Early Menopause - Women's Health
The Menopause - Menapause
Return to Main Page » Early Menopause
Page 3 » Early Menopause FAQ
I’ve got a lot of the symptoms I’ve seen listed. What tests should I ask my doctor for if I think I’m going through early menopause?
The key test to determine whether or not you are in menopause is an FSH Test which measures the blood levels of your FSH (follicle stimulating hormone). Your FSH levels rise when your ovaries ( female sex organ ) stop producing enough estrogen, so high FSH levels can signal that your body is entering menopause. FSH levels above 10 to 12 mlu/ml show that your ovaries are starting to fail. At this point, you might notice physical symptoms, but you may be still getting your period fairly regularly. Higher FSH levels levels about 35 to 40 are usually taken to signal ovarian failure, or menopause. (You might still be getting periods with your FSH levels this high, but, even so, it’s a sign that your body isn’t producing enough estrogen to maintain regular ovarian function.)
The best time to get an FSH test to get the most accurate reading is on the third day of your menstrual cycle, if you’re still getting periods.
Another test you might want to ask for is a blood test of your estradiol levels. Estradiol is a form of estrogen in your body and the levels of it drop when your ovaries start to fail. So low estradiol levels may indicate that you’re entering an early menopause. Generally, if your estradiol levels are below 36 pg/ml, you are considered menopausal. If your estradiol level is lower than 50 picograms per milliliter, you may still be having a period, but also may be experiencing symptoms of low estrogen including hot flushes, vaginal dryness, and sleep difficulties.
The FSH and estradiol tests are the two key tests given to see if you’re entering menopause, but there are other tests you can get in addition to these: levels of other ovarian hormones (like progesterone, testosterone) and levels of luteinizing hormone (LH). Some doctors also recommend saliva testing to measure hormone levels. This isn’t as widely used as blood testing, but advocates claim that it is quicker, less expensive and reliable. In addition, it may be very useful to have a thyroid hormone test. Many of the symptoms of premature and early menopause are the same as those for thyroid disease so it's a good idea to determine whether your symptoms are due to thryoid problems or menopause.
What about getting an ultrasound scan of my ovaries?
In some cases, your doctor may perform high resolution ovarian ultrasound to view your ovaries. This will determine whether you still have any eggs and follicles. However, generally, this information doesn't help that much. According to a British study, up to two-thirds of women diagnosed with premature ovarian failure do indeed have remaining follicles. The problem is, even when eggs are detected, attempts to stimulate ovulation through hormones have been relatively unsuccessful. However, ultrasound may make sense if you are in the early stages of premature menopause and are intending to pursue an aggressive fertility program.
I'm still getting periods but I've got a lot of symptoms like hot flushes and night sweats. Is this normal?
Yes, it is. Even though the technical definition of menopause is not having your period for at least an year, it's not uncommon for young women going through early menopause or premature ovarian failure to get their periods fairly regularly.
Your hormones often fluctuate like crazy at the beginning stages of early or premature menopause, so you may be producing enough estrogen to get periods even while your FSH levels are high. Many times, your periods will be "anovulatory" in other words, you aren't producing an egg. But you are producing enough estrogen to build up your uterine (womb) lining.
How long will my symptoms last?
That’s a tough question because there’s really no definite answer. Some women get symptoms for only a short time; others get intense symptoms for years. Most women get symptoms for a few years, then they fade out. You may want to make your symptoms go away by either going on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or by using alternative treatments, like phytoestrogens, herbs, and vitamins.
Does going through menopause early mean I’m aging more quickly?
Absolutely not! Going through menopause years before you expected it and years before most other women go through it (age 51) doesn’t mean you’re suddenly older. It does mean that your ovaries aren’t functioning the way as those of most women in their 20s and 30s. But early or premature menopause doesn’t mean that you’ve got a shorter life span, or that you’ve fast-forwarded to the body of an older woman. Yes, there are certain health risks that you now face like the threat of osteoporosis ( bone loss ); you might notice your skin getting drier or a change in your body shape. But if you go on HRT or try and replace your hormones through natural methods, you can minimize those risks, reverse those symptoms and feel like yourself again.
Now That I've begun early menopause, Do I Still Have to be Concerned About Birth Control?
You will know for sure that you have experienced menopause when you have not had your period for an entire year. Until you have gone one year without a period, you should still use birth control if you do not want to become pregnant. You should continue to practice safe sex techniques with use of latex condoms to reduce risk of sexually transmitted infection.
Continued on Page 3 » Early Menopause FAQ
If you have any queries regarding the topics raised within this article please do not hesistate to contact the Women's Health Clinic via the email form at the bottom of the page or by calling our London clinic on 020 8947 9877.
