Buy a perimenopause test and check your menopause status

Menopause is a natural phase, not a problem to be fixed. Still, it can help to have something tangible in hand when you notice your body changing. A blood test around menopause can give you a first reference point.

Around perimenopause your hormones often fluctuate strongly. By measuring FSH and estradiol, you get a snapshot that can say something about where you are in this process. It is not a definitive answer, but one piece of the puzzle.

This test can be useful if you notice your cycle changing, or if you have symptoms that could fit with menopause. Think of hot flushes, night sweats, shifting moods or sleep that comes less easily. If you would like to have your menopausal symptoms tested, this panel can be a starting point.

If you find yourself asking whether you are in menopause, a test can help you get a better grip on that. It can also be valuable if you are younger and your cycle unexpectedly stops.

This test looks at four values in your blood that together can say something about your hormonal phase and your thyroid:

• FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone): signals your ovaries. Around menopause FSH often rises, because your body works harder to trigger ovulation.
• Estradiol (E2): the main form of estrogen. This value can fluctuate during perimenopause and gradually declines towards menopause.
• TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone): signals your thyroid. Thyroid complaints can resemble menopausal symptoms, which is why this is a useful addition.
• Free T4 (Thyroxine): the free, readily available form of the thyroid hormone T4. Together with TSH it gives a clearer view of how your thyroid is working.

The thyroid markers are included because an under or overactive thyroid can cause symptoms that look like menopause.

The combination of FSH and estradiol can give an impression of the phase you are in. A raised FSH together with a lower estradiol often fits with menopause, though the values can vary from day to day.

Because your hormones can fluctuate strongly during perimenopause, a single measurement is not always decisive. The thyroid values help to check whether your symptoms might have another cause. This gives you more context for what you feel.

This test requires a small blood draw at a certified lab. In the Netherlands you can choose from more than 750 sample locations across the country.

After ordering, you pick a location near you and schedule a moment that suits you. The draw itself usually takes only a few minutes, and you do not need a referral from your GP.

A perimenopause test can be valuable at different moments, for example:

• when your cycle becomes irregular or your periods stop for longer stretches
• when you recognise menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes or night sweats
• when you want to know whether your symptoms fit with menopause or perhaps your thyroid
• when you are simply curious about what your hormones are doing right now

Because your values can fluctuate, it helps to look at your result together with your GP, in the context of your symptoms and your age.

Your result shows each value with a reference range and a short explanation. What counts as usual varies by laboratory and depends, among other things, on your age and the phase of your cycle.

A high FSH with a low estradiol can point to menopause, but on its own it does not tell the whole story. The doctor helps you place your values in the right context, so you understand what they might mean in your situation.

For this test you usually do not need to fast. If you use hormonal preparations, such as the pill or a hormonal coil, it is good to mention this, because it can influence your values.

If you still menstruate, blood is often drawn on a fixed day in your cycle, usually near the beginning. If you are unsure about the best moment, you can discuss this with your GP. Otherwise, no special preparation is needed.

Your result is usually available online within a few working days. Each value is shown clearly with a reference range and an explanation, so you understand what you see.

Every blood test result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.