Menopause symptoms — what's normal, what to test, what to do.
Menopause is the point 12 months after your last period. Most of what women call 'menopause' is actually perimenopause (the lead-up) and post-menopause (the decade after). Different stages, different tests, different protocols.
This page covers the menopause symptom map, what to test once cycles have stopped — bone, cardiometabolic, thyroid and HRT-readiness — and how Her Form's Perimenopause Package adapts to post-menopausal women.
Common menopause symptoms
- ✺Hot flushes and night sweats
- ✺Sleep that fragments early in the night
- ✺Vaginal dryness, lower libido, urinary changes
- ✺Joint aches, stiff mornings
- ✺Brain fog, slower word recall
- ✺New anxiety or low mood
- ✺Weight settling around the middle
- ✺Thinning hair, drier skin
- ✺Heart palpitations
What's happening hormonally
Estradiol and progesterone settle at low levels. FSH stays high. The body adjusts to a new baseline — but bone density and cardiovascular risk shift in this window, which is why testing matters even after cycles stop.
Thyroid disease becomes more common. Cortisol patterns change. Insulin sensitivity falls. The post-menopausal panel looks different from the perimenopausal one — and the protocol should too.
The markers that clarify the picture
Perimenopause Package
Navigate perimenopause with confidence.
- · Estradiol, progesterone, FSH
- · Bone & cardiovascular markers
- · HRT-readiness review
Do I need to test if my periods have stopped?+
Yes — but the panel changes. Once cycles have stopped, bone, cardiometabolic and thyroid markers matter more than FSH/LH timing. Her Form adapts the Perimenopause Package for post-menopausal women.
Is HRT right for me?+
That's a conversation, not a blood test. We run the markers HRT prescribers want to see (lipids, glucose, thyroid, hormone baseline), and we walk you through readiness (Robyn available for an optional consult), risks and what to ask your prescriber.
How is this different from a GP menopause check?+
Most GP checks confirm menopause and stop. Her Form maps what comes after — bone, heart, metabolic, thyroid — and builds a 10-year protocol, not a single appointment.
References
- NICE — Menopause guideline (NG23) — Menopause diagnosis and management
- British Menopause Society (BMS) — HRT safety, vasomotor symptoms and bone protection
- Jean Hailes for Women's Health — Post-menopause long-term health
- RANZCOG — Menopause position statement — HRT and cardiovascular/bone risk in ANZ women
- Endocrine Society — Hormone Therapy guidelines — Evidence on hormonal interventions in menopause
The references above are provided for educational purposes only. Her Form does not endorse any specific organisation, treatment, or guideline. Information on this page does not constitute medical advice and is not a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.