A GP is urging women to be proactive when experiencing symptoms such as brain fog, stress, and low mood, which are often confused with each other and may lead to misdiagnosis. Dr Rebeccah Tomlinson, a women’s health specialist, warns that many conditions share overlapping symptoms, making it challenging to identify the true cause. Commonly, symptoms of depression or anxiety are mistaken for perimenopause or menopause, and vice versa, delaying proper treatment.
Dr Tomlinson advises women to consider conducting a ‘Health MOT’ at home to help clarify their condition. Given that NHS referral wait times for menopause clinics can exceed a year in some areas of the UK, accessible at-home tests offer a valuable first step in understanding whether symptoms are linked to menopausal changes or other health issues.
“During perimenopause and menopause, fluctuating hormone levels—particularly oestrogen and progesterone—profoundly affect how the body manages stress,” explains Dr Tomlinson. “Oestrogen helps regulate cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, so erratic oestrogen can disturb cortisol balance, leading to heightened anxiety, mood swings, irritability, and that unsettling ‘pit of doom’ feeling.”
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However, she emphasizes that stress and anxiety share many symptoms with menopausal changes, complicating diagnosis. “There’s a significant overlap between stress symptoms and those of perimenopause and menopause, making it challenging to distinguish one from the other,” she says. Women often notice a decline in their ability to manage daily tasks, feeling mentally foggy and less organized, which can be attributed to both hormonal shifts and increased stress.
This creates a vicious cycle where stress intensifies menopausal symptoms, and those symptoms, in turn, elevate stress levels, forming a feedback loop that is hard to break without proper support.
Moreover, symptoms like brain fog and low mood can also point to other underlying health issues, including diabetes or kidney problems. Dr Tomlinson recommends beginning with a ‘Health MOT’—such as a General Health Blood Test—to help rule out other causes. Developed by healthcare professionals, this test offers insight into key biomarkers linked to general health and helps reduce the risk of serious conditions by catching them early.
“For those who attribute their symptoms solely to stress or menopause, this test is an important tool to confirm whether that’s accurate or whether another treatable condition is at play,” she explains.
Taking early steps to understand symptoms can make a significant difference in managing health effectively and ensuring appropriate treatment is sought when necessary.