How do you get diagnosed with perimenopause? Is it just symptoms?

[Whattodo914]

I have an anxiety disorder anyway, but it is getting much worse and I’m starting to wonder if it might be the perimenopause as my anxiety spikes along with PMS to an extreme level. When I get angry, I feel quite shaky and spent. My nervous feeling never goes but increases around my time of the month. I feel a bit different to before around my periods - I don’t know - it’s hard to explain. But my hormones might be out of whack?

I’m just wondering if I might have the perimenopause. I do tend to get a bit of health anxiety. My gp is good but I’m always in there asking about something so I feel a little embarrassed to go. I have also suffered from secondary infertility for the past two years, but I’m only 40. Wonder if it could be all linked up.

Is the diagnosis for perimenopause symptom based? Or is there a hormone level test or similar?

I think it depends. It took me a while to get diagnosed - first doc checked bloods (hormone levels), second said would go by symptoms, third repeated bloods and flagged a high FSH level which is main indicator (as I understand it) of peri.

40 is young though. How old was your mother? (Best indicator)

I got after a year of unpleasant symptoms a home test from Amazon. You either use it after 1 full day of bleed or if you're not getting any periods anytime.

I didn't know you could get home menopause tests.

@Whattodo914 Medical advice is you se your GP.

Symptoms are 40 are early- average age of meno is 51 but peri can start much sooner.

NICE guidance- see pinned post top of this forum - is GPs do blood tests on women under 45. You need 2 tests on 2 cycles, on days 2-5 of the cycle.

Don't waste money on tests on the internet- they are useless.

If you are having these symptoms, think about HRT which again is advised for women with early menopause.

I've just seen they are selling "Flourish Menopause Test Kit" on Ocado... Not really any information on what it actually tests.

I'm 39 and haven't had a period for 7 years, so age is not always a factor.
My mum was much older so again, not always a factor.