Hormone Tests & Other Tests for Perimenopause (Confirming Signs and Symptoms of Perimenopause: Medical Tests continued)
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Estrogen (or estradiol) test. A serum estradiol concentration test is given to measure the estrogen in a suspected perimenopausal woman. This is just to see if estrogen levels are lower than normal – which would indicate a possibility for ovarian failure (or early menopause). To determine this, a simple blood test will suffice.
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Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test. Female infertility problems may possibly come from thyroid disorders like hypo or hyperthyroidism. This will also confirm of the possibility of pregnancy (since results are low in the first trimester of the pregnancy).
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Other ovarian hormone tests. Depending on a woman’s symptoms, some doctors may want to make sure that you are not suffering from any other pre-existing medical conditions. So he may require you to undergo a couple of hormone tests as well:
- Testosterone. Low levels are a bit problematic for women who have undergone surgical menopause – menopause brought about by the surgical removal of the ovaries or possible hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) – leading to either premature ovarian failure or early menopause. Decreasing libido and low energy leading to excessive fatigue are signs of low testosterone levels.
- Luteinizing hormone (LH). A rising level of LH triggers ovulation in women. It also triggers estrogen production in the first fourteen days of the menstrual cycle.
- Progesterone. This test is performed via a blood test. The sample is analyzed for its progesterone level which establishes if a woman has fertility problems, irregular periods included. This test also checks if you have medical problems like ovarian and adrenal gland cancer, and an overproduction of adrenal gland hormones due to high levels of progesterone.
- Androgens, specifically dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). This particular hormone is produced by the adrenal glands from cholesterol. Since DHEA is almost similar to estrogen and progesterone, it also declines its production with the progression of age. It can be converted to any one of the said hormones.
- Transvaginal ultrasound, to check for abnormal growths, polyps or tumors in the uterus; and/or,
- Endometrial biopsy, to check for signs of cancer in the endometrium, by extracting part of the endometrium.
Others may ask you for a bone density test if your medical exam and history indicates that you need one. If you’ve had a hysterectomy, you will most likely be taking both tests (a mammogram and bone density testing). And although it is usually the standard operating procedure for most health facilities, be reminded that a blood pressure check will be necessary as well. This is done to rule out hypertension (found with a high blood pressure reading) and hypotension (found with a lower than normal blood pressure reading).
I won’t discuss specific numbers here. What’s important to note is The List and these tests are designed to help pinpoint what you have and what may be causing your symptoms. This will not necessarily say that you have perimenopause, but this will help you and your doctor rule out other possible reasons for what you are experiencing. And ultimately, it will help you in your quest to relieve your discomforts.
Next Article: Introduction to Perimenopause Treatments
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