Forty-five years is considered to be a transitional stage in a woman’s life: there comes a time when the body begins to prepare for the change, which is reflected in the menopause hormone levels and entails various symptoms. Climacteric changes are not only the cessation of menstruation, the appearance of hot flashes and the inability to become pregnant. The hormonal system of a woman begins to work in a different mode and this happens a year or two before the cessation of menstruation. The usual hormone test, which a woman can take at any center, indicates the onset of perimenopause. The results are checked with the menopause hormone levels chart.
Menopause Hormone Levels Test
In order not to go into details about how the woman’s hormonal system is arranged in detail, you should know only one thing – with the onset of menopause, the production of estrogen in the female body decreases. And to compensate for this decrease, the pituitary gland begins to produce an increased content of follicle-stimulating hormone – FSH. Natural estrogen is reduced, the amount of FSH is increased, which contributes to the increased production of another hormone LH – luteinizing. There comes a time when a woman can no longer conceive. Menopause hormone levels don’t let her do this anymore.
So, in order to understand whether menopause is a precursor to an existing menstrual cycle or is it a consequence of some disease, a woman takes a blood test for the following types of hormone levels during menopause:
- The content of FSH – a low norm of FSH (10 units) is characteristic of women of reproductive age. If FSH has reached 20 units, the woman has entered into the phase of perimenopause. The norm of FSH in the blood when approaching menopause is 30-40 units. A year after the cessation of menstruation, this amount rises to 125 units.
- The content of estradiol. This is the main hormone among estrogens, it is responsible for the strength of bones, for the amount of fat, and the elasticity of the skin. A lack of estradiol menopause hormone levels leads to a risk of fractures and atherosclerosis. In the climacteric, the norm of estradiol is from 8 to 82 units. At a low limit, a woman has a low libido and dry skin. The dryness of the vaginal mucosa is pronounced and a noticeable increase in weight appears. With the upper limit, there is a risk of benign tumors, kidney problems, a woman feels increased fatigue. This analysis is necessary for the doctor to decide on the advisability of prescribing hormone replacement therapy to normalize hormone levels in menopause.
- LH content. This hormone is responsible for the maturation of the egg and the onset of ovulation. With menopause, the LH rate is enhanced: with a norm at a rate of 5-20 units, their content in menopause rises up to 29-50 units. This number is necessary in order to calculate the proportional content of FSH to LH menopause hormone levels. Usually, this rate during menopause is from 0.35 to 0.75. At a lower number – the symptoms of menopause are more pronounced.
- Progesterone content. The rate of progesterone during menopause is from 0.50 to 0.64 units. Before the onset of menopause, this number is lower, which provokes mood jumps.
How to Pass the Menopause Hormone Levels Test Correctly?
Blood tests are taken on certain days of the cycle – the doctor will calculate the day of taking the blood for analysis. So, tests for FSH and LH are given at the beginning of the cycle – on 4-5 days.
Analysis for estradiol – 19-22 days. A progesterone test is carried out at the same time.
There are a number of restrictions before donating blood for hormone levels after menopause, they must be observed, otherwise, the result will be distorted.
A woman must:
- Exclude alcohol and exercise a week before the examination.
- Not have sex the day before the day of analysis.
- Take the test strictly on an empty stomach – in the morning, a break from the last meal should be at least 8 hours.
- Not take any kind of medicines.
It is permissible to drink water.
Why Do You Need to Know Menopause Hormone Levels?
It is extremely necessary in order to prepare for menopausal changes. In addition to the appointment of replacement therapy, a woman should introduce into the diet foods with calcium: cheese, dairy products for the prevention of osteoporosis. Also, it is necessary to undergo a gynecological examination: pass a smear for oncocytology, do an ultrasound of the pelvic organs and mammography. A menopausal woman must have under control her sugar and cholesterol levels in the blood, correct the diet, move more, observe sleep and rest regimen. The doctor may prescribe vitamins or supplements to alleviate the symptoms of menopause.