Blood Test to Determine Menopause

By definition, menopause is the permanent cessation of menstrual periods, a process that can take up to six or seven years to complete. When women go to their doctors seeking a diagnosis of menopause, it is usually to verify that the process has begun and to perhaps seek symptom alleviation. A common misconception is that there are specific blood tests that diagnose menopause, when in reality, current blood tests are only useful when used as part of a complete evaluation of a woman's health.

The Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Test

• This blood test measures the level of FSH and is best for determining that menopause is complete. It is usually done in combination with confirmation that a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual cycle.

More Hormone Tests

• More helpful in determining that the menopause process is underway is a blood test that checks the levels of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, among others. It is important that the blood is drawn mid-cycle for the most accurate results.

Testing for Other Conditions

• Women experiencing symptoms of menopause and peri-menopause should also have other blood tests to rule out things such as thyroid disease, and to assess risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Sometimes one of these disorders can generate symptoms very similar to menopause.

Future Tests

• Researchers in the Netherlands have discovered a hormone called AMH (Anti-Mullerian hormone) that is released by immature ovarian follicles. They found that the lower the level of AMH, the less fertile a woman is, and at a certain level menopause will begin. While this test was originally envisioned as helping women determine how many years of fertility they have, for example, when planning their families, it eventually will be able to predict at what age they can expect the onset of menopause.

Non-Blood Tests During Menopause

• Some doctors use saliva or urine tests for testing various hormone levels to help determine menopause. In addition, PAP tests and mammograms should continue even after menopause is complete. Bone density tests will monitor the risk for osteoporosis before, during, and after menopause.