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 Test
  • Perimenopause Diagnosis
  • Perimenopause Test

Hormone Levels

Menopause DiagnosisIs it standard practice to measure hormone levels to diagnose perimenopause or menopause?

In Menopause. How Do You Know If You’ve Reached Menopause? Tests To Diagnose Menopause the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) explain:

“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”.2

Follicle Stimulating Hormone Test Reliability

How reliable is a single FSH test to diagnosed perimenopause or menopause?

In What Is Menopause? How Is Menopause Diagnosed? the Australasian Menopause Society (AMS) note:

“Measurement of FSH to diagnose perimenopause or menopause is not usually indicated. A single hormone test, such as a measurement of elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is not a reliable indicator of the perimenopause, as women’s hormone levels may fluctuate from day to day”.3

Follicle Stimulating Hormone Test Validity

What can compromise the validity of FSH tests?

In Diagnosing Menopause: Symptom Assessment and Diagnosis At Perimenopause and Menopause the AMS also note:

“It is especially unhelpful to do hormone blood tests while women are on MHT/OCP – symptoms, not blood levels, guide therapy”.4

What is MHT?

MHT can be an abbreviation for Menopause Hormone Therapy (MHT), otherwise known as Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) or Hormone Therapy (HT).

What is OCP?

OCP can be an abbreviation for Oral Contraceptive Pill, otherwise known as “The Pill” or birth control pills.

Over-the-Counter FSH Test

What may over-the-counter FSH tests check?

In Menopause:  Menopause Diagnosis & Treatment – Diagnosis 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”.5

Diagnosis

How are perimenopause and menopause diagnosed?

In Diagnosing Menopause? Key Points the AMS explain:


Menopause Diagnosis

  • “Perimenopause is usually diagnosed clinically on the basis of new onset vasomotor or other symptoms and a change in the pattern of menstrual bleeding. Menopause is diagnosed 12 months after the final menstrual period”.6

What are vasomotor symptoms?

DotS the definition of vasomotor symptoms may vary. The Menopause Society’s (formerly The North American Menopause Society) definition is:

“Vasomotor symptoms. Also known as hot flashes and night sweats, common symptoms during perimenopause and early postmenopause”.7

Symptom Score

What is the Symptom Score used by the AMS?

In Diagnosing Menopause: Symptom Score Sheet the AMS include a Symptom Score (Modified Greene Scale) and explain:

“The woman judges the severity of her own symptoms and records the score – 1 for mild, 2 for moderate, 3 for severe and 0 if she does not have that particular symptom. A score of 15 or over usually indicates oestrogen deficiency that is intrusive enough to require treatment, but this is only a guide. Women are very variable in their tolerance of discomfort, often tolerating quite severe symptoms before they will even consider taking MHT”.8

Health Care Provider

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

If you would like to find out if you are perimenopausal or not, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. Together you can clarify your symptoms, discuss your options and if required, agree on who may be the most appropriate health care provider to help you.

In Menopause: When To See Your Doctor – Perimenopause the JH also note:

“Talk to your doctor if you are worried about:

  • You feel very tired or fatigued
  • You have symptoms that are interfering with your daily activities, including exercise and work, your relationships or your quality of life
  • Your premenstrual syndrome (PMS) gets worse
  • You have concerns about your emotional or mental health”.9

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

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

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
    Menopause Diagnosis
  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
  16. Diagnosing Menopause
  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): Unmet Needs, Treatment Gaps, and Opportunities for Better Care
  22. EMAS On-Demand Webinars [European Menopause and Andropause Society] [Multiply Languages]: Menopause and Mental Health: Managing Anxiety, Depression, and Cognitive Changes
  23. Experts Answer Your Menopause Questions In Video
  24. FDA Direct: Removing Black Box Warnings for HRT (Part 1/2)
  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) Levels Test
  30. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
  31. HRT Is Not #contraception and So If You Are Perimenopausal Then Added Contraception Is Needed
  32. HRT Questions Answered
  33. HRT, Breast Cancer and the Real Risks of Not Taking Hormones
  34. Handling Hot Flushes and Night Sweats| Dr Louise Newson
  35. Home Menopause Tests Measure Hormones, but Are They Helpful?
  36. Hot Flashes
  37. How To Get the Most Out of Your First Consultation | Dr Louise Newson
  38. How To Talk To Your Doctor About Menopause
    Menopause Diagnosis
  39. How To Talk To Your Doctor About Midlife Brain Fog
  40. How Vaginal Hormones Can Transform the Health of Women
  41. International Menopause Society (IMS) Recommendations and Key Messages on Women’s Midlife Health and Menopause
  42. I’m A Woman Approaching Middle Age, Do I Need To Get My Hormones Checked?
  43. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Menopause [+ Video: Menopause]
  44. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms of Menopause [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
  45. Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Blood Test
  46. Luteinizing Hormone (LH) Levels Test
  47. Managing Menopause Symptoms [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  48. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms [+ Video]
  49. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Perimenopause Transitions and Concerns
  50. Menopause
  51. Menopause
  52. Menopause
    Menopause Diagnosis
  53. Menopause
    Menopause Diagnosis
  54. Menopause Checklist Podcast
  55. Menopause Checklist Podcast: Episode 2: Bye Bye Periods
  56. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
    Menopause Diagnosis
  57. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
    Menopause Diagnosis
  58. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  59. Menopause [Multiply Languages]
  60. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
  61. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline]
    Hormone Therapy
  62. Menopause: Things You Can Do
  63. Menopause: Your Choice of Language
  64. Menstrual Calendar
  65. Mymenoplan.org [My Menoplan, United States]
  66. My Periods Have Changed. Is Menopause Around the Corner?
  67. New BMS Tool for Clinicians – Measurement of Serum Estradiol In the Menopause Transition
  68. Navigating Menopause: Honest Answers To All Your Questions [+ Video: What To Expect in Menopause]
  69. Navigating Menopause Care Resource Guide
    Menopause Diagnosis
  70. Night Sweats
  71. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: CAMS Menopause Hour Webinars – Perimenopause: A Clinical Challenge
  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 – 2024: Perimenopausal Contraception
  75. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2025: Lifestyle Medicine
  76. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2025: The Burn, the Itch, the Pain, the Urge: GSM In Women
  77. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: Past Webinars – 2025: The Perimenopause Journey: An Adaptive Reproductive Phase
  78. Online Events [International Menopause Society]: IMS Partnership Symposia Series – Weight, Wellness, and Women At Midlife: Rethinking Obesity In the Menopause Transition
  79. Nonhormone Treatments for Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
  80. Perimenopause
    Menopause Diagnosis
  81. Perimenopause
  82. Perimenopause
  83. Perimenopause With Dr. Heather Hirsch
  84. Perimenopause and Menopause Checklist: Translated Checklists
  85. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
    Menopause Diagnosis
  86. Perimenopause, PMS, and PCOS: All About the Period
  87. Resources: Fact Sheets [Multiply Languages]
    Menopause Diagnosis
  88. Supplements: What Works, What Doesn’t and the Truth About Menowashing
  89. The Lancet: Series From the Lancet Journal – Menopause 2024
  90. The Menopause Society Show: Menopause and Sexual Desire [20 March 2026]
  91. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: A Simple Approach To Menopause: The Menopause Quick Six (www.MQ6.ca)
  92. Websites Selling Direct-to-Consumer Anti-Mullerian Hormone Tests
  93. What Doctor Should You See for Perimenopause Signs
  94. What Is the Difference Between Perimenopause, Menopause and Postmenopause?
  95. When Does Perimenopause Start and How Do You Define the Beginning
  96. World Menopause Day 2025 [18 October]
    Menopause Diagnosis
  97. Why Is FSH Not Needed for Diagnosis of Menopause
  98. Your Daily Dose: Let’s Unpack Menopause
  99. Your Daily Dose: Perimenopause, Don’t Suffer In Silence
  100. 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 Menopause? Tests To Diagnose Menopause. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause/ Accessed: 09 April 2026
  2. Menopause: How Do You Know If You’ve Reached Menopause? Tests To Diagnose Menopause. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/about-menopause/ Accessed: 09 April 2026
  3. What Is Menopause? How Is Menopause Diagnosed? 03 May 2022. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/what-is-menopause Accessed: 09 April 2026
  4. Diagnosing Menopause: Symptom Assessment and Diagnosis At Perimenopause and Menopause. Content Created May 2022. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/diagnosing-menopause Accessed: 09 April 2026
  5. Menopause – Diagnosis & Treatment: Diagnosis. 07 August 2024. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353401 Accessed: 09 April 2026
  6. Diagnosing Menopause: Key Points. 03 May 2022. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/diagnosing-menopause Accessed: 09 April 2026
  7. Menopause Definitions: V – Vasomotor Symptoms. Menopause Society https://menopause.org/patient-education/menopause-glossary#V Accessed: 09 April 2026
  8. Diagnosing Menopause: Symptom Score Sheet. Content Created May 2022. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/diagnosing-menopause Accessed: 09 April 2026
  9. Menopause: When To See Your Doctor – Perimenopause. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-topics/menopause/#diagnosing-perimenopause-and-menopause Accessed: 09 April 2026
Topic Last Updated: 09 April 2026 – Topic Last Reviewed: 09 April 2026

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