Menopause Misdiagnosis with Dr Nighat Arif

Menopause Misdiagnosis: Why Symptoms Get Missed

Menopause and perimenopause can be hard to recognise because the symptoms often overlap with other conditions.

Many women go to the GP with tiredness, brain fog, anxiety, low mood, joint pain or poor sleep, only to be told it’s stress, ageing, or something else entirely. Sometimes that may be true — but sometimes it isn’t. As Dr Nighat puts it, “Menopause is often a diagnosis of pattern and history, not just a blood test.”

That’s one of the main problems. There isn’t a single blood test that confirms perimenopause, so diagnosis usually depends on symptoms and the bigger picture. A normal blood test doesn’t always mean everything is fine.

What can be mistaken for menopause?

A number of other conditions can cause very similar symptoms, including:

- underactive thyroid

- anaemia

- low vitamin B12

- low vitamin D

- diabetes

- pregnancy

- autoimmune conditions

That’s why it’s so important not to jump to conclusions.

“The challenge is that menopause symptoms are real — but they are not always specific.”

The symptoms that get overlooked

Hot flushes get most of the attention, but they’re only part of the story. Other common symptoms include:

- brain fog

- irritability

- anxiety

- rage

- low mood

- joint pain

- sleep problems

- low libido

- vaginal dryness

Some women also notice misophonia — a strong irritation at sounds like chewing, breathing or tapping. It’s not talked about much, but it can be very real and very disruptive.

Low libido is more complicated than people think

Low sex drive is often linked to more than hormones. It can be affected by poor sleep, stress, low mood, vaginal dryness, pain during sex, thyroid problems, endometriosis or relationship issues.

That’s why a good assessment should look at the full picture. “Low libido is rarely just one thing.”

What a proper menopause assessment should cover

A good menopause assessment should include symptoms, periods, mood, sleep, sex life, family history and general health.

It’s also important to remember that menopause doesn’t rule out anything else. Two things can be happening at once.

“Not every symptom is menopause, and not every symptom that isn’t menopause is imaginary.”

The bottom line

Menopause is a normal life stage, but that doesn’t mean women should be left to struggle through it. If your symptoms aren’t being taken seriously, keep asking questions, push for a proper assessment, and get a second opinion if you need one.

As many women will recognise, “You know your body best.”