| Perimenopause
Blood Tests  There are a couple of blood tests which can be
done that MAY tell if a woman is in perimenopause . The two most often performed tests are
called an estradiol level and a FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) level.
Both are simple blood tests.
Estradiol
Estradiol is the name for the natural estrogen in our
bodies. When this blood level is drawn it should be done on the tenth day of our menstrual cycle. Since our estrogen levels
fluctuate within our monthly cycle researchers have established day ten as the best day
for an estrogen reading. This helps to get an accurate value.
The same is true for FSH except the best day to have blood taken is day five of your
menstrual cycle. Follicle stimulating hormone is the chemical our pituitary gland secrets
to signal our ovaries to begin ovulation.
  Dr Steven Goldstein says,
"I believe there is much confusion in the use of blood tests.
Invariably perimenopausal patients will have levels of estradiol which will be
reported as "premenopausal." Thus estradiol levels are of very little value in
patients who are having even irregular bleeding. (see more of his answer)
  Should I get these tests?
Comments
What do you if
your estradiol is normal?
From: Linda
in KY
"Last week when I went to my gynecologist for my annual exam, I told her about my
insomnia problems, warm flashes, lack of short term memory, etc, and she said,
"Sounds like perimenopause - we'll check your blood hormone levels." ....my
estradiol level was...within the "normal range"....I'm finding that hard to
believe, since I'll be 47 in 3 weeks, all my weight has moved to the middle of my body,
and I'm always tired but can't sleep....I'm not looking for HRT yet - I just want to
understand why I feel the way I do and why I can't sleep. What do you all think?
On estrogen...I
felt 100% better
From: Mary
Anne Howell
You are absolutely right - same thing happened to me. I spent a long time thinking it was
not hormones but found out after going on low dose birth control pills that it was. I was
still within what they considered normal range but it was not for me. I dropped below what
my body needed. As soon as I started taking estrogen I felt 100% better.
How
can birth control pills
help symptoms of perimenopause?
There is a whole new group of BCPs like
Loestrin that were created especially for women over 35 years of age. Not only do
they function to help with the often disruptive symptoms of perimenopause, they work as an
effective means of birth control. They contain just enough estrogen and progesterone
to prevent pregnancies and help with perimenopause. Find out more.
Meet the author
Linda Ojeda, Ph.D
"Menopause Without
Medicine"
hosted by Sue Spataro, RN, BSN
 interview & FREE Excerpt
  Back in the 1980s when perimenopause and menopause were
unheard of, Dr. Ojeda was pouring over medical journals researching what has now become of
the most important health issues for women- perimenopause and menopause. Learn more about
Perimenopause & Menopause, Health Supplements, Herbs & Other products including
Black cohosh, Dong quai, Chaste tree (Vitex), Promensil, and Estroven. Learn
more about Anxiety & Perimenopause, the role of exercise along with a FREE
excerpt on Depression & Mood Swings. |
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