BLOOD TEST FOR MENOPAUSE??????

HI
Last wk whilst getting a check up(ovaries removed in nov)i asked for a blood test to try to determine whether i was at the start,middle or end of menopause.I wanted to know as i felt this might have some bearing in my decision to perhaps take HRT.I was told there was only a blood test that would tell me what i already know that im in the menopause,not at what stage. I am not sure that i am in the menopause even. I am also sure i have read a thread somewhere on here that says they can do some measuring of hormone levels to determine certain aspects of the menopause. If anybody knows anything i really would appriciate some info on this. Thanks cysters.Dawn

[Kat64]

I know that when I was having two years worth of bleeding problems, there was some type of blood work that they did do to see if I was going through the change.  One OB-GYN nurse said that it is impossible to measure whether you are going through the change with blood work because of your level changes with monthly cycles.  So I believe that there is some kind of test because I was told that I was not going through the change yet.

[dalip]

yes my doc did say they could test the blood but it would only say if i was or was not on the change.My reasoning was if i am at the beg,then maybe as things progressed maybe try hrt again,if i was at the end then i would "put up with it"knowing it would not last long.I am sure ive seen an article on the web somewhere which gives measurements of certain hormones ect,but for the life of me i can not remember what site it was on.!!!Thanks for that though kat64.

[cirella]

Hi there!  You may want to check out the post entitled Progesterone Question For SimplyStar.  I was asking some questions about hormones and such.  She and Mary53 gave me a couple of web sites to look at and also the names of some books that may help.  I noticed, after looking at the web sites, that a saliva test is also taken for hormone checking.

I had my right ovary removed in November and have been spotting for 3 weeks now.  I started using ProGest cream, as directed by my Dr.  It helped at first but now I'm spotting more.  It's not enough to soak one tampon, though.  If it continues into next week I'm to call the Dr. back.

Hope that helps,
Lori

[nyc lady]

If you have no ovaries then you are in menopause...surgical menopause.  

The doctor can test your FSH level, follicle stimulating hormone level.  If you still had your period, then this test would flucuate throughout the month as you ovulated.  If you are in menopause then the numbers on your FSH level should be well above 50.  Even though I have no ovaries, I have what they beleive is ovarian remnants, thus my FSH level is only 24, 23 begins menopause levels.  My doctor believes that I go in and out of menopause which is caused by this ovarian remnant.

[dalip]

Are you the lady who recently had adhesions?.I know this is long winded but when i was 25 i had my womb removed due to cervical cancer,shortly afterwards i began with mood swings,ovulation pains worsening and night sweats. I took primival(think thats how it was spelt)which i believe is estrogen only for about 12 years off and on. I say off and on as every time i tried to stop it the symptoms came back. Eventually i stopped taking it about 2-3 years ago with no recurrance of symptoms.Since having ovaries removed i have had a few night sweats(but as i said before i have a new feather quilt which even my dh sweats under.yuk!!!)been a little irratable(i am like this every xmas due to stress)and a litle tearful(but my step-mum just died)so i am trying to determine if all these things are just a coincidence.I personally feel that due to the womb removal i probably went through a slow surgical menopause and now the ovaries are gone i am probably at the tail end of it all.This is why i wanted to know if there was any test which could actually show where abouts a women is in her menopause.Does any of that make sense?.Dawn

[nyc lady]

No I am not the lady with adhesions....it's so hard to keep us all straight....I know, not easy to follow everyone's case.

It is my understanding that menopause occurs when ovulation ceases.  I believe that a women is said to enter menopause naturally when she does not menstruate for a year, or in our case, surgical menopause happens immediately when they remove our ovaries.

Not all women display symptoms of menopause, even those like us that are thrown into it.  Be happy and consider yourself lucky.  I have been told that the symptoms can last up to 10 years...UGH!!!!  I want a full nights sleep...this waking up every 2 or 3 hours in a pool of sweat isn't much fun!!!!!

[Vickangl4]

I had my uterus removed in 1982, and recently had my ovaries and tubes removed due to enlarged cysts, that was causing severe pain, and dr said I was at high risk for ovarian caner..so ovaries and all was removed. I was also told I would immediately go into surgical menopause after the surgery. I am a 50 yr old woman keep in mind..:) anyhow my point is I have not had the first symptom of menopause yet. and its been over 2 weeks since my surgery which was Jan. 15, 2008. Is it possible that I have already gone through menopause and not known it? Or am I just wishful thinking?

Thank you for any help!

[ireneo]

I don't know how long it will take for symptoms to appear after surgery. With no uterus to tell you if you're cycling, it's possible you've already slipped into menopause. But 50 is a little early (average age is 52 I believe) and to go menopausal with absolutely no symptoms would be a gift. One of my aunts did it that way. I still have hot flashes and some insomnia but it's not life-threatening :-)

You could just wait and see or get a blood test. You know your hormones will be different now without the ovaries. So a blood test seems redundant. Maybe you're one of the lucky ones that just slides right into menopause. Enjoy.