Perimenopause test for an irregular cycle and symptoms

Perimenopause is the phase before your menopause. Your hormones become irregular, but you still menstruate. Officially you are in menopause after twelve months without a period.

This phase can last several years. For some women it passes quickly, for others it takes years longer. It usually begins after the age of 40.

Behind the symptoms sit hormonal changes. Estrogen and progesterone do not decline neatly, but fluctuate from cycle to cycle. Your symptoms shift from month to month as a result.

Many women notice their cycle first. It becomes shorter, longer or skips a month. Others feel it mostly in daily life, in their sleep or their mood.

Menopause is a natural phase, not a problem to be fixed. Still, it helps to have something tangible. You can feel that your body is changing.

Around perimenopause your hormones fluctuate strongly. Measuring FSH and estradiol gives you a snapshot. It says something about where you are now. It is not a full answer, but one piece of the puzzle.

This test suits you if your cycle is changing. Or if you have symptoms that could fit with menopause. Think of hot flushes, night sweats, a shifting mood or difficult sleep.

Are you asking yourself whether you are in menopause? A test can give you more grip on that. Measuring is also useful if you are younger and your cycle stops.

This test looks at four values in your blood. Together they say something about your hormonal phase and your thyroid:

• FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone): signals your ovaries. FSH often rises around menopause. Your body then works harder to trigger ovulation.
• Estradiol (E2): the main form of estrogen. This value fluctuates during perimenopause and declines towards menopause.
• TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone): signals your thyroid. Thyroid complaints can resemble menopausal symptoms.
• Free T4 (Thyroxine): the free, ready form of thyroid hormone T4. Together with TSH it gives a clearer view.

The thyroid markers are included for a reason. An underactive or overactive thyroid causes symptoms that look like menopause.

A raised FSH with a lower estradiol often fits with menopause. The values can vary from day to day.

Your hormones fluctuate strongly in this phase. One reading is therefore not always decisive. The thyroid values help bring another cause into view.

This test requires a small blood draw at a certified lab. In the Netherlands you can choose from 700+ sample locations nationwide.

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

A perimenopause test can be valuable at different moments:

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

Your values can fluctuate. Look at your result together with your GP. Consider your symptoms and your age alongside it.

Your result shows each value with a reference range and a short explanation. What counts as usual varies by laboratory. It also depends on your age and your cycle phase.

A high FSH with a low estradiol can point to menopause. On its own it does not tell the whole story. The doctor helps you place your values in the right context.

Your result is usually online within a few working days. Each value is shown with a reference range and a short note.

Every blood test result includes an assessment by a BIG-registered doctor. Discuss your results with your GP before making treatment choices.