Menopause symptoms: what to track and what to ask your GP

Hot flushes, broken sleep, moods that swing without warning — and periods that no longer follow the calendar. If you're somewhere in your 40s or 50s, these may be signs of perimenopause or menopause. But symptoms vary enormously between women, and there's no single test that pins down where you are in the transition.

The good news: if you know what to track and what to ask, a GP appointment becomes far more productive. Here's what to record, the questions worth bringing to your consult, and how an online menopause consultation works.

What Is Menopause?

Menopause is medically defined as your final menstrual period, confirmed after 12 consecutive months without one. The average age in Australia is around 51, but anywhere from 45 to 55 is typical. The years of hormonal change before that — usually starting in the early-to-mid 40s — are called perimenopause, and that's when most symptoms appear.

• Perimenopause: oestrogen and progesterone fluctuate unevenly. Periods become irregular and symptoms like hot flushes, sleep disturbance and mood changes begin — commonly lasting four to six years.
• Menopause: the final period, confirmed after 12 months without menstruation.
• Postmenopause: the years after. Some symptoms ease, but others — like vaginal dryness and bone thinning — can continue or emerge.

Menopause can also happen earlier than expected, after ovarian surgery, certain cancer treatments, or spontaneously before age 40 (premature menopause). In those situations, medical support is especially important.

Common Menopause Symptoms

Symptoms vary enormously between women, but the most commonly reported include:

• Hot flushes and night sweats — sudden waves of heat, often worst at night
• Irregular periods — cycles becoming shorter, longer, heavier or lighter before they stop
• Sleep disturbance — trouble falling or staying asleep, sometimes without obvious night sweats
• Mood changes — irritability, anxiety, low mood or tearfulness
• Brain fog — trouble concentrating, forgetfulness or word-finding difficulties
• Vaginal dryness and discomfort — often worsening over time
• Reduced libido — common and treatable, though less often raised with doctors
• Joint aches and muscle stiffness
• Weight changes — particularly increased abdominal fat, even without lifestyle change
• Palpitations and headaches — often fluctuating with hormone shifts

If your symptoms are mainly low mood and anxiety, menopause and mental health often overlap — see our guide on getting a mental health care plan online.

What to Track Before Your Appointment

You don't need an app or a complicated chart — notes on your phone work fine. A few weeks of simple tracking turns vague complaints into clinical information your GP can act on:

Photos of your tracking notes are perfectly acceptable at an online appointment — your GP can read them during the consult.

What to Ask Your GP

Many appointments run out of time before the real questions get asked. Bring a list and lead with these:

1. "Are my symptoms consistent with perimenopause?" — and could anything else (thyroid problems, anaemia, medication side effects, depression) explain them?
2. "Do I need any tests?" — blood tests aren't always needed to diagnose menopause, but they help in some situations. Ask what your GP recommends and why.
3. "What are my treatment options?" — including MHT/HRT, non-hormonal options and what the evidence says about safety for your situation.
4. "What about my sleep, mood or vaginal symptoms specifically?" — each has its own treatment pathway, and none should be dismissed as "just menopause".
5. "What about my bones and heart?" — oestrogen decline affects bone density and cardiovascular risk. Ask whether you need a bone density check or heart risk assessment.
6. "When should I come back?" — treatments often need adjusting; a follow-up plan stops you being left to struggle.

When to See a Doctor Sooner

Book a GP review promptly — rather than waiting symptoms out — if you have:

• Bleeding that is very heavy, between periods, after sex, or any bleeding more than 12 months after your last period
• Symptoms significantly affecting your sleep, work or relationships
• New or worsening low mood, anxiety or panic attacks
• Palpitations, fainting or dizziness
• Symptoms starting before age 45 (especially before 40, which may indicate premature menopause)
• New joint pain, fractures from minor falls, or concerns about bone health

How a Telehealth GP Can Help With Menopause

Menopause care relies on your history and symptom pattern rather than physical examination, which makes it well suited to online care. An AHPRA-registered GP can:

• Discuss your symptoms, cycle history and goals by video or phone
• Prescribe menopausal hormone therapy (MHT/HRT) or non-hormonal options as an eScript, if clinically appropriate — see how online prescriptions work
• Issue a pathology referral online for hormone, thyroid or iron studies when indicated
• Provide a specialist referral to a gynaecologist or menopause clinic for complex cases
• Create a mental health care plan for mood and anxiety symptoms — bulk billed for eligible Medicare card holders

GP consultations start from $49 and referrals are $25, with transparent upfront pricing — check current pricing and fees before booking.

How to Book an Online Menopause Consultation in 3 Steps

1. Book online: Choose a GP consultation and briefly describe your symptoms (book now).
2. Speak to a GP: A phone or video consult with an AHPRA-registered doctor — have your tracking notes and current medications ready.
3. Get a plan and documents: Leave with a treatment plan, eScript, referrals or mental health care plan as appropriate — all delivered digitally.