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Menopause blood tests
Women usually undergo the menopause between the ages of 45 to 55 years. This is when your ovaries produce less oestrogen than they used to. This can cause symptoms, such as hot flushes, mood swings, low libido (decreased sexual desire), irregular periods, vaginal dryness and difficulty sleeping. This can have a great impact on your personal, family, social and work life. Perimenopause is the gradual process of your ovaries stopping working over many years and is used to describe the period around your menopause. Your ovaries also produce a small amount of testosterone which is also decreased during the menopause. Again, you might experience symptoms such as a lack of sexual desire when your female testosterone levels are low. We can do a testosterone test for women if needed.
What's included in the blood tests for menopause?
This is an important female hormone produced by your ovaries. It plays an important role in puberty, controlling your menstrual cycle, pregnancy and keeps other parts of your body functioning well; for example, maintaining strong, healthy bones.
Oestradiol (an oestrogen)
This is a hormone produced by a small pea sized gland at the base of your brain called the pituitary. It stimulates your ovaries to produce more oestrogen. During the menopause your ovaries produce less oestrogen so in response to this, your pituitary releases much more FSH to try and stimulate your ovaries.
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
TSH is produced by a small gland situated at the base of the brain called the pituitary gland. It stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroxine (often called free T4 or T4) to keep your cells and organs working as they should.
Thyroid stimulating hormone test (TSH test)
LH is also a hormone produced by your pituitary gland. The levels peak in the middle of your menstrual cycle to help stimulate ovulation (where your ovaries release an egg). During the menopause it's very high in response to the low oestrogen levels.
Luteinizing hormone(LH)
Your thyroid gland is a walnut-sized gland in your neck that helps keep all your organs, such as your heart and muscles working as they should. These are part of your blood tests for the menopause because if you have an underactive thyroid, then the symptoms can be very similar. We’ll check your Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) which is produced by your pituitary gland, Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3). These tests will measure how well your thyroid gland is working.
Thyroid function tests (TFTs)
Prolactin is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. This is a pea sized gland found at the base of your brain. High levels of prolactin can lower your sexual drive. It can also be elevated in benign tumours of the pituitary gland as well as certain drugs, such as antidepressants and antipsychotics.
Prolactin
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Frequently asked questions
This is usually a quick blood test, and it will only take 10 to 15 minutes.
No, you don’t need to bring anything with you to your blood test. However, if you’re not good with blood tests, it’s worth bringing some water to drink afterwards just in case. You can also make sure you are well hydrated before coming for your test. If it’s a cool day bring plenty of warm clothing as this makes it easier for our team to take the blood test.
Yes, this is a not fasting blood test which means you can eat and drink before you attend.
Our blood results usually take 1 - 3 working days.
Any results outside the normal range are reviewed by our doctors and shared with you through our secure online portal. We’ll ask you to contact your GP for further assessment but if it’s urgent then we’ll call you, so please make sure you give us a contact number when you book your appointment.
Authors:
Dr Ravi Gowda, Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine
MBBS, MRCP(UK), DTM&H, MRCGP, DCH, DRCOG, DFFP
Caitlin Lancaster, BSc