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

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

Cognitive symptoms

12. ‘Brain fog' / difficulty concentrating
13. Low mental energy or lack of motivation
14. Memory problems

Physical symptoms and pain

15. Breast tenderness or swelling
16. Dizziness
17. Dry, brittle or weak nails
18. Dry eyes
19. Headaches or migraines
20. Heart palpitations
21. Hot flushes
22. Joint aches or pain
23. Muscle aches, pain or soreness
24. Thinning or brittle hair
25. Tinnitus / ringing in the ears
26. Tiredness / fatigue

Skin symptoms

27. Acne
28. ‘Crawling’ or tingling skin
29. Dry or itchy skin

Oral health symptoms

30. ‘Burning’ mouth or tongue
31. Changes to sense of taste and smell
32. Dry mouth
33. Painful or infected gums
34. Sensitive teeth

Digestive and gut health symptoms

35. Acid reflux / heartburn
36. Bloating
37. Constipation
38. Diarrhoea
39. Excess gas

Sleep and nighttime symptoms

40. Night sweats
41. Poor sleep
42. Restless legs

Sexual and urinary health symptoms

43. Pain or discomfort during sex
44. Reduced sex drive
45. Urinary / bladder infections
46. Vaginal dryness, pain or itching
47. Vaginal infections

Body shape changes

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

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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.

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