How urgent is it to 'diagnose' menopause?

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I've recently finished treatment for cancer and menopause was one of the possible effects. I had a period mid January so thought I hadn't been affected, but I haven't had one since and I've started getting the most awful hot flushes which are really disturbing my sleep. My next oncologist check up is in June so I was planning to wait until then to take any action. I expect they might do some blood tests, and/or refer me to a gynaecologist or the GP. But is there any reason I should try to move things along more quickly? The hot flushes are a real pain but I'm not working so I'm getting plenty of time to rest from the lack of sleep. I do have lots of aches & pains and I'm a bit worried about osteoporosis since all the women in my family have it. I'm planning to ask for a Dexa scan at that appointment in June. But of course it's possible that I'm not in menopause after all, and these symptoms are actually being caused by something else (thyroid? General after effects of chemo?). So part of me thinks I should give it a few more months to see if my periods come back, so I have a better idea of what's going on.

Has anyone been in a similar position or can give any advice?

Im pretty sure that to get the full benefit of HRT you need to start it within 10 yrs of entering meno...so in other words if the symptoms arent bothering you too much there is no rush.

I was in a similar boat after having chemo for breast cancer in 2020. They warned me chemo may push me into menopause (I was 45 then with very few perimenopause symptoms). Your age is relevant too. For 18 months I had no periods and plenty of hot flushes along with other symptoms which I wasn’t sure whether to put down to chemo, Tamoxifen or impending menopause (tiredness, bouts of insomnia, gradual weight gain). Then when I was convinced I was most of the way through menopause, my ovaries decided to fire up again (hip hip hurray) and in the 2 years since then I continue to have intermittent periods (1-9 month gaps).

I do think there are advantages to you watching and waiting until your appointment in June. You’ll gather a few more months of observations and I don’t think there’s anything critical which would need attention before then.

My biggest menopause concern as my symptoms have worsened in the last two years has been what can I do as an alternative to HRT since mine was an oestrogen related cancer? Finally last week I booked myself an appointment with a menopause specialist and that was hands down the best thing that I’ve done. It was excellent and so empowering to feel I am back in control a little bit of what's going on in my body and mind. I just feel that neither the oncologist, nor my GP are specialist enough in the workings of menopause and in particular for women post cancer who can’t take a full range of hormone options.

good luck!