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Have you started perimenopause? See our checklist of symptoms

Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause, when your hormone levels fluctuate and eventually drop, resulting in any of a wide range of possible symptoms. Our perimenopause and menopause symptom checker includes many common symptoms, as well as some less familiar ones, to help you understand whether your body may have begun the transition.

You can see the full list of symptoms below, and the symptom checker is also available to download or print out. This can be particularly useful if you want to keep track of how your symptoms are developing over time.

If you think you have perimenopause or menopause symptoms, it’s a good idea to talk to a healthcare professional, like a doctor or nurse.

Perimenopause and menopause symptoms checker

Everyone’s experience of perimenopause and menopause is different, but the list of 49 possible symptoms below could help you to understand whether you have started the transition.

Changes to your period

  1. Irregular, longer or shorter periods
  2. Missed periods
  3. Heavier or lighter flow

Mental health symptoms

  1. Anxiety
  2. Crying spells
  3. Feeling emotionally numb
  4. Feeling more emotional
  5. Increased stress
  6. Low mood or depression
  7. Low self-esteem or loss of confidence
  8. Mood swings, irritability or anger

Cognitive symptoms

  1. Brain fog' / difficulty concentrating
  2. Low mental energy or lack of motivation
  3. Memory problems

Physical symptoms and pain

  1. Breast tenderness or swelling
  2. Dizziness
  3. Dry, brittle or weak nails
  4. Dry eyes
  5. Headaches or migraines
  6. Heart palpitations
  7. Hot flushes
  8. Joint aches or pain
  9. Muscle aches, pain or soreness
  10. Thinning or brittle hair
  11. Tinnitus / ringing in the ears
  12. Tiredness / fatigue

Skin symptoms

  1. Acne
  2. ‘Crawling’ or tingling skin
  3. Dry or itchy skin

Oral health symptoms

  1. ‘Burning’ mouth or tongue
  2. Changes to sense of taste and smell
  3. Dry mouth
  4. Painful or infected gums
  5. Sensitive teeth

Digestive and gut health symptoms

  1. Acid reflux / heartburn
  2. Bloating
  3. Constipation
  4. Diarrhoea
  5. Excess gas

Sleep and nighttime symptoms

  1. Night sweats
  2. Poor sleep
  3. Restless legs

Sexual and urinary health symptoms

  1. Pain or discomfort during sex
  2. Reduced sex drive
  3. Urinary / bladder infections
  4. Vaginal dryness, pain or itching
  5. Vaginal infections

Body shape changes

  1. Changes to body shape / body composition (eg, muscle to fat ratio)
  2. Weight gain

If you're looking for help with your perimenopause or menopause symptoms, try The Better Gut. These probiotic supplements contain friendly bacteria specially chosen to improve a wide range of symptoms, from hot flashes to brain fog, digestive issues to vaginal dryness.

If you're having problems sleeping, or issues with mood or anxiety, you can get extra support from Better Night, an expert-formulated blend of herbal ingredients, vitamins and minerals.

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What age does perimenopause begin and what are the signs?

There’s a lot of variation in when perimenopause can start and how long it lasts. It generally begins in your 40s or 50s, and for most women continues for around 4 to 8 years. But for some it can start earlier, and can be significantly longer or shorter.

As you’ve seen from the checklist above, perimenopause and menopause can be accompanied by any of a wide range of symptoms. But it generally begins with changes to your menstrual cycle, such as irregular, heavier or lighter periods.

You may also experience hot flashes and night sweats, anxiety or mood swings, and ‘brain fog’, where you have trouble thinking clearly.

How do you know when you’ve reached menopause?

Menopause is defined as the point 12 months after you last had a period. For most women, that’s between the ages of 40 and 58, with the average at around 51.

Although you can experience many of the same symptoms after menopause, some are at their most severe during perimenopause. For some women, certain symptoms may ease or stop after menopause, while others can continue.

What to do if you have perimenopause or menopause symptoms

If you think you have symptoms of perimenopause or menopause, the NHS recommends talking to your doctor or a practice nurse. A pharmacist can also give you advice on how to treat your symptoms.

One way to manage a whole range of symptoms is by taking targeted probiotic supplements.

Award-winning probiotics The Better Gut contain strains of bacteria that have been shown in scientific studies to help with menopause symptoms including:

  • hot flashes and night sweats
  • mood swings and anxiety
  • brain fog and mental fatigue 
  • sleep quality
  • bloating and constipation
  • vaginal health 
  • maintaining a healthy weight

For extra support with sleeping or mood issues, add the Better Night, a menopause-focused blend of herbal ingredients, vitamins and minerals.

To get 10% off your first order, use the discount code WELCOME10.