Perimenopause: understand the changes and find support
Understand the changes that can happen before your periods stop, what to have handy for a GP discussion and where to find more focused guidance.
What is perimenopause?
Perimenopause is the transition around your final period, when hormone levels fluctuate and your periods or other symptoms can change. A HerDoc GP can help you explore what has changed and what to do next; you do not need to be certain it is perimenopause before seeking help.
Online GP appointments for women
When appointments open, book online and speak by phone with an AHPRA-registered Australian GP.
GP care that fits women's lives
HerDoc supports general health, women's health and life-stage concerns, where telehealth is suitable.
How it works
Join the waiting list
Join the waiting list for booking updates.
When appointments open
Talk by phone with an AHPRA-registered doctor. Your GP can provide advice and, where clinically appropriate, discuss prescriptions, certificates, referrals, pathology requests or follow-up guidance during the appointment.
Often suitable for
- General health and mental wellbeing
- Women's health, menopause and perimenopause
- Medication advice and prescriptions
- Medical certificates, referrals and pathology requests
Not for urgent care
HerDoc is not for emergencies, crisis support or symptoms that need immediate hands-on care.
- Chest pain, breathing difficulty or severe symptoms
- Sudden or rapidly worsening symptoms
- Mental health crisis or risk of harm
For urgent or severe symptoms, call 000 or seek emergency care.
When an examination is needed
Some concerns need a physical examination; the GP can advise when in-person care is needed.
What perimenopause means
Perimenopause begins before the final menstrual period and extends through the first year afterwards. Hormone levels fluctuate during this transition, and periods and other symptoms can change.
Some people notice several changes; others have few symptoms. The effect on your everyday life is a useful starting point for a conversation.
Healthdirect explains the stages of the transition, common symptoms and how a doctor assesses them.
Choose the guide that fits your concern
Changes may involve periods, hot flushes or night sweats, sleep, mood or anxiety, concentration, sexual comfort, urinary symptoms, aches or other body changes. Use the focused guides for the details most relevant to you.
Have your main concern and a few details handy
You might want an explanation, help with one troublesome symptom or advice about possible treatment. The GP may ask about:
- when changes began and whether they come and go
- your usual period pattern and what is different now
- effects on sleep, work, relationships or daily tasks
- medicines, supplements, contraception and pregnancy possibility
- personal health history, previous procedures and relevant family history
- previous results or treatments and what you want help with first
What to ask about next
Pregnancy, medicines, stress or another health condition can sometimes explain similar changes. The GP can look at the whole picture and discuss whether advice, examination, testing or further care would help.
You can ask what to focus on first, what to keep track of and when to follow up. The focused guides above explain symptom, testing and treatment questions without needing to cover everything in one appointment.
When telehealth may not be suitable
- Arrange assessment for unusually heavy or prolonged bleeding, bleeding between periods or after sex, or bleeding after 12 months without periods.
- Persistent, worsening or unusual symptoms may need an examination or another assessment rather than being attributed to perimenopause.
When to seek urgent care
Call 000 for severe chest pain, severe breathing difficulty, stroke signs, collapse, very heavy bleeding with faintness or immediate danger. If you may act on suicidal thoughts or cannot stay safe, call 000 or go to an emergency department. Seek urgent local care for severe pelvic pain or pain or bleeding when pregnancy is possible.
Want to know when HerDoc launches?
HerDoc is preparing to launch and is not taking appointments yet. Join the waiting list for booking availability updates.
Related pages
FAQs
How is perimenopause different from menopause?
Perimenopause is the transition that begins before the final period and includes the first year afterwards. Natural menopause is recognised after 12 months without periods when there is no other explanation. Hormonal contraception or treatments and procedures that affect periods can make the timing harder to identify.
Can I seek help if only one symptom bothers me?
Yes. You can focus the conversation on one concern and how it affects your life. You do not need a long symptom list before asking for help.
What history is useful for a first perimenopause discussion?
Have your period pattern, symptom timing, medicines, contraception and relevant personal or family history handy. Previous results and what you have already tried can also help.
What if I cannot tell when the changes started?
An approximate timeline is useful. Describe what is different now and the concern you most want help with; you do not need a complete diary before the appointment.