MenoDecoder Quiz Resuts

Feeling tense or nervous
Feeling on edge lately? Hormones may be playing a part!
If your nerves are frayed and you’re snapping at your barista for giving you 2% instead of oat milk, know this: estrogen affects
the brain’s feel-good chemicals (like serotonin, dopamine and GABA). As levels drop, anxiety can rise. But t his is
treatable—hormonal and non-hormonal therapies, mind-body strategies, and support all help. You don’t have to muscle
through it.

If you feel suicidal, like you want to harm yourself, or that you want your life to end, phone your doctors office, 911 or the 988 Lifeline immediately or go to emergency department. Through the 988 Lifeline, you have access to free, quality, one-on-one assistance. Skilled, judgment-free counselors are available to provide compassionate support. You deserve to feel heard and cared about anytime, anywhere, 24/7/365.

Insomnia
Can’t sleep? It might be your hormones talking!
Struggling to fall or stay asleep? That’s one of the top complaints during perimenopause and menopause. Night sweats, anxiety, and changes in your body clock all gang up on your rest. The fix? From lifestyle tweaks to hormone therapy to targeted sleep treatments, we can rebuild your sleep fortress.

Memory issues
Where did I put my… what were we talking about again?
Menopause brain fog is real. Estrogen plays a key role in memory and cognition, so dips can make you feel forgetful or
unfocused. It’s not early dementia—it’s likely hormonal. The fog lifts, and support (from HRT to sleep hygiene to stress
reduction) helps sharpen things back up.

Anxiety or panic attacks
Sudden anxiety or panic? You’re not alone!
Many women experience out-of-the-blue panic or anxiety during the menopause transition. It’s often hormonal, not “just stress.” This symptom can be unsettling—but it’s also manageable. From CBT to HRT to SSRIs and lifestyle support, there are lots of tools to bring the calm back. This trick is to figure out which methods will be most helpful to you.

Poor concentration
Trouble focusing? It’s not just you.
If your concentration has gone out for coffee without you, estrogen might be the culprit. Hormonal shifts can make it harder to multitask, stay focused, or keep track of what you were saying mid-sentence. The upside? There’s help—lifestyle strategies, brain-boosting support, and sometimes hormone therapy can make a big difference. Women who have ADHD, autism or who are neurospicey in any way often find that their symptoms get so much more noticeable during perimenopause. 

Exhaustion or fatigue
Running on empty? Let’s talk fatigue.
Menopause-related fatigue isn’t just feeling tired—it’s bone-deep exhaustion. Hormone changes affect sleep, mood, and metabolism. Add in life stress and boom: you’re wiped. The fix isn’t just more coffee (though, yes)—it’s treating the root causes. Hormone support, better sleep, nutrition, and stress management can all refuel your tank.

Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
Blah about everything? Let’s change that.
If you feel like you’ve lost your spark, it could be hormonal. Estrogen and mood go hand-in-hand, and that loss of motivation or joy might be tied to your transition. It’s not a personality flaw—it’s physiology. And it’s fixable. Let’s bring your spark back.

If you feel suicidal, like you want to harm yourself, or that you want your life to end, phone your doctors office, 911 or the 988 Lifeline immediately or go to emergency department.  Through the 988 Lifeline, you have access to free, quality, one-on-one assistance. Skilled, judgment-free counselors are available to provide compassionate support. You deserve to feel heard and cared about anytime, anywhere, 24/7/365.

Feeling down or low
Mood dips? Here’s why they happen.
Mood changes during menopause are common—and not a sign you’re broken. Estrogen affects serotonin, dopamine, GABA and other brain chemicals. As levels shift, so can your emotional baseline. The good news? There are effective, evidence-based ways to support mood, hormonal and otherwise.

If you feel suicidal, like you want to harm yourself, or that you want your life to end, phone your doctors office, 911 or the 988 Lifeline immediately or go to emergency department.  Through the 988 Lifeline, you have access to free, quality, one-on-one assistance. Skilled, judgment-free counselors are available to provide compassionate support. You deserve to feel heard and cared about anytime, anywhere, 24/7/365.

Tearful
Crying at cat food commercials? It’s the hormones.
If you feel like your emotions are riding a rollercoaster, you’re not alone. Hormonal fluctuations can make you more emotionally reactive. It’s okay. It’s real. And it’s treatable. Emotional regulation improves with the right support—whether that’s hormones, therapy, SSRIs or just knowing you’re not alone.

Irritability
Snapping more than usual? It’s not just you.
If everything feels like it’s grinding your gears lately, blame the hormones—not your personality. Estrogen affects mood regulation, and when levels are fluctuatin, irritability can skyrocket. But you don’t have to stay in rage-mode. There are ways to smooth the edges—hormonal, therapeutic, and lifestyle-based.

Palpitations
Racing heart? Here’s what’s going on!
A pounding or racing heart can feel scary—but during menopause, it’s often linked to shifting hormone levels, particularly estrogen. Your autonomic nervous system can get a bit jumpy during this transition. It’s worth ruling out other causes (like thyroid or heart issues or anxiety), but this can be a normal part of the ride. The good news? You’re not alone, and there are ways to calm the beat. 

If you are having any other symptom along with your palpitations, for instance shortness of breath, nausea, paleness, light-headedness, dizziness, arm/neck or chest pain then this is not usual for menopause and you should see your doctor about this as soon as possible and call 911 if your symptoms are happening now and are not going away after a few minutes.

Feeling dizzy or faint
Feeling off balance? Let’s talk dizziness.
Dizziness or lightheadedness during the menopause transition is surprisingly common. Hormonal shifts can affect your autonomic nervous system, circulation, blood sugar, and hydration—all of which can make you feel woozy. It’s worth checking in with your doctor to rule out other causes, but yes, it can be part of this wild hormonal ride.

If you are having any other symptom along with your dizziness, for instance shortness of breath, nausea, paleness, light-headedness, dizziness, arm/neck or chest pain then this is not usual for menopause and you should see your doctor about this as soon as possible and call 911 if your symptoms are happening now and are not going away after a few minutes.

Pressure or tightness in head
Head feeling like it’s in a vice?
Pressure or tightness in your head can be linked to hormonal changes, tension headaches, or even stress. If your head feels like it’s being slowly squeezed, you’re not imagining it—and you’re not alone. Addressing sleep, stress, hormones, and hydration often helps

Tinnitus
What’s that buzzing? It might be hormonal.
Tinnitus can show up during perimenopause and menopause, often as a high-pitched ringing, buzzing, or whooshing sound. While the cause isn’t totally understood, hormone fluctuations can affect inner ear fluids, function and auditory nerves. It’s not fun—but there are ways to reduce how much it bothers you. 

Headaches
Menopause giving you a headache? Literally?
Hormonal shifts—especially fluctuating estrogen—can trigger headaches and migraines. If your head is pounding more than usual during this transition, you’re in good (but tired) company. The right treatment—whether hormonal, lifestyle, or migraine-specific—can bring relief.  Have you been told that if you have migraine-with-aura that you cannot have HRT?  Well, that’s not accurate information and doctors who are well trained in the specialty of menopause know that it is safe to give estrogen through the skin (but not oral estrogen) in this scenario.

If your headaches are getting worse, or come with a fever, neck stiffness, or a rash, it’s important to see your doctor. You should also reach out to your doctor  if your headaches started suddenly, involve eye pain or redness, unexplained vomiting, or feel unlike any headache you’ve had before. And definitely don’t wait if you’re noticing problems with speech, balance, or significant memory changes—those symptoms deserve immediate attention.

Muscle and joint aches and pains
Achy all over? Menopause might be behind it.
If your joints and muscles feel like they’ve aged 30 years overnight, you’re not imagining things. Estrogen has anti-inflammatory properties, and its decline can lead to increased pain, stiffness, or soreness. Movement helps (yes, even when it feels hard), and so can hormone therapy and other supportive treatments.

Pins and needles
Tingling sensations? Let’s decode that.
That weird pins-and-needles feeling can happen during menopause due to changes in nerve sensitivity and circulation. It’s less common, but still totally legit. If it’s persistent or severe, check with your doctor—but hormones could be playing a sneaky role

If this is a new or rapidly worsening symptom, it’s important to check in with your doctor—especially if you’re also experiencing balance issues, double vision, muscle twitching or weakness, heart palpitations, dizziness, nausea, constipation, or changes in your bowel habits. These could signal something more than just hormonal shifts and should be properly evaluated.

Difficulty breathing
Short of breath? It might not be your lungs.
Some women report feeling short of breath or like they can’t get a deep enough breath during perimenopause. Anxiety, hot flushes, and even hormonal effects on the respiratory system could be contributing. It’s worth ruling out other causes—but don’t ignore it; address it.

If you are having shortness of breath going up stairs or it’s associated with any chest pain or tightness, light-headedness, nausea, sweating or paleness then you need to call 911 as this can be due to the heart not getting a good enough supply of blood and oxygen (angina or sometimes a heart attack). 

Hot flashes
Hot flashes driving you wild? You’re not alone.
These sudden waves of heat, sweat, and ‘why is my neck on fire?’ are one of the most classic menopause symptoms. They happen because your body’s thermostat goes haywire as estrogen levels fluctuate. Hormone therapy is the gold standard for relief, but there are non-hormonal meds and lifestyle strategies that help too.

If your hot flushes come with other symptoms like fatigue, tremors or shakiness, unintentional weight loss, diarrhea, or just feeling generally unwell, it’s a good idea to see your doctor. These could point to something beyond hormonal changes and deserve a closer look.

Night sweats
Waking up in a puddle? Let’s talk night sweats.
Night sweats are hot flushes’ sneaky nighttime pals. They can wreck sleep and leave you feeling exhausted. Like hot flushes, they’re tied to hormonal changes—but you have options. Hormone therapy, cooling sleep environments, and evidence-backed non-hormonal treatments can help you reclaim your nights.

If your night sweats are accompanied by fever, weight loss, or feeling generally unwell, see your doctor. They could be a sign of something more than menopause.You can have night sweats for other reasons so if it doesn’t make sense that they could be due to your hormones, please see your doctor about them asap.

Loss of libido
Where did your libido go? It’s not just you!
Many women notice a dip in sexual desire during perimenopause and menopause. Estrogen and testosterone both play a role in libido, and when they drop, so can interest in sex. Add in sleep issues, stress, and vaginal dryness, and it’s no wonder. But it’s fixable—with hormone therapy, sexual health support, and real conversations

Urinary Symptoms
Bladder being a diva? Let’s talk urinary symptoms.
Leaking, urgency, or peeing every 30 minutes? Blame estrogen and sometimes testosterone loss. It affects the bladder and urethra, leading to what’s called Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM). The fix? Vaginal estrogen is a superstar here, and pelvic floor therapy and lifestyle tweaks can also help a ton.

Vaginal or vulval dryness
Vaginal dryness? It’s common—and treatable.
If things are feeling dry, itchy, or uncomfortable around your vulva and vagina, it’s a classic menopause symptom. Loss of estrogen, and sometimes testosterone, causes thinning and dryness in vaginal tissues. As we lose our ovarian hormones we also lose massive amounts of collagen and elastin in the skin of the vagina and vulva.  Those cells are supposed to be plump, healthy and produce glycogen to feed our microbiome, but now they become dried out with a poor blood supply. Our microbiome dies off without it’s supply of glycogen and we start to get overgrowth of other bacteria that is usually kept to a minimum. We can get recurrent yeast, bacterial vaginosis and urinary tract infections. The fix? Local estrogen therapy is safe and super effective. There are also moisturizers, lubricants, and other options to keep things comfortable—and pleasurable.