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Menopause Symptom Overlap

Meaning

Menopause Symptom Overlap describes the complex clinical phenomenon where the non-specific symptoms commonly experienced during the menopausal transition, such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, and mood instability, are indistinguishable from or exacerbated by other coexisting medical conditions. This significant overlap complicates accurate diagnosis, as a clinician must differentiate symptoms truly driven by sex hormone deficiency from those stemming from conditions like thyroid dysfunction, iron deficiency anemia, or primary mood disorders. Careful differential diagnosis and comprehensive testing are paramount for effective, targeted treatment.