---
title: "What should women discuss with their doctor during perimenopause"
description: "Learn what to discuss with your doctor during perimenopause, including symptoms, bleeding changes, hormone therapy, contraception, and warning signs."
url: "https://www.myalloy.com/knowledge-base/what-should-women-discuss-with-their-doctor-during-perimenopause"
---

# What should women discuss with their doctor during perimenopause

> Learn what to discuss with your doctor during perimenopause, including symptoms, bleeding changes, hormone therapy, contraception, and warning signs.

## What should women discuss with their doctor during perimenopause?

A useful perimenopause visit usually covers three things, what’s changing, how much it’s affecting your life, and what you want help with. It helps to bring your top three most disruptive symptoms, when they started, how often they happen, and how long they last. That might include cycle changes, hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disruption, brain fog, mood changes, headaches, fatigue, vaginal dryness, painful sex, bladder changes, recurrent UTIs, libido changes, or weight shifts. If you’ve been tracking your periods or symptoms in your phone, bring that too.

It’s also worth talking through your timeline and health history. Share whether you’re still getting periods, how your bleeding has changed, and whether pregnancy is still possible for you, since ovulation can still happen in perimenopause. Bring up your personal and family history too, especially blood clots, breast cancer, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, fibroids, or endometriosis. If you’ve had hormone labs, they can be useful context, but a single hormone test usually can’t confirm perimenopause on its own. Sometimes testing is more helpful for ruling out other causes, like thyroid problems.

Then ask what treatment options fit your situation and your goal, whether that’s symptom relief, answers, contraception, or a longer-term plan. Depending on your symptoms, that might include menopause hormone therapy, low-dose birth control if you’re still having periods, local vaginal estrogen for dryness or urinary symptoms, or non-hormonal medications for hot flashes and night sweats. Some symptoms should be discussed promptly rather than brushed off, especially very heavy or prolonged bleeding, spotting between periods, bleeding after sex, any bleeding after 12 months without a period, or new persistent pelvic pain, bloating, or feeling full quickly.

For prep, these Alloy guides are useful: [Can you test for perimenopause?](https://www.myalloy.com/blog/can-you-test-for-perimenopause) and [The 34 symptoms of menopause and perimenopause](https://www.myalloy.com/blog/the-34-symptoms-of-menopause). This short chapter from Dr. Kudzai Dombo on [preparing for perimenopause](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqIZT96klIg&t=201s) is also practical. If you want menopause-trained care, here at Alloy you can [start an online consult](https://secure.myalloy.com/experience?categories%5B%5D=mht&sku-ids%5B%5D=942fc36f-61c5-4cb9-ba30-8024ba2beb0a&skip-category-select=true&type=intake).


[Watch video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqIZT96klIg&t=201s)

[Find Your Plan](https://secure.myalloy.com/experience)

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This answer was created using the following resources:

- [Perimenopause 101: The Alloy Guide to Signs, Science & Support | Dr. Kudzai Dombo - Preparing for Perimenopause](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqIZT96klIg)
- [Your Menopause Questions, Answered | Dr. Taylor Hahn](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGtxIZWAxEw)
- [Perimenopause & What to Expect When Starting MHT | Dr. Carolyn Moyers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxEw0L73mVg)
- [Why Menopause Care and Hormone Therapy Must Be Individualized | Dr. Sharon Malone - Concerns About Menopause](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeoZldO1Q2k)
- [The 34 Symptoms of Menopause & Perimenopause: The Full List](https://www.myalloy.com/blog/the-34-symptoms-of-menopause)
- [Can You Test for Perimenopause? Diagnosis & Hormone Testing](https://www.myalloy.com/blog/can-you-test-for-perimenopause)
- [Myths About Perimenopause & Menopause: Symptoms & Solutions](https://www.myalloy.com/blog/top-perimenopause-menopause-myths)
- [Hot Flashes and Menopause: What’s the Connection? | Alloy](https://www.myalloy.com/blog/hot-flashes-and-menopause-whats-the-connection)
- [Why Is Midlife Weight Gain So Hard to Lose?](https://www.myalloy.com/blog/midlife-weight-gain-why-is-it-so-hard-to-lose)
- [Does Menopause Cause Diabetes?](https://www.myalloy.com/blog/menopause-and-diabetes-how-menopause-affects-blood-sugar)
- [Can You Get Pregnant During Perimenopause? | Alloy Health](https://www.myalloy.com/blog/menopause-or-pregnancy-understanding-the-signs)

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