How to Check Hormones for Menopause

While menopause is considered a natural phase of life, most women dread it because of what comes with it. Hot flashes, insomnia, and even hair loss are just a few of the many unpleasant symptoms of menopause. Typically, menopause begins in the early 50s, but some women may begin to experience its effects in their 40s.

A clear indication of menopause is when the ovaries stop producing hormones. Because the symptoms of menopause can be attributed to other disorders or diseases, it is important to find out if you are indeed entering menopause. There are a variety of tests available to help make the determination.

Things You'll Need

• A physician
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone test
• Progesterone and Estradiol Test Kits

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Instructions

• 1

  Purchase a follicle stimulation hormone (FSH) test. This is an at-home test that will measure your FSH levels, which stimulates ovulation. FSH tests can be taken at home through either saliva or urine. They are available at a pharmacy or online. With urine tests, you place the testing stick in your urine stream (similar to a pregnancy test) and get results instantly. If you choose a saliva test, you will need to send the sample to a lab for analysis; the results will be mailed to you.

• 2

  Take a progesterone and estradiol test. These hormones are responsible for reproductive functions and low levels of either can signal the start of menopause. Progesterone and estradiol are usually home saliva tests, but can also be a blood test (administered by your doctor).

• 3

  Schedule a blood test with your physician. Blood tests gauge how many of the hormones in your blood stream are protein bound; saliva tests measure the amount of "free" hormones.