Buy a menopause test and map out your transition

Menopause is a natural phase, but the symptoms that can come with it, such as an irregular cycle, hot flushes or a shifting mood, sometimes raise questions. A menopause test maps out three hormones that can change during this period.

This gives you a tangible reference point instead of just a feeling. Together, FSH, LH and estradiol say something about roughly where your body is in this process.

This test can be useful if you notice your cycle changing, or if you have symptoms you connect with the transition. Think of women around forty or fifty who want to know whether their hormones are shifting.

It can also be helpful if you are simply curious about your menopausal status, or want a bit more grip on what is happening in your body. You do not have to wait until symptoms are intense to want some answers.

This test measures three hormones in your blood:

• FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone): often rises as the ovaries become less active, which can say something about the transition.
• LH (Luteinizing Hormone): works closely together with FSH and can also change around menopause.
• Estradiol (E2): the main form of estrogen during the fertile years, which usually declines gradually towards menopause.

Many women choose to test FSH and estradiol in particular, because these two values are often looked at together when questions about the transition come up.

The result can give you an impression of where you are in the transition. During this period, FSH often rises while estradiol gradually falls. Such a pattern can fit with a body moving towards menopause.

Good to know: hormones fluctuate, especially in perimenopause. A single measurement is therefore a snapshot and does not say everything. The values only really gain meaning in combination with your age, your cycle and how you feel.

This test requires a small blood draw at a certified blood collection point. In the Netherlands you can choose from more than 750 locations.

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 menopause test can be valuable at different moments, for example:

• when your cycle has been irregular for several months or stays away for longer
• when you want a concrete starting point before talking to your GP
• when your symptoms change and you wonder whether your hormones play a part
• when you want to compare an earlier measurement with where your values are now

In women who still menstruate, the cycle day can influence the values. Ordering a menopause test can then be a first step, with a doctor helping you interpret what follows.

Your result shows your values for FSH, LH and estradiol, together with a reference range and a short explanation. What counts as usual varies by laboratory and depends, among other things, on your age and cycle phase.

A raised FSH combined with a lower estradiol can suggest that menopause is getting closer, but the values can also fluctuate. The doctor helps you place your result in the right context.

For this hormone test you usually do not need to fast. If you still menstruate, FSH, LH and estradiol can change during your cycle, so it can be handy to note your cycle day; if in doubt, you can talk this through with your GP.

Beyond that, no special preparation is required. You simply schedule the appointment at a moment that suits you well.

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.