I’m experiencing all the classic symptoms (and then some), but am on the younger side for perimenopause and considering asking my doctor for a hormone test to confirm. I read online that the test can also predict when I’ll officially enter menopause. I’d love to know when I’ll be done with all this, but wondering how accurate these tests are. Has anyone here tried a hormone test, how helpful was it?
– Shawna, Hartford
Hi Shawna, it sounds like it’s probably a good time to meet with your doctor. There are two options for hormone testing that can be helpful: checking your FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) levels and your AMH (anti-Mullerian hormone) levels. Because your hormones are likely all over the map, FSH levels can sometimes be misleading, so your doctor may recommend doing two blood tests a few weeks apart. The test that you have most likely heard of is an AMH test. AMH reveals how many follicles (or eggs) you have left, which helps your physician predict when you will reach menopause. Check with your doctor to see if they are familiar with the FDA-approved PicoAMH Elisa test. Also, you have probably seen many home test kits for perimenopause and menopause. In general, these tests are not too revealing as they test hormones that fluctuate erratically during perimenopause and they are usually quite costly. Let us know what your experience is if you choose to do hormone testing!
Shawna, I’ve been tested by my GP, and honestly the range is big and it gave me no answers at all, I’m 100% I’m perimenopause, literally started it around 39 and was fed up with my GP telling me I am to young, no man can understand! But if there s some other blood test out there That I don’t know about I’m 100% willing to try it as I’m going crazy… the dizziness and tingling literally has sent my anxiety through the roof along with everything else …. I totally get where your coming from and I’m ready for the hills
I understand you perfectly I just went crazy I never thought menopause cause such a mess in my body and mind. X
Elena it’s horrific, there is not enough medical concern about something that happens to women, women’s health is totally not cared about at all x
Yes my body went insane at 36yrs and I knew it as early menopause, two doctors told me NO then treated for anxiety and panic disorder, at 39 yrs old my life was crumbling around us my new GP tested my FSH and confirmed menopause! Still been hell but to know I waa and insane was the best news ever and life changing, and then to get the correct treatment it has literally saved me ! xo
My body is going insane right now and I am 44 and the doc says I’m too young I have lots of symptoms and most days find it hard to get through work and the house and demands of my husband and children, I’m in pain all the time and my hormones are all over the place this app is helping to understand how hard menopause can really be I thought I was loosing it
I am very sorry for you.
Here is what worked for me. I
will start by talking to your husband and your children about what is happening to you. You will find that that’s what family is for.
Go for a walk every day. At least for 15 min and listen to music that makes you happy.
Take 3 min when you wake up, 1min to be grateful.
1 min to see your day with positivity
1 min to stretch
Cut caffeine, sugar and carbs at all cost.
Excercise and drink lots of water.
Magnesium, Vit D, k, B’s and calcium are essential.
I wish you luck
I’m in peri menopause, in the uk. My doctor said hormone blood test are pointless because your hormone level fluctuate hourly/daily so a test is pointless? I believe they can only test hormone levels when you haven’t had a period for at least 12 months, though some say 24 months.
I see an ND. When my period stopped in December and I also started have hot flashes. I previously had been having increased anxiety and low libido. I eventually saw my provider. She tested for estradiol (young woman estrogen), estrone (post/menopausal estrogen), thyroid hormones, DHEA, and testosterone.
My estradiol had lowered and estrone went up outweighing my estradiol, clearly indicating menopause. I have a family history of osteoporosis (mother and grandmother) so am very open to trying hormone therapy. I started on lowest dose estradiol weekly patches for a month and this improved my hormones but doc thought it could be better. Upped dose to a biweekly patch. No adverse affects yet. I’m also trying a testosterone cream daily. I’m taking supplements for my thyroid (I have borderline levels). So far so good. Libido still is low but I have noticed increased vaginal moisture/discharge. I also have noticed significantly decreased anxiety. Not sure if it’s related to this but definitely appreciated.
I have been on HRT for a couple of years and recently upped dosage of Estrodiol and Progesterone due to loss of libido. The thing is, my boobs have doubled in size and are just sore. That and the general weight gain and swollen feeling is not helping with my mood. My doc didn’t seem to know how testosterone comes into the mix. So I ordered my own cream. We shall see.
My GP said these tests are pointless (UK based) as hormones can fluctuate dramatically day to day. Instead everything else was ruled out via blood tests first (although we both knew it was 100% peri menopause)
This is exactly what my doc said to me also, it’s all symptom based then ruling out other stuff through blood tests, it’s amazing in this day & age some definitive test isn’t available. 99% sure I’m in peri too but theres always that 1% thinking it’s something really bad which ramps up the anxiety!
I’ve had two blood tests, one more than two years ago showed I was in menopause, one a few weeks ago showed I wasn’t there yet… Thought I must be there when I went fifteen months with no period but was then proven wrong. I have resigned myself to being a medical marvel. People will write papers about me ?
I’m about to see a CRNP who specializes in Perimenopause and menopause. She does saliva testing. From what I have read this is much more accurate that blood testing. I haven’t done it yet, but I am hopeful.
I took a dutch test. It tests urine. I was told that the proper way to test hormones was they urine or saliva. Blood tests are very inaccurate. After covid my FSH was 56!!!
I did dutch test which is urine and supposed to be more accurate than blood! I have no progesterone! Literally none! And lower testosterone… all symptoms of menopause! It’s exhausting and alarming at times! Every little thing puts me on edge! The anxiety is horrendous! I started BHRT last night with a cream on my thighs. It instantly calmed me down and put me at ease. I feel so much better today… 1 day.. it seems too good to be true! ????♀️
I had a hormone test done nearly 2 weeks ago .. still waiting for results to come back to gynaecologist.. past 3 months I’ve been having erratic periods.. pains in stomach .. constipation… hot flushes..anxiety etc ..it’s been awful ..spent 7 days in hospital on a drip too.. scary.. had ultrasound scans .. ct scans with dye through veins .. abdominal xrays doctor has me on omeprazole at the moment and domperidone, seem to help a little bit .. just want to know what’s wrong with me 🙁
Ah, u just described the last 7 years of daily menopause symptoms that I experience.
Random chills, hot flashes, anxiety, fatigue, brain fog, aches & pains in joints, headaches….every symptom to varying degrees mentioned on this app.
One acupuncturist/chiropractor/Naturapath with 30+ years of experience gave me a menopause summary that settled me down into a level of tolerance for the daily grind as my body grows through this later stage of life.
-The ovaries are drying up.
-All the jobs (of which there are many) the ovaries do will need to be taken on by other body parts. In particular, the pituitary gland.
-This biological job training transition can take 7-10+ years to re-wire chemically and physically.
So, when a hot flash comes, I say, “u goooo body, come on pituitary gland, listen up now, you catch those chemicals, get to work accepting and mastering those new tasks to help the ovaries shut down now, they’re tired”. ;-))
I started menopause at 43. No peri just straight into it. I just stopped having periods and boom! Don’t let anyone tell you your too young. My GYN confirmed this with a blood test in the States. This was 22 years ago. I went on HRT and resumed a normal life.
Did have any symptoms? Brain fog, anxiety you’d never had, depression, dizziness, fear?
I deal with blood tests as I’m healthcare and if I could have tested I would. Was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic pain etc … now I’m confused what is what. I am now 2 months without coming on ?
Right see this is exactly what’s happening to me!!! You can only get results if I’m menopause but not Peru as each day your hormones are different….. and the pain, holy c**p, from feet to head literally there is points of pain all over my body ….. the occipital/trigeminal neuralgia is the worst… and exhaustion ….. but as you say it’s put down to everything else when in real terms I honestly think it’s perimenopause…. these little discussions are good, it lets us see we aren’t going crazy … I think lol
Omg this is me! Joints/muscle pain all over, crushing fatigue that lasts for days, the anxiety & ramped up digestive issues is insane I’m totally exhausted…..& hopefully not crazy either
Hi Shawna
Under the NHS you can get your FSH tested. If I recall, if the result is over 12mlU/ml (you will need to double check this number with your GP, as I’m going on memory here) then this is an indication of elevated FSH… basically it means that your body is having to work a bit harder to produce eggs. BUT FSH fluctuates a LOT so it isn’t completely accurate and they need to be sure to take this test on just the right point of your cycle. So if your periods are not regular then this can be difficult. But AMH is more accurate but I don’t believe it’s available on NHS so you would need to get this test private.
My Dr won’t test female hormones either. I did my own tests through Everlywell. It tested several hormones with saliva and finger pokes and was super easy. It cost 250.00 for a female wellness test but they offer other tests too.