The Symptoms Doctors Miss During Perimenopause

A lot of women leave a doctor's appointment during perimenopause feeling like their concerns weren't quite heard. A 2025 study in npj Women's Health surveyed over 4,400 U.S. women and found high rates of doctor consultations alongside significant, measurable symptom burden, even among women younger than the average perimenopause onset age of 47.5.

The underdiagnosed perimenopause symptoms nobody asks about

That same body of research points to something worth naming directly: genitourinary symptoms, including dryness and changes in comfort during intimacy, are consistently among the least-discussed symptoms of perimenopause, compared to more commonly addressed ones like irregular periods, hot flashes, or mood changes. It's not that these symptoms are rare. It's that they're less likely to come up unless a patient raises them directly.

How to talk to your doctor about perimenopause

This is worth naming clearly: these symptoms are common during perimenopause, and the research shows they deserve as much clinical attention as anything else on the list. They're not separate from what's happening hormonally. They're part of it.

If your appointments haven't touched on this, that doesn't mean it isn't relevant to you. The data suggests it's more likely that it simply hasn't come up yet, which means it's worth raising yourself.

Sources: Delamater L, et al. "Perimenopause symptoms, severity, and healthcare seeking in women in the US," npj Women's Health, 2025.