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What Test Results Indicate Menopause?

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels can be tested to see if you are near menopause or completely menopausal.

  1. High Levels

    • High levels of FHS and LH indicate that a woman is in peri-menopause. High levels occur because estrogen and progesterone, the female sex hormones, are in the process of dropping. The sex hormones diminish because of your aging ovaries.

    Identification

    • A normal FHS level for a younger woman who is not close to menopause is between 5 and 25 mIl/ml. If your level is above 25, this indicates that you are venturing into peri-menopause. If your levels are higher than 50 mIU/ml this means that you are in menopause.

    Features

    • FSH stimulates the body to ovulate each month. FSH rises, which encourages the ovaries to release egg follicles. After your body releases an egg or eggs, a woman’s body realizes that it is time to prepare for a pregnancy or produce a menstrual period. At this point, your FSH levels drop and your estrogen levels rise, according to Epigee.org.

    Ovulation

    • When a woman is peri-menopausal or menopausal she either ovulates erratically or not at all.

    Outcome

    • When a woman’s FSH levels stay high, this means that the body is trying to ovulate but can’t.

    Testing

    • You can test your hormone levels using a home kit, but do it twice, one month apart, because hormones can fluctuate and five you a false reading. If you would prefer that your doctor conduct the test, then ask her to.

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