How do doctors test for perimenopause?

There is no single test that diagnoses whether someone is in the perimenopause period. Instead, a healthcare professional may evaluate a person’s overall symptoms, check their hormone levels, and rule out other conditions.

When someone goes through perimenopause, they experience declines inTrusted Source certain hormones, including estrogen and progesterone. However, these hormonal changes are variable and do not always align with other symptoms of perimenopause.

The variability of these hormones is why healthcare professionals may not rely on hormone-level tests alone to diagnose perimenopause.

According to a 2023 article, a basic perimenopause examination may involve the following tests:

• a physical exam, which may include:
  • weight and height checks
  • blood pressure checks
  • a breast exam
  • a gynecologic exam
• ultrasounds
• routine blood tests
• sex hormone tests
• a cervical cancer screening
• bone density tests
• an electrocardiogram

A healthcare professional will also consider a person’s medical history, symptoms, and menopausal status.

According to the Office on Women’s HealthTrusted Source, perimenopause typically occurs in a person’s mid to late 40s. On average, it lasts around 4 years but can be anywhere from 2 to 8 years.

Menopause does not start until 12 months after a person’s last period. Perimenopause occurs when someone is still having periods but is also experiencing menopause symptoms.

Some people may haveTrusted Source no or mild symptoms. However, if someone does have symptoms, they may experience:

• anxiety
• brain fog
• hot flashes
• sudden mood changes
• irregular periods
• sleeping difficulties
• changes in weight

When diagnosing perimenopause, healthcare professionals may test for other underlying conditions that could be causing a person’s symptoms.

According to the 2023 article, other potential underlying causes of these symptoms may include:

• thyroid dysfunction
• cerebrovascular diseases
• cardiovascular diseases
• conditions affecting the bones and joints
• mental health conditions

People need to contact a healthcare professional if they have symptoms of perimenopause.

Some online sites may offer home tests that claim to diagnose perimenopause. However, these typically only check hormone levels and cannot evaluate a person’s overall symptoms, menstruation status, and medical history.

A healthcare professional can use various tests to check that a person’s symptoms are not due to any other underlying conditions. They can also recommend suitable treatments to help someone manage their symptoms if they have perimenopause.