You Can’t Diagnose Perimenopause With Labs. Here’s What Actually Matters
If you’ve been told your hormone labs are “normal,” but you feel anxious, exhausted, foggy, irritable, or unlike yourself, this can feel incredibly frustrating, and confusing.
Many women are left wondering:
“If my labs are normal, why do I feel so bad?”
Here’s the truth: perimenopause cannot be diagnosed with lab tests alone. And normal labs do not mean your symptoms aren’t real.
Why Hormone Labs Don’t Tell the Full Story
During perimenopause, hormone levels fluctuate constantly, sometimes day to day, sometimes hour to hour.
That means:
A single blood test is just a snapshot
“Normal” results are common even when symptoms are severe
Labs often miss the bigger picture of what’s happening in your body
This is why so many women are told everything looks fine, while they feel anything but fine.
So How Is Perimenopause Diagnosed?
Perimenopause is diagnosed clinically, not by a single lab value.
That means your clinician should focus on your symptoms and your story, including changes such as:
Anxiety or mood changes
Trouble sleeping or early morning waking
Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
Irregular, heavier, or unpredictable periods
Increased PMS
Fatigue or low energy
Weight changes or increased cravings
Feeling “off” or not like yourself
These symptoms matter, even if labs are normal.
Why Women Are So Often Dismissed
Many clinicians are taught to rely heavily on lab results. Unfortunately, that approach doesn’t work well for perimenopause.
As a result, women are often told:
“You’re too young for menopause”
“This is just stress”
“This is normal aging”
“There’s nothing to do”
That dismissal can delay care for years—while symptoms worsen.
👉 If This Sounds Familiar, You Don’t Have to Guess
If you’re experiencing symptoms but haven’t gotten clear answers, you deserve better guidance.
At Vida Women’s Health, perimenopause care starts with listening, then building a plan based on your symptoms, goals, and health history.
How Vida Women’s Health Approaches Perimenopause Differently
At Vida:
We don’t rely on labs alone to make decisions
Your symptoms are taken seriously
We review your full health picture
We discuss both hormonal and non-hormonal options
We make decisions together, no one-size-fits-all rules
The goal is clarity, relief, and a plan that actually works for you.
Why Virtual Care Makes This Easier
Virtual visits allow us to:
Spend time understanding your symptoms
Educate you on what’s happening in your body
Adjust care as your needs change over time
Perimenopause is a transition, not a one-time diagnosis. Your care should reflect that.
Not Ready to Book Yet? Start With Clarity
If you’re still sorting through symptoms and mixed messages, my free guide can help.
Download Midlife, Misunderstood to better understand what’s happening in perimenopause—and what actually helps.
