7 symptoms women dismiss as ageing – but a doctor says you shouldn't ignore
- Rob Kemp
Published: September 4, 2026 at 10:46 AM
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Some apparently routine changes might be worth discussing with your doctor
Feeling permanently tired? Struggling to remember names? Noticing your waistline changing? It can be tempting to blame midlife, menopause or simply getting older. But some seemingly 'routine' changes deserve a closer look.
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Dr Cheryl Lythgoe, nurse consultant at Benenden Health, explains what to watch for – and when to see your GP.
Midlife can bring plenty of physical changes. Perimenopause and menopause alone can cause everything from hot flushes and disrupted sleep to aching joints, with symptoms that can last seven to nine years and sometimes longer.
That can make it difficult to know which changes are expected – and which might be telling you something else. “Brain fog and memory problems, hot flushes and fatigue are among the most disruptive menopause symptoms affecting women at work,” says Dr Cheryl Lythgoe, “but if symptoms are affecting daily life or wellbeing, it’s important to seek medical advice rather than assume they are age-related.”
Research from the CIPD involving more than 2,000 UK working women aged 40 to 60 found 73% had experienced symptoms related to the menopause transition. Of those who had experienced symptoms, 67% said they had had a mostly negative effect at work. Further studies by Benenden found 28% of women were considering leaving their job because of symptoms, while 7% had already quit.
So, when should you stop telling yourself, “It’s probably just my age”? When…
You’re tired all the time
There are plenty of understandable reasons why energy can dip in midlife. Menopausal sleep disruption and night sweats can leave you exhausted before the day has even started, and fatigue is commonly reported. But persistent tiredness shouldn’t automatically be filed under “getting older”.
“If you still feel exhausted after a good night’s sleep, are running out of energy much earlier than usual, or experience breathlessness or dizziness, it may indicate an underlying health issue,” says Lythgoe.
One possibility is iron-deficiency anaemia, particularly if you are experiencing heavy periods. The NHS lists tiredness, lack of energy, shortness of breath, palpitations and headaches among its symptoms, while heavy periods are a common cause in women. Another potential culprit is an underactive thyroid, which can cause fatigue, weight gain, difficulty concentrating, low mood and heavy or irregular periods – symptoms with an obvious crossover with menopause.
Get it checked if: tiredness persists despite adequate rest, is worsening, or comes with breathlessness, dizziness, palpitations or unusually heavy periods.
Your periods have become much heavier
Periods often change during perimenopause, becoming more or less frequent and sometimes heavier or lighter. But significantly heavier bleeding shouldn’t automatically be accepted as an inevitable part of the transition.
“Heavy menstrual bleeding can sometimes mask conditions such as fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, thyroid disorders, bleeding disorders and, in some cases, cancer,” says Lythgoe.
According to the NHS, signs of heavy periods include needing to change a pad or tampon every one to two hours, bleeding for more than seven days, passing clots larger than around a 10p coin or bleeding through clothes or bedding.
Get it checked if: periods become substantially heavier, you’re bleeding between periods or after sex, or bleeding is affecting everyday life. Any vaginal bleeding after you have been without a period for 12 months should be checked by a GP, even if it happens only once.
You’re gaining – or losing – weight without knowing why
Changes in body composition are common around menopause. Ageing, hormonal changes and a gradual reduction in muscle mass can all contribute to an increase in abdominal fat. But the key word is unexplained.
“Sudden or unexplained weight gain or weight loss without changes to diet or activity levels should be assessed by a healthcare professional,” says Lythgoe. “This is especially important if it occurs alongside fatigue, bowel changes, excessive thirst, palpitations or changes in appetite.”
An underactive thyroid is one possible explanation for unexplained weight gain, particularly alongside feeling unusually tired or cold, constipation, poor concentration or dry skin. Unexplained weight loss can have numerous causes too, so a significant change you haven’t deliberately brought about warrants a conversation with your GP.
Get it checked if: your weight is changing significantly without a corresponding change in how you eat or exercise, particularly if other new symptoms appear.
Your brain fog is becoming more than forgetfulness
You walk into a room and can’t remember why. A familiar name refuses to appear. You lose your train of thought halfway through a sentence. Menopause-related brain fog is real: the NHS includes problems with memory and concentration among recognised menopause symptoms.
The data underlines how disruptive this can be. Among women negatively affected by menopausal symptoms at work in the CIPD study, 79% reported feeling less able to concentrate.
“Menopause-related brain fog often involves occasional forgetfulness, difficulty finding words, misplacing items or struggling to concentrate,” explains Lythgoe. “These symptoms can be frustrating but are usually mild and should not stop you carrying out everyday activities.”
What matters is whether the change is becoming more pronounced or interfering with normal life. “Sudden, worsening or significant memory problems, confusion, difficulty following conversations, or symptoms that interfere with daily life should be discussed with a GP.”
Get it checked if: memory problems are progressively worsening, noticeably out of character, cause confusion or interfere with everyday tasks.
Your joints hurt more than they used to
Stiff knees getting out of bed or an achy shoulder after gardening can seem like the price of getting older. There can also be a hormonal connection. The NHS recognises muscle aches and joint pain as menopause symptoms, however, not every new ache should be put down to hormones.
“Declining oestrogen levels can affect muscles, ligaments and joint health, leading to aches, pains and stiffness,” says Lythgoe. “However, pain that is persistent, worsening, disturbing sleep, or associated with swollen, red or warm joints should be assessed by a healthcare professional.”
Significant weakness, unexplained stiffness or reduced mobility may also indicate an underlying condition rather than hormonal changes alone.
Get it checked if: pain is persistent or worsening, regularly wakes you at night or a joint becomes noticeably swollen, hot or red.
Your bowel or bladder habits have changed
The NHS lists needing to urinate more frequently, urinary incontinence and recurrent urinary tract infections among possible menopause symptoms. But a new change to what is normal for you deserves attention.
“Symptoms such as blood in the urine or stools, persistent constipation or diarrhoea, recurring infections, pelvic pain, or a sudden change in your normal routine should always be investigated,” says Lythgoe.
Bowel changes are particularly easy to dismiss as diet, stress or ageing. Most have a harmless explanation, but potential bowel cancer symptoms can include a persistent change in how often you poo or the consistency of stools, blood in your poo, abdominal pain or bloating, unexplained weight loss or fatigue.
Get it checked if: you notice blood, a persistent change in bowel habits, recurrent urinary infections, pelvic pain or a change that doesn’t settle.
You’re bloated more often than usual
Bloating is incredibly common. Constipation, certain foods, IBS and hormonal fluctuations are just some of its potential causes. What matters is a new and persistent pattern.
“Ongoing bloating, or noticeable changes in appetite, should not be ignored,” says Lythgoe. “While these symptoms often have a harmless explanation, they should be checked if they are new, persistent or out of character for you.”
Persistent bloating can be among the symptoms of ovarian cancer, alongside pelvic or abdominal pain, feeling full quickly or losing your appetite, and needing to urinate more frequently or urgently. The NHS highlights symptoms occurring frequently – roughly 12 or more times a month – as something to discuss with a GP.
Experiencing these symptoms does not mean you have cancer: they are extremely common and have many possible causes. But a persistent change is worth investigating rather than simply attributing it to your age.
Get it checked if: bloating is new, keeps returning or doesn’t go away, particularly alongside pelvic pain, reduced appetite, feeling full unusually quickly, urinary changes or unexplained weight loss.
Don’t assume you have to put up with it
The broader message isn’t to become anxious about every midlife niggle. It’s to pay attention when something is new, persistent, worsening or interfering with your normal life.
“If symptoms such as tiredness, pain, low energy or anaemia are affecting your personal, social or working life, it is worth speaking to your GP,” says Lythgoe. “Persistent or worsening symptoms should never be ignored.”
A little preparation can help too. Rather than trying to remember several months of vague changes once you’re sitting in the consulting room, keep notes. “Keeping a simple diary of symptoms, including when they occur and how severe they are, can help your GP identify the cause and recommend appropriate treatment,” says Lythgoe.
Most importantly, getting something investigated doesn’t mean assuming the worst. Menopause genuinely can explain a remarkably broad collection of symptoms. But being in your forties, fifties or beyond shouldn’t become a catch-all diagnosis in itself.
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