Perimenopause help: where to start

The menopause transition does not look the same for everyone. Periods may become irregular or heavy, while hot flushes and night sweats can disturb sleep. Some people notice mood changes, reduced sexual desire, vaginal dryness, headaches, or difficulty concentrating. Symptoms can overlap with thyroid conditions, medication effects, anaemia, stress, or pregnancy, so a clear history helps a clinician decide whether tests are useful.

Write down symptoms, cycle changes, sleep, and triggers for several weeks. Cooling the bedroom, using breathable layers, keeping regular movement, and protecting sleep routines may reduce day-to-day disruption. A clinician can discuss non-hormonal medicines, hormonal treatment, contraception, vaginal treatments, or talking support according to your symptoms and health history. Contraception may still be needed because ovulation can occur during perimenopause.

Book an appointment if symptoms interfere with sleep, work, relationships, or daily activities, or if bleeding is new, unusually heavy, between periods, or after sex. Seek urgent help for faintness, severe pain, chest pain, breathing difficulty, or bleeding that is difficult to control.

Ask whether your symptoms fit perimenopause, what else should be ruled out, which treatments suit your history, and when to return if symptoms change.