Menopause Diagnosis

Menopause Diagnosis

“It is not usual for doctors to measure hormone levels
for a diagnosis if you are in the
expected age range for menopause (45 to 55 years)”.1

Umbrella

What may the Menopause Diagnosis Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Menopause Confirmation
  • Menopause Diagnosis
  • Menopause Tests
  • Perimenopause Diagnosis
  • Perimenopause Tests

Perimenopause

What is perimenopause?

DotS the definition of perimenopause may vary. In Menopause: What Is  Perimenopause? the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) definition is:

“Perimenopause refers to the time from when your menstrual periods start changing, or you start having menopausal symptoms, to one year after your final menstrual period (menopause).

Some people use the word ‘menopause’ to cover the whole transition from perimenopause to postmenopause”.2

Menopause

What is menopause?

DotS the definition of menopause may vary. In Menopause: Overview the World Health Organization’s definition is:

“Natural menopause is deemed to have occurred after 12 consecutive months without menstruation for which there is no other obvious physiological or pathological cause and in the absence of clinical intervention”.3 

Blood Tests. Or Not.

Are blood tests to measure hormone levels usually needed to diagnose the perimenopause or menopause?

On page one in Hormone Blood Tests In the Menopause Transition: Introduction, dated June 2026, the (British) Women’s Health Concern (WHC) explain:


Menopause Diagnosis

“For women in the menopause transition at the average age range of 45 to 55 years and during postmenopause, blood tests to measure hormone levels are not usually needed to:

  • Diagnose the perimenopause or menopause
  • Monitor HRT or manage menopause symptoms
  • Manage the long-term health consequences of the menopause”.4

Diagnosis

If it is not usual for doctors to measure hormone levels for a diagnosis, how are perimenopause or menopause diagnosed?

In Menopause. How Do You Know If You’ve Reached Perimenopause? Tests To Diagnose Perimenopause the JH note:

“It is not usual for doctors to measure hormone levels for a diagnosis if you are in the expected age range for menopause (45 to 55 years). Your doctor will assess your symptoms and whether and how your periods have changed.

Your doctor might do blood tests to check your general health or to rule out any other causes of symptoms”.5

On page four in Hormone Blood Tests In the Menopause Transition: Can A Blood Test Diagnose the Menopause? the WHC also include:

“FSH is the hormone measured to diagnose the menopause. Blood tests are not usually used to diagnose the menopause if you are going through the menopause transition at an average age of 45-55 years. Symptoms and bleeding patterns are the factors used to diagnose the menopause transition”.6

What is FSH?

FSH can be an abbreviation for Follicle-Stimulating Hormone.

Home FSH Tests

Can home FSH tests tell you whether you’re in menopause or not?

In Menopause:  Menopause Diagnosis & Treatment – Diagnosis, dated 09 July 2026, the (United States) Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“You can get home tests to check FSH levels in your urine without a prescription. The tests show whether you have higher FSH levels. This might mean that you’re in perimenopause or menopause.

But FSH levels rise and fall during your menstrual cycle. So home FSH tests can’t really tell you whether you’re in menopause”.7

Younger Than 45 Years

When may hormone levels be measured?

In Menopause. How Do You Know If You’ve Reached Perimenopause? Tests To Diagnose Perimenopause the JH explain:

“If you are younger than 45 years and your periods are irregular or have stopped, your doctor will probably measure your hormone levels to understand what’s causing the change”.8

Health Care Provider

What if I would like to find out if I am perimenopausal or not?

On page seven in Hormone Blood Tests In the Menopause Transition: Summary the WHC explain:

“In those of average menopause age, it is seldom useful to monitor hormone blood levels in the menopause transition or in postmenopause. Neither estradiol nor FSH levels indicate how severe symptoms are, how long symptoms will last, whether or not treatment is needed nor, if HRT is taken, what dose of HRT is needed.

If you are struggling with ongoing symptoms of the menopause transition, please speak to a GP or healthcare professional to exclude other causes of your symptoms and work out of the most optimal way for you to manage your symptoms”.9

In Menopause: How Do You Know You Are In Perimenopause? When To See Your Doctor the JH note:

“Talk to your doctor if:

  • You are younger than 45 and your periods are irregular or have stopped
  • You have symptoms that are interfering with your daily activities, including exercise and work
  • You have symptoms that are affecting your mental health or your relationships”.10

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Menopause Diagnosis?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Menopause Diagnosis?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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New or Updated

  1. 29 Perimenopause Symptoms You May Not Know About
  2. A Man’s Guide To Menopause
  3. ACOG Explains: Managing Menopause Symptoms [American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists]
  4. AMS Symptom Score Card
  5. Anti-Müllerian Hormone for the Diagnosis and Prediction of Menopause: A Systematic Review
  6. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  7. At-Home Menopause Tests: Pros and Cons, What They Test and When To See A Provider
  8. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  9. Complementary & Alternative Therapies: Non-Hormonal Treatments for Menopause Symptoms
  10. Complementary Medicines and Therapies for Hot Flushes
  11. Complementary Medicines and Therapies: Options for Menopausal Symptoms
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  12. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit
  13. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2025 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Three Symptoms Linked To Cognitive Complaints
  14. Could It Be Perimenopause? How Hormones Influence the Brain
  15. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
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  17. Diagnosing Menopause: Symptom Score (Modified Greene Scale)
  18. Diagnostic Tests for Menopause
  19. Do Menopause Testing Kits Work?
  20. Does Having Hot Flashes Mean I’ve Started Menopause?
  21. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM): Diagnosis and Evidence-Based Management
  22. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Menopause & Work Conversations – Episode 1
  23. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Menopause and Mental Health: Managing Anxiety, Depression, and Cognitive Changes
  24. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Sleep Disturbances In Menopause
  25. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  26. Find A Practitioner [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  27. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  28. First Symptoms of Menopause
  29. Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
  30. Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Levels Test
  31. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
  32. HRT Is Not #contraception and So If You Are Perimenopausal Then Added Contraception Is Needed
  33. HRT Questions Answered
  34. HRT, Breast Cancer and the Real Risks of Not Taking Hormones
  35. Handling Hot Flushes and Night Sweats| Dr Louise Newson
  36. Health.gov.au/perimenopause [Australia]
  37. Home Menopause Tests Measure Hormones, but Are They Helpful?
  38. Hormone Blood Tests In the Menopause Transition
  39. Hot Flashes
  40. How To Get the Most Out of Your First Consultation | Dr Louise Newson
  41. How To Talk To Your Doctor About Midlife Brain Fog
  42. How Vaginal Hormones Can Transform the Health of Women
  43. International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause
  44. I’m A Woman Approaching Middle Age, Do I Need To Get My Hormones Checked?
  45. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Menopause [+ Video: Menopause]
  46. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms of Menopause [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
  47. Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Blood Test
  48. Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Levels Test
  49. Managing Menopause Symptoms [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  50. Many Women Still Confused About Perimenopause
  51. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Perimenopause Transitions and Concerns
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  56. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
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  57. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
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  58. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  59. Menopause [Multiply Languages]
  60. Menopause: How To Talk To Your Doctor
  61. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
  62. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
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  63. Menopause: Things You Can Do
  64. Menopause: Your Choice of Language
  65. Menstrual Calendar
  66. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  67. My Periods Have Changed. Is Menopause Around the Corner?
  68. New BMS Tool for Clinicians – Measurement of Serum Estradiol In the Menopause Transition
  69. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  70. Navigating Menopause Care Resource Guide
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  71. Night Sweats
  72. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: IMS Partnership Symposia Series – What Is Sleep, What Is Menopause and How Do They Interact?
  73. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: IMS Partnership Symposia Series – What’s Hot? Options for Treatment of Hot Flushes 2025
  74. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2025: The Burn, the Itch, the Pain, the Urge: GSM In Women
  75. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2025: The Perimenopause Journey: An Adaptive Reproductive Phase
  76. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations: Diagnosis of Menopause (STRAW+10)
  77. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations – Lifestyle, Diet, Exercise
  78. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2026: New IMS Recommendations – Midlife Body Changes
  79. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
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  81. Perimenopause
  82. Perimenopause
  83. Perimenopause With Dr. Heather Hirsch
  84. Perimenopause and Menopause Checklist: Translated Checklists
  85. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
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  86. Perimenopause, PMS, and PCOS: All About the Period
  87. Resources: Fact Sheets [Multiply Languages]
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  88. Supplements: What Works, What Doesn’t and the Truth About Menowashing
  89. The Menopause Society Show: Menopause & Sexual Desire
  90. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: A Simple Approach To Menopause: The Menopause Quick Six (www.MQ6.ca)
  91. Websites Selling Direct-to-Consumer Anti-Mullerian Hormone Tests
  92. What Doctor Should You See for Perimenopause Signs
  93. What Is the Difference Between Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause?
  94. When Does Perimenopause Start and How Do You Define the Beginning
  95. World Menopause Day 2025
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  96. Why Is FSH Not Needed for Diagnosis of Menopause
  97. Your Daily Dose: Let’s Unpack Menopause
  98. Your Daily Dose: Perimenopause, Don’t Suffer In Silence
  99. Your Daily Dose: Perimenopause, Here’s What To Know

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources at:

Sources

  1. Menopause: How Do You Know If You’ve Reached Perimenopause? Tests To Diagnose Perimenopause. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/#section-how-do-you-know-if-you-are-in-perimenopause Accessed: 14 July 2026
  2. Hormone Blood Tests In the Menopause Transition: Introduction. June 2026:1. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/39-NEW-WHC-FACTSHEET-Hormone-blood-tests-in-the-menopause-transition-JUNE2026-B.pdf Accessed: 14 July 2026
  3. Menopause: Overview. 16 October 2024. World Health Organization https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/menopause Accessed: 14 July 2026
  4. Menopause: How Do You Know If You’ve Reached Perimenopause? Tests To Diagnose Perimenopause. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/#section-how-do-you-know-if-you-are-in-perimenopause Accessed: 14 July 2026
  5. Menopause: What Is Perimenopause?  Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/#section-what-is-perimenopause Accessed: 14 July 2026
  6. Hormone Blood Tests In the Menopause Transition: Can A Blood Test Diagnose the Menopause? June 2026:4. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/39-NEW-WHC-FACTSHEET-Hormone-blood-tests-in-the-menopause-transition-JUNE2026-B.pdf Accessed: 14 July 2026
  7. Menopause – Diagnosis & Treatment: Diagnosis. 06 July 2026. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353401 Accessed: 14 July 2026
  8. Menopause: How Do You Know If You’ve Reached Perimenopause? Tests To Diagnose Perimenopause. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/#section-how-do-you-know-if-you-are-in-perimenopause Accessed: 14 July 2026
  9. Hormone Blood Tests In the Menopause Transition: Summary. June 2026:7. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/39-NEW-WHC-FACTSHEET-Hormone-blood-tests-in-the-menopause-transition-JUNE2026-B.pdf Accessed: 14 July 2026
  10. Menopause: How Do You Know If You Are In Perimenopause? When To See Your Doctor. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/#section-how-do-you-know-if-you-are-in-perimenopause Accessed: 14 July 2026
Topic Last Updated: 14 July 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 14 July 2026

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