Perimenopause checklist: track your symptoms
Hot flushes, poor sleep, brain fog, changing periods? Tick what you've noticed, see it all in one place, and print or save it to take to your appointment.
Tick the symptoms you've noticed
Think about the last few months. Tick anything that's new for you, or has changed. You can print or save the list to take to your appointment.
This checklist is a record of your symptoms, not a diagnosis. Nothing you tick is saved or sent anywhere. It's cleared when you leave the page.
0 of 20 ticked
Renvo · renvohealth.co.uk
My perimenopause symptom checklist
0 of 20 symptoms ticked. Take this to your appointment. It is a record of your symptoms, not a diagnosis.
Physical
- Hot flushes(not ticked)
- Night sweats(not ticked)
- Problems sleeping(not ticked)
- Tiredness or low energy(not ticked)
- Joint and muscle aches(not ticked)
- Headaches or migraines(not ticked)
- Heart palpitations(not ticked)
- Weight changes(not ticked)
Mood and mind
- Low mood(not ticked)
- Anxiety(not ticked)
- Irritability or mood swings(not ticked)
- Brain fog or memory problems(not ticked)
Periods and body
- Changes to your periods(not ticked)
- Heavier periods(not ticked)
- Vaginal dryness or discomfort(not ticked)
- Reduced sex drive(not ticked)
- Urinary symptoms(not ticked)
- Dry or itchy skin(not ticked)
- Thinning hair(not ticked)
- Breast tenderness(not ticked)
Notes for your appointment
When did you first notice changes?
Date of your last period
How are symptoms affecting your sleep, work or relationships?
Questions to ask
See a GP promptly if you have bleeding after your periods have stopped, very heavy bleeding, or bleeding between periods or after sex. In an emergency call 999. For urgent advice call NHS 111.
What is perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the time when your hormone levels start to change and you have menopause symptoms, but your periods haven't stopped yet. Menopause itself is when your periods stop because of lower hormone levels, and it usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55.
Symptoms can start years before your last period, and they can come and go. Because they build up gradually and overlap with everyday stress, many people don't connect them to perimenopause at first.
Common perimenopause symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. Some people have only a few; others have many. They tend to fall into three groups:
Hot flushes, night sweats, problems sleeping, tiredness, joint and muscle aches, headaches, heart palpitations and weight changes.
Low mood, anxiety, irritability or mood swings, and brain fog, including forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating.
Irregular or heavier periods, vaginal dryness, reduced sex drive, urinary symptoms, dry or itchy skin, thinning hair and breast tenderness.
For a fuller explanation of each symptom, read our guide to perimenopause symptoms.
Is a menopause questionnaire worth doing?
A questionnaire cannot diagnose perimenopause, and it cannot tell you whether any particular treatment is right for you. What it can do is turn a vague sense that something has shifted into a specific, dated list — which is the single most useful thing to walk into an appointment holding.
That matters more here than in most areas of medicine, because for women over 45 the diagnosis is usually made on symptoms and cycle pattern rather than a blood test. Your account of what has changed is the evidence. A list of twelve symptoms with rough start dates is far harder to dismiss, and far more useful clinically, than “I have not felt right for a while”.
On the question people most often arrive with — whether they need treatment — no online quiz can answer it. Suitability depends on your symptoms, your medical history, your family history and your own preferences, and it is a conversation rather than a score. Bring the checklist to that conversation and it becomes a much shorter one. Our guide to perimenopause testing explains when blood tests genuinely add something and when they do not.
Do you need a blood test to diagnose perimenopause?
Often not. NICE guidance says blood tests usually aren't needed to diagnose perimenopause in women over 45. Instead, a clinician will normally look at your symptoms and any changes to your periods, which is why a clear record like this checklist can be so useful.
A blood test may be considered if you're younger, or if your clinician wants to rule out other causes of your symptoms, such as thyroid problems.
How to use your checklist at an appointment
- Note roughly when each symptom started, and whether it's getting better or worse.
- Keep track of your periods for a few months: dates, how long they last and how heavy they are.
- Think about which symptoms affect you most, at work, at night or in your relationships.
- Write down any questions you want to ask, so nothing gets forgotten on the day.
You can take your checklist to your GP, or book a free consultation with a GP who specialises in menopause through our online menopause clinic.
Symptoms to get checked promptly
Some changes in bleeding shouldn't be put down to perimenopause without being checked. See a GP promptly if you have:
- any bleeding after your periods have stopped (after menopause)
- very heavy bleeding
- bleeding between periods or after sex
When to get help urgently
This checklist is not for emergencies.
- Call 999 if you have palpitations with chest pain, shortness of breath or fainting, or if you're having thoughts of harming yourself and feel you might act on them.
- Call NHS 111 if you need urgent advice, for example if you're bleeding very heavily and feel dizzy or unwell, or you're struggling to cope with your mood.
Honest FAQs
What are the first signs of perimenopause?
For many people the first sign is a change in their periods, such as periods becoming irregular, closer together or further apart. Others first notice hot flushes, poor sleep, low mood, anxiety or brain fog. Everyone is different, and symptoms can come and go.
What age does perimenopause start?
Menopause usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55, and perimenopause symptoms can start several years before your periods stop. Some people notice changes earlier. If you have symptoms before the age of 40, speak to a GP.
Do I need a blood test to diagnose perimenopause?
Usually not if you're over 45. NICE guidance says blood tests usually aren't needed to diagnose perimenopause in women over 45; a clinician will normally base the diagnosis on your symptoms and changes to your periods. A blood test may be considered if you're younger, or to rule out other causes.
How long does perimenopause last?
It varies a lot from person to person. For some, symptoms last a few months; for others, they carry on for several years, sometimes continuing after periods have stopped.
Can I still get pregnant during perimenopause?
Yes. You can still get pregnant while you're having periods, even if they're irregular. The NHS advises using contraception until 2 years after your last period if you're under 50, or 1 year after if you're 50 or over.
Is my checklist saved anywhere?
No. Your ticks stay in your browser while the page is open. Nothing is saved, and nothing about which symptoms you ticked is sent to us or anyone else. Print or save the checklist as a PDF if you want to keep a copy.
Sources
The health information on this page is based on UK guidance:
Talk to a menopause GP
Book a free consultation. Bring your checklist and we'll talk through your symptoms and options, with a plan that's reviewed as things change.