Symptoms of Perimenopause
Recognize and Track Your Journey
Navigating the transition from perimenopause into full menopause can feel overwhelming. Hormonal shifts often trigger a wide range of physical and emotional changes that vary in intensity and duration. Understanding these symptoms and tracking them over time empowers you to find relief strategies and have more productive conversations with your healthcare provider.
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## What Are Perimenopause and Menopause?
Perimenopause is the phase leading up to menopause, typically starting in your mid- 40s, when oestrogen levels begin to fluctuate. Menopause is confirmed after you’ve gone 12 consecutive months without a period. Both stages share many symptoms, but their onset and severity differ from person to person. I have found that women often initially present with mood changes in the perimenopause which can be confused with depression and anxiety.
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## How Many Symptoms Are There?
Health experts recognize more than 34 symptoms of menopause, encompassing physical, emotional, and cognitive changes.
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## Common Symptoms to Watch For
- Hot flushes and night sweats
- Irregular periods or changes in bleeding patterns
- Mood swings, anxiety, or irritability
- Sleep disturbances and insomnia
- Decreased libido and vaginal dryness
- Brain fog, memory lapses, or difficulty concentrating
- Joint aches, muscle pain, and fatigue
- Weight gain or changes in fat distribution
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## Why Tracking Your Symptoms Matters
Logging symptoms daily or weekly helps you spot patterns related to diet, stress, sleep, or exercise. Clear records support more productive discussions with your doctor and can help your doctor think about any other investigations that may be needed for other health conditions. Consistent monitoring also makes it easier to assess whether treatments—hormonal or non-hormonal—are effective over time. Many of the symptoms fluctuate from one month to the next and this makes it difficult to assess treatment benefits sometimes.
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## UK-Based Symptom Tracking Tools
Take a look at some of the tracking tools below.
- Menopause Symptom Checker by The Menopause Charity: Downloadable PDF to help you mark and monitor over 20 common perimenopause and menopause symptoms.
https://themenopausecharity.org/information-and-support/symptoms/menopause-symptom-checker/
- Symptom Tracker on The Menopause Platform: Online charts to rate and monitor symptoms monthly or bi-monthly, aiding discussions with your healthcare professional.
https://themenopauseplatform.co.uk/tools/
- Menopause Symptom Checker by Menopause Research & Education Fund: Printable checklist to tick and rate general, emotional, and physical symptoms for your next GP appointment.
https://mref.uk
