other markers.

It’s important to remember that hormone levels fluctuate daily in perimenopause, so blood tests might not always give clear answers, which is why they are not routinely done on women of typical perimenopausal age.

If you are experiencing symptoms at a younger than typical age, blood tests may well be advised to work out what is going on.

How Can I Tell If I’m in Perimenopause?

While tests can provide some information, tracking your symptoms is one of the best ways to understand if you’re in perimenopause. Here are some steps to you can take:

1. Track Your Monthly Cycle

Write down the dates of your periods and note any changes. There are many apps available to help you monitor your mood, sleep and physical symptoms, which are often linked to hormonal shifts.

2. Learn About Hormones

Oestrogen/estrogen and progesterone don’t just control your periods they impact your brain, bones, heart, and sleep. Understanding how these hormones work can help you make sense of any symptoms, beyond your periods.

3. Know the Full Range of Symptoms

Perimenopause isn’t just about hot flashes! Although they are a common symptom, they don’t happen to everyone. Take time to read about the wide range of symptoms that may happen in perimenopause, so you can spot changes early.

4. Speak to Your Doctor

If you’re experiencing symptoms before age 40, it could be due to premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). A doctor can confirm this and provide support.

Are Certain Women More Likely to Experience Early Perimenopause?

Yes, some women are more likely to start perimenopause early:

  • IVF and Medical Treatments. Women who have undergone IVF, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy may experience early hormone changes.
  • Certain Ethnic Groups. Research suggests Black, Asian, Latina and Indigenous women may begin perimenopause earlier than the average age cited by many health authorities in western cultures.

If you fall into one of these groups, it’s especially important to track your symptoms and discuss them with your doctor.

How to Manage Perimenopause Symptoms

  1. Track Symptoms. Use an app or journal to log your periods, mood, and physical changes.
  2. Stay Active. Regular exercise can improve mood, sleep, and overall well-being. Simply getting out for a walk in the fresh air every day has an impact on your health and mental well-being.
  3. Eat Well. Foods rich in calcium, vitamin D, protein and healthy fats can support your bones and hormones.
  4. Talk About It. Talking about menopause used to be a taboo or embarrassing subject. Having open conversations with kind friends can help you feel less alone (after all, we all go through it) and help you feel supported.
  5. Seek Help if Needed. Menopause hormone replacement therapy (HRT/MHT) or other non-hormone treatments and therapies can ease difficult symptoms, so it is worth finding a doctor with good knowledge of and an interest in menopause to talk to. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBTI) is a completely natural, proven approach to insomnia that can start in menopause. It’s recommended as the first line approach by the NHS (UK) and American College of Physicians (USA).
  6. Read Sleep Tips For Perimenopause if poor quality sleep is your problem.

Final Thoughts

Whilst there’s no single definitive test for perimenopause, tracking your symptoms and having open conversations with your doctor are key to understanding what’s happening for you. Reading about the wide range of symptoms possible (remember, not everyone experiences all of them) may give you answers and more confidence. It’s never too early to learn about perimenopause, so that you can spot signs of change as they happen and seek help sooner if that’s what you need.

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