Menopause / Schmenopause
When to get checked.
A calm safety guide for the things that are worth bringing to a GP, and the things that need urgent help.
Menopause can explain a lot. It should not explain everything.
You know your body. This page is not here to scare you — it is here to make it easier to notice when something deserves a conversation or more urgent help.
Book a GP appointment
- Bleeding after 12 months without periodsEven if it happened once or was only spotting.
- Bleeding between periods or after sexEspecially if it is new, persistent or worrying you.
- Symptoms that are changing your lifePoor sleep, low mood, anxiety, brain fog, pain or hot flushes that are affecting work, relationships or day-to-day life are valid reasons to ask for help.
- Recurring urinary symptomsFor example burning when peeing, needing to go more often, recurrent UTIs, new urgency or pain.
- Something simply does not feel rightYou do not need to prove that a symptom is menopause before you ask to be checked.
Get urgent help now
Use urgent or emergency services for sudden or severe symptoms.
For example chest pain, severe difficulty breathing, fainting, signs of a stroke, or immediate risk of harming yourself or someone else. In the UK call 999 in an emergency. For urgent mental-health support in England, call NHS 111 and select the mental-health option.
This is not a complete list. Seek medical advice whenever symptoms are severe, sudden, persistent or concerning.