Menopause Check
Are you experiencing symptoms that you think might be connected to the menopause
e.g. hot flushes, night sweats, irregular periods, brain fog or mood swings?
This simple home finger prick test measures FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) which is the hormone that rises as you go through the perimenopause and menopause.
FSH is the hormone that is produced by your pituitary gland which is situated at the base of your brain and is released in the first half of the cycle. As the name suggests, FSH stimulates follicles on the ovaries to grow and it is these follicles that contain eggs.
As you age there will come a point at this life stage when you do not have enough eggs left in the ovaries to ovulate. To try and get you to ovulate, your body produces more of the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) to try and trigger ovulation, but that can’t happen because the egg supply is too low. Your body will then produce even more FSH to try again.
Testing your level of FSH provides a way of checking to see whether you are going through the perimenopause/menopause.
Testing is useful if you are experiencing symptoms such:
- Hot flushes
- Night sweats
- Mood swings
- Vaginal dryness
- Weight gain
- Lower sex drive
- Poor concentration and memory
- Anxiety
- Joint pains
- Fatigue
- Sleep problems
- Irregular periods or missing a few cycles
Testing is also useful if you are concerned because your mother or sister experienced an early menopause and wonder if this might be happening to you?
On average, women spend around 5-7 years going through the menopause, starting with perimenopause before reaching the point of ‘menopause’, followed by your last ever period, and then entering the postmenopausal stage. You are classed as being postmenopausal once you have had one year with no periods.
The perimenopause meaning ‘around the menopause’ can start in your early 40s and you might start to feel symptoms such as mood swings, hot flushes, low sex drive etc as well as changes in your cycle. You might be experiencing irregular periods, or the length of your cycle may become shorter or longer. The flow may change to be lighter or heavier and you might skip some periods. Testing FSH can be helpful to know what your level is.
A premature menopause is classed as happening before the age of 40 and is often referred to as a premature ovarian failure/insufficiency. Testing FSH is going to give an indication of whether you are experience an early menopause.
If you still having periods, it is best to take this test on days 2 or 3 of your period as this is when the FSH level should be low. So, if the level is high at this point, it gives a good indication that you are going through the perimenopause/menopause. It is not recommended to take this test if you are using the contraceptive pill or on HRT.
If you are not having periods, you can take this test at any time.
Samples should be returned to the laboratory by Next Day Delivery, posting Monday – Thursday only. Samples received outside of the suggested postage dates may be discarded and the patient asked to repeat the test.
Please Note: This test is only available by post in the UK. Please allow 5-6 weeks to receive your results.
For more information and to order:
Please call 01892 515905 or email reception@glenvillenutrition.com to arrange this test