Updated
Original VAYEMA symptom and impact self-check – not a validated scale
Mood and wellbeing around menopause
Answer the symptom statements below to see which experiences and areas of daily life you report as most affected. These are original VAYEMA questions, not a validated diagnostic scale. No clinical severity or probability score is calculated.
Answers are processed only in this page by this assessment. They are not submitted, monitored or automatically saved. No name, email or account is required. Use a private device and clear your answers when finished.
For adults aged 18 and over. This self-check cannot diagnose or rule out a condition. Concerns about a child require an age-appropriate professional assessment.
Thinking about the past four weeks, how well does each statement describe your experience?
Additional context – not included in any questionnaire score
These are original VAYEMA questions, not a diagnostic instrument or a validated severity scale. They summarise the experiences you select and do not predict a diagnosis or future harm. Background condition information; this source does not endorse this self-check.
Begin with the change you most want understood
You may be unsure whether to start with anxiety, poor sleep, forgetfulness or changes in your periods. You do not have to choose the correct explanation before the appointment. Tell the clinician what is most difficult and what you hope to clarify. A useful assessment should hear the concern in its own right rather than assume that age or a menopause label explains it completely.
For example, you might say that you have begun dreading routine meetings or that interrupted sleep is affecting your patience. These are examples of how to begin, not diagnostic signs on their own. Describe what is different from your usual experience and whether it is improving, fluctuating or becoming harder. The understanding guide offers background without requiring you to decide what condition, if any, is present.
A timeline can connect mental and physical symptoms
Note approximate changes in sleep, menstrual pattern, hot flushes, mood and any relevant treatment. The timing can help a clinician consider whether the menopause transition is part of the picture. NHS information describes perimenopause and menopause as conditions usually assessed through age and symptoms, rather than one routine test for everyone. [1]
A brief timeline is enough for preparation. You do not need to record every thought or reconstruct exact dates. Mark uncertainty honestly and include any symptoms that do not fit the explanation you expected. If an illness, medication change or major life event happened around the same time, mention it. The goal is to provide context, not to build a persuasive case that every difficulty must have a hormonal cause.
What the mental-health part of the assessment explores
The clinician may ask about low mood, loss of enjoyment, worry, panic, sleep, concentration, functioning and safety. Earlier episodes and previous treatment matter too. NIH menopause information identifies mental-health history as relevant to mood difficulties during this transition. More severe or persistent symptoms should not be dismissed simply because physical menopause symptoms are also present. [2]
Explain how life feels across different settings, not only during a demanding workday. Mention what remains manageable as well as what has become difficult. You can say that you are unsure whether the problem is anxiety, depression, exhaustion or something else. An assessment should help clarify that uncertainty and identify priorities, rather than require you to arrive with a self-diagnosis or a particular questionnaire result.
Why hormone blood tests do not answer every question
For otherwise healthy people aged 45 or over with a typical presentation, NICE recommends identifying perimenopause or menopause from the clinical history rather than routine confirmatory hormone testing. Younger age, atypical symptoms and other circumstances can require a different approach. This is a reason for individual assessment, not a rule that no blood test is ever useful. [3]
Ask what any proposed investigation is intended to clarify and how the result would change care. An online test cannot determine whether a particular investigation is necessary or interpret it within your full history. Do not stop contraception or hormone treatment to prepare for testing unless the responsible clinician specifically advises you. A single result should not replace discussion of the symptoms and their effect on daily life.
Include medicines, contraception and relevant health history
Bring a current medication list if available, including hormone treatment, contraception and non-prescription products. Mention relevant surgery, medical treatment and previous difficulties with medicines. These details can affect how symptoms and bleeding patterns are interpreted and which options can be considered. NHS guidance notes that contraception can change the pattern of periods during the transition. [1,4]
You do not need to decide which detail is the cause before mentioning it. If a treatment changed shortly before your mood or sleep changed, describe the sequence and what remains uncertain. Do not make several adjustments independently while trying to clarify the picture. The clinician can explain whether a medication review or another specialist’s input is needed and who should be responsible for that work.
A mood questionnaire is not a menopause test
General symptom questionnaires can support a mental-health conversation, but they do not establish whether menopause is responsible for the answers. The PHQ-9 page and GAD-7 page explain recent depression and anxiety screening separately. A clinician must interpret any result alongside history, physical symptoms and daily functioning, rather than use a total to choose hormones or psychiatric treatment.
The notes here have an even narrower purpose: they organise observations in your own words. They contain no diagnostic threshold or automatic recommendation. You do not need to complete every available screening tool or repeat one until the number feels convincing. If a questionnaire seems not to capture your experience, explain the difference at the appointment instead of treating the result as a final judgement.
Describe work, relationships and intimacy on your own terms
Tell the professional how symptoms affect practical life. Suggested examples include confidence speaking at work, patience after poor sleep, physical discomfort or changes in intimacy. You can identify a topic without giving detailed personal information in a website form. Ask for privacy and time to discuss it with the right clinician, particularly when you are uncertain what an assessment might involve.
A partner can help with arrangements or attend by agreement, but you may want part of the consultation alone. Their account can add context without replacing yours. You do not have to frame the goal as returning to a previous level of productivity, appearance or sexual activity. The assessment should consider what feels meaningful and manageable for you, rather than accept another person’s expectations as the treatment target.
Use the private notes without turning them into constant monitoring
The reflection is optional. Write only the few points you would like to remember and leave the rest blank. Repeatedly checking symptoms throughout the day is not necessary for this preparation tool. If a clinician later recommends a particular diary, agree its purpose, timing and level of detail with them. A diary should serve a clinical question rather than become another obligation.
Entries are not automatically saved, submitted or reviewed by VAYEMA. A summary is a repetition of your notes, not an interpretation. A deliberate download creates a file under your control, so consider privacy on shared devices. The worksheet is not a client record or an appointment request. You can clear it, stop using it or bring a spoken account instead, without affecting your ability to ask for support.
Ask how the assessment findings change the plan
A useful conclusion explains the working understanding, uncertainties and next step. There may be a role for menopause-specific medical advice, psychological treatment, a sleep assessment or review of another health problem. Ask which symptoms each recommendation targets, who provides the care and how different clinicians will communicate. One label should not substitute for an understandable plan.
The menopause mental-health treatment guide explains the main choices. Discuss likely fees, appointment format and the first review before committing. VAYEMA’s assessment pathway can help identify suitable mental-health input, with any additional specialist availability confirmed. You should not be allocated an intensive programme, hormone prescription or set of supplements by an online result.
Recognise symptoms that should not wait for a routine appointment
Urgent mental-health or physical symptoms need the appropriate clinical response. If you may act on suicidal thoughts, cannot remain safe, develop sudden confusion or have another emergency, contact local emergency services. A possible menopause explanation must not delay that response. Severe or rapidly changing symptoms should be discussed directly with a professional rather than stored in a worksheet that nobody is monitoring.
New bleeding after menopause also needs medical review, even when the amount is small; NHS guidance explains that it should be checked rather than assumed to be a routine hormonal change. [4] For non-emergency concerns, you can ask for an appointment before your notes are complete. Preparation should make access easier, not create a requirement to prove what is happening through repeated testing or perfect documentation.
Frequently asked questions about menopause mental-health assessment
Can this questionnaire diagnose menopause?
No. It is an original reflection worksheet, not a validated menopause instrument. A clinician considers age, symptoms, menstrual and treatment history, and other explanations. The notes do not provide a hormone result or decide whether a particular medical test or treatment is appropriate.
Do I need blood tests before requesting an appointment?
Not as a general entry requirement. Testing depends on the clinical situation, and typical presentations in otherwise healthy people aged 45 or over often do not need hormone tests for identification. Ask what investigations are indicated in your case rather than buying a panel before speaking with a clinician. [3]
What if I still have regular periods?
Describe the symptoms and timing rather than decide from one feature that support is unnecessary. A clinician can consider your menstrual and health history and possible other causes. Mental-health difficulties deserve assessment whether or not menopause ultimately explains them.
Can a depression score tell whether hormones are the cause?
No. It describes selected symptoms and cannot determine their cause or establish the full clinical picture. Mention sleep, physical changes, earlier episodes and treatment alongside any result. A low score also does not mean that every concern has been excluded or that you should not seek support.
Will I have to discuss intimate details in the contact form?
No. Initial contact can focus on arranging an assessment and your practical preferences. Tell the service that you have a personal concern to discuss privately with the clinician. You can ask about the purpose of questions, confidentiality and whether another specialist is more appropriate.
What should I receive after the assessment?
An explanation of the current understanding, remaining questions and recommended next action. Ask about the professional involved, expected format, costs and review arrangements. A diagnosis or score alone is not a treatment plan, and you should have an opportunity to discuss preferences and alternatives.
Resources and references
[1] NHS: recognising menopause and perimenopause
[2] NIH: menopause and mood changes