Perimenopause Test: How to Know if You’re in the Transition to Menopause

What Is a Perimenopause Test?

Perimenopause test is designed to measure hormone levels in your body to help determine if you’re entering the perimenopause phase. Perimenopause is the transitional period before menopause, typically lasting 4-10 years, during which your hormone levels—especially oestrogen and progesterone—start to fluctuate.

These hormonal changes are what cause the many symptoms associated with perimenopause, from hot flushes to mood swings. Although testing your hormones is tempting, it is not an accurate way of determining whether or not you are in the menopause transition becuase of the fluctuation. And hormone levels are not predictive of where you are in the menopause transition. In the perimenopause, they will fluctuate erratically; in the postmenopause, the oestrogen will be low and stay low.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence does not recommend testing hormones from the age of 45 yrs to diagnose the menopause transition – you can read more here.

It is better to talk to a healthcare professional about your symptoms to help determine if you could be in the menopause transition – or take our Menopause Questionnaire.

Why Might You Consider Taking a Perimenopause Test?

Perimenopause isn’t one-size-fits-all. Some women can go through it with few symptoms, while others experience a wide range of physical and emotional changes. You might consider speaking to a healthcare professional if you’re experiencing any of the following:

• Irregular periods: They’ve become shorter, longer, heavier, or lighter than usual.
• Hot flushes and night sweats: These sudden waves of heat can be disruptive and uncomfortable.
• Mood swings: Feeling unusually irritable, anxious, or weepy? Hormones might be to blame.
• Sleep disturbances: Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep at night.
• Low energy or fatigue: A noticeable dip in your usual energy levels.
• Brain fog: Forgetfulness or difficulty concentrating.
• Vaginal dryness: This is another common sign of changing hormone levels.

If any of these symptoms sound familiar and you’re over 40 (or even in your late 30s), it might be worth exploring whether perimenopause is the cause. (You can read more about menopause symptoms here.)

Types of Perimenopause Tests Available

As previously mentioned, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence does not recommend testing hormones from the age of 45 yrs to diagnose the menopause transition – you can read more here.

1. Home Hormone Test Kits

You can now order a perimenopause test online or buy them from a pharmacy. These home kits typically involve a finger-prick blood test or urine sample to measure hormone levels like:

• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): High levels of FSH may indicate that your ovaries are producing less oestrogen but can fluctuate in the menopause transition.
• Oestrogen (estradiol): Levels of oestrogen decrease in the menopause transition but can fluctuate in the perimenopause.
• Luteinising hormone (LH): Often tested in ovulation testing.
• These kits are convenient, but it’s important to remember they’re not 100% definitive. Hormone levels can fluctuate daily, so a single test will not give you the full story.

2. Blood Tests

If you’re experiencing symptoms, your GP may recommend blood tests to rule out other conditions like thyroid issues, which can mimic perimenopause symptoms.

3. Saliva or Urine Tests

Some alternative health providers offer saliva or 24-hour urine hormone tests. While these might be more detailed, there is lack of evidence for accuracy or clinical validation.

Diagnosing with a perimenopause test?

Testing for perimenopause isn’t an exact science. Your hormone levels can vary widely from day to day.

That’s why symptoms are often the most important factor in diagnosing perimenopause. Even if a test doesn’t confirm hormonal changes, experiencing common perimenopause symptoms like irregular periods or hot flushes is often enough for you to suspect perimenopause.

You can take our menopause questionnaire – we designed it to help women through the menopause transition. It’s a really useful tool, it only takes a few minutes to complete, and it provides you with a more personalized assessment of if and where you are in the menopause transition.

Very often women don’t realize that some of the symptoms they’re experiencing are actually menopause-related, and so the questionnaire is a great free tool for anyone to use.

Should You Get a Perimenopause Test?

As hormone levels fluctuate there aren’t hormone tests which are totally reliable at diagnosing perimenopause and are perimenopause tests are therefore not 100% required to tell if you are entering this stage. If you are wondering if you are in the perimenopause, it is better to speak to a healthcare professional about your symptoms.

Conclusion

A perimenopause test can be a helpful tool for some, but it’s just one part of the puzzle. The most important thing is to listen to your body and get the support you need—whether that’s through lifestyle changes, talking to your GP, or exploring treatments like HRT.

If you’re unsure where to start, why not keep a symptom diary for a few weeks? This can help you track patterns and provide valuable insights for your doctor. You can also use our menopause questionnaire or book a consultation with one of our menopause experts. You can find out how our service works here.