Detecting Menopause Through Testing

The word Menopause comes from two Greek words meaning "month" and "to end". The medical definition of Menopause is precisely the same thing: the absence of menstruation for twelve months. Menopause typically occurs between the late 30's and the late 50's and no woman can avoid this change. Menopause occurs during the most active life stage of many women. For this reason, many women like to prepare for menopause and avoid the discomforts associated with it by using a Menopause test. There are a wide variety of easy and convenient tests available.

Even though menopause is a natural part of life that comes as women age, many women find that menopause symptoms interfere with their daily lives. Symptoms include missed or heavy menstrual periods, hot sweaty flashes in body temperature, mood changes, nervousness, insomnia and a general feeling of being "down". Due to hormonal changes, a woman may also experience weight gain and hair loss. Once the menstrual periods have ended for twelve months, the woman is considered post-menopausal. Most women will experience mild to moderate discomfort during this time and others may suffer more severe health problems.

Menopause symptoms can be relieved, and sometimes completely avoided, if detected and prepared for in a timely manor. The shift to perimenopause, when the ovarian functions slow, can be detected in its earliest stages by using menopause tests. These test are reliable for women as early as their thirties. Symptoms like irregular periods, night flashes and decreased sexual desire might signal the approach of perimenopause or menopause. But, they cam also be signs of a variety of other disorders or conditions. To correctly diagnose, a menopause test is recommended. The test employs a hormonal analysis for accurate results. The menopause test measures the presence of the follicle stimulating hormone, known as FSH. This hormone is produced by the pituitary gland. FSH levels increase temporarily each month to trigger the ovaries to preduce and realse eggs. When a woman enters menopause her FSH increases, however, her ovaries stop producing eggs.

Menopause tests work similarly to pregnancy tests. Both are activated by applying urine to a wick and detect the presence of certain hormones. If a woman's hormone level is higher than normal it may signal the approach of perimenopause or menopause. However, these tests may be affected by oral or patch type contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, or estrogen supplements that may have been taken prior to taking the test.

There are also a number of traditional menopause tests that are administered by a physician. These tests require a blood sample which is sent out to a lab for examination. Results are available in three to five days. If the tests return higher than norm results, protocol is typically to then perform a second menopause test.

If you are concerned about menopause symptoms and would like to prepare for the changes that life brings, you may wish to speak to your doctor about the types of menopause tests available to you. Once diagnosed, there are many traditional medical and herbal therapies which are commonly used to relieve symptoms of menopause in it's earliest stages.