Blood Tests for Menopause and How to Read the Results

Reaching menopause can be a difficult time. Symptoms that come with menopause vary for different women, so how are you meant to know when you’re in menopause? Blood tests have proven to be an efficient way to measure a hormone produced in our bodies called FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone). 

Menopause is ultimately the time period in a woman's life when they stop having periods. The typical age for menopause to occur is between 45 and 55 - but this isn’t always accurate. Many women feel embarrassment and shame when they begin menopause, but we assure you that it’s a natural part of ageing.

It can be hard to know for sure whether you’re beginning your menopausal journey or not, which is why blood tests come in handy. Measuring FSH levels in your blood allows you to determine whether you’re perimenopausal or have already gone through menopause. To find out more about blood tests for menopause and how to read the results, read on.

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Menopause

What is menopause? Menopause is when your periods come to a stop due to low hormone levels. It can prove to be a tedious, challenging time for most women, often leading to poor mental health and low self-esteem - however, this isn’t the case for everyone. 

It’s helpful having medical advice at the start of your perimenopausal cycle. Not only does getting expert advice give you guidance and peace of mind, but it allows you to stay in tune with your body over this natural course of time. There are many symptoms that display themselves, indicating whether you’re in your perimenopausal transition or not. 

Usually, symptoms are easy to pick up on. The length that most women experience menopause is roughly seven years. When you get the first sign of your period coming to a halt, we recommend visiting your local GP. Unfortunately, menopause can’t be prevented and every woman will experience it at some point in their life. 

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The Main Symptoms of Menopause

Symptoms of menopause are worse for some women than others - and that’s completely normal. Menopause affects us all differently, which is why some individuals will endure more complex symptoms in comparison to others, but this is nothing to worry about. 

Once your ovaries stop producing as much oestrogen, your body stops releasing an egg each month. Without an egg being released, no period can occur. Although the age of the menopausal transition often begins mid-forties, certain treatments such as chemotherapy for cancer can have huge effects, altering the time frame of menopause.

Clues that menopause is fast approaching are frequent headaches, brain fog, sleep issues, hot flashes, sweats, low libido, vaginal dryness, discomfort during sexual intercourse and unexpected memory concerns. Other common symptoms of menopause are joint stiffness, aches, tinnitus, cystitis, hair loss and skin issues.

Menopause can come with an array of other issues. Many women have reported a loss of self-confidence, anxiety, depression, irritability, depression and mood swings - all of which are understandably problematic to go through. As well as being one of the main factors of bad mental health, menopause also has the potential to develop weak bones and bring on cardiac arrest.

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Blood Tests to Detect Menopause

Blood tests can be used to detect whether menopause is approaching. It’s advised that blood tests are carried out by women between the ages of 40 to 45 only - this way, a more accurate result is expected. However, if you suspect premature menopause below the age of 40, you can take a blood test to confirm whether your hormone levels have increased.

If you’re experiencing irregular periods, vaginal dryness and hot flashes unexpectedly, now is a good time to take a blood test. Menopause can cause uncomfortable symptoms for women - blood tests help people learn more about their symptoms, confirming whether they need to see a GP or not. 

The reliability of blood tests depends on several factors, including age. Although you can take a blood test at any age, the chances of you getting an accurate result is slim if you’re below a certain age. When your ovaries begin to fail, FSH and LH (Luteinizing Hormone) levels increase. 

Taking one blood test will not confirm whether you’ve entered the menopausal stage - FSH levels should be repeated over six weeks to confirm if you’re in menopause. Reading menopause blood tests are relatively straightforward, but are often reviewed by a doctor. 

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How DAM Health Can Help

Here at DAM Health, we provide GPs on demand to those in need of a quick and efficient consultation. It can be difficult trying to find a time that suits you when it comes to booking clinic-based appointments, which is why we offer such a service. No matter where you are in the world, you’ll be able to attend your appointment with one of our NHS-trained GPs. 

We’re able to offer prescriptions, referral letters and sick notes. The days of waiting in crowded rooms and standing in long queues are over - our GPs provide the most efficient service, getting to the root of your issues. We provide guidance, support and professional advice. 

If you’re experiencing menopausal symptoms and want more clarity on the situation you’re dealing with, you’ll be glad to know that we offer menopause at-home tests through our website. Our menopause tests provide individuals with easy-to-read results that are visible within just three minutes and have a 99.6% accuracy rate. 

You’ll be able to take our menopause test in the comfort of your own home. When symptoms begin to occur, we recommend ordering a test from ourselves. Menopause comes with a plethora of other struggles - our GPs are on hand to provide all the support you need. If you’d like more information on our GP services or products, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today. We look forward to hearing from you in the near future.