The most common way in which the menopause is diagnosed is by discussion of symptoms with a doctor. These symptoms usually include irregular or absent periods and sometimes issues such as hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, low libido, joint and muscle pain and low mood, although these will vary on an individual basis. 

A follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) test is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to aid diagnosis of menopause in women under 45 years only. Other tests, including AMH, are not recommended in the UK.

FSH is used as a measure because the level of this hormone rises as a woman approaches menopause due to a drop in the functioning of the ovaries, which would otherwise keep the amount at a lower level. However, FSH results can be affected by the use of certain medicines – most commonly hormone treatments such as contraceptives – but also clomifene, which is used for fertility treatments; the gastrointestinal agent cimetidine; and levodopa, which is often used for the management of Parkinson’s disease.

The reason why most women do not undergo any formal diagnostic testing for the menopause is because such investigations are not particularly useful or accurate, and do not inform its management.