Menopause Symptom Score: A Free Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) Check
Quick answer: Rate 11 common menopause symptoms from 0 (none) to 4 (very severe) to get a score out of 44 on the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS), a validated research questionnaire. It isn’t a diagnosis, but it’s a simple way to track symptoms over time and share them with your doctor.
Menopause symptom check
Free toolHow It Works
The Menopause Rating Scale was developed in Germany in the early 1990s and has since been translated and validated in many countries. It’s still widely used as an outcome measure in clinical studies. Its 11 symptoms fall into three groups: physical symptoms (hot flashes, heart discomfort, sleep, joints and muscles), psychological symptoms (low mood, irritability, anxiety, exhaustion), and urogenital symptoms (sexual problems, bladder problems, vaginal dryness).
Your total score is simply the sum of your 11 ratings. The severity bands used here follow the scale’s developers: 0–4 little or no symptoms, 5–8 mild, 9–15 moderate, and 16 or more severe (Heinemann et al., 2004).
Because a total can hide one symptom that’s hard to live with, the result also highlights any symptom you rated severe or very severe, whatever your total.
If you’ve taken the check before on this device, your previous result is shown for comparison. It’s stored only in your own browser, never sent to us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can this tell me if I’m in perimenopause or menopause?
Short answer
No. It measures how much symptoms are bothering you, not your menopause stage.
Evidence
The MRS was designed as a health-related quality-of-life scale. Many of its symptoms, like poor sleep, low mood, or joint pain, can have other causes too. Menopause stage is usually assessed from your menstrual history and age, and a clinician can help rule out other causes.
What score should prompt a conversation with my doctor?
Short answer
Any score, if symptoms are affecting your life. A score of 16 or more falls in the “severe” band, and a single symptom rated severe is worth raising on its own.
Evidence
There’s no threshold below which symptoms don’t matter. The bands are there to help describe severity, not to decide who deserves care. Bringing your item-by-item answers can make an appointment more focused.
Why do some sources give slightly different score ranges?
Short answer
Some studies place the moderate/severe cut-off at 16/17 instead of 15/16.
Evidence
This tool follows the ranges reported by the scale’s developers (Heinemann et al., 2004). Some later trial protocols use 9–16 as moderate and 17+ as severe. A one-point difference matters less than how your score changes over time.
How often should I retake it?
Short answer
Every few weeks is reasonable, or before and after a change such as starting a new treatment.
Evidence
The MRS has been used to measure change before and after hormone treatment (Heinemann et al., 2004). Symptoms naturally vary day to day, so a change of a point or two may not mean much on its own. Look for a pattern across several check-ins.