Thanks for you questions, the endocrine changes in menopause and perimenopause can be complicated and confusing and different for every woman.
First off, different labs have different reference ranges for normal values and it is important to look at the units the lab is reporting the values in. FSH also changes throughout the cycle and the best day to test for it is day 3 of the cycle. Normal FSH in the first half of the cycle (day 1-14) is 4 IUs, in perimenopausal women it is 14 IUs. In perimenopause we see elevated FSH as well as LH hormones.
In general we see fluctuating estrogen levels throughout perimenopause, but mostly women experience elevated estrogen levels and decreased progesterone levels.
Perimenopause is different for every woman and one of the ways we evaluate a woman's menopausal status is by her menstrual cycle and by symptoms. The perimenopausal transition can begin as early as the late 30's although the average age is 47.5 years.
Here are some general guidelines for determining perimenopausal status.
Perimenopause is the period of time before a woman reaches 12 continuous months without a menses.
Early perimenopause is characterized by a varying cycle length greater than 7 days different from normal.
Late perimenopause is when there are two skipped cycles and an interval of no menses for 60 days. This is often the phase when women begin to experience hot flashes.
I realize you dont have a cycle due to your hysterectomy, but your hormone levels along with your symptoms can help you and your doctor determine if you are perimenopausal.
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Hi Sue,
Thanks for you questions, the endocrine changes in menopause and perimenopause can be complicated and confusing and different for every woman.
First off, different labs have different reference ranges for normal values and it is important to look at the units the lab is reporting the values in. FSH also changes throughout the cycle and the best day to test for it is day 3 of the cycle. Normal FSH in the first half of the cycle (day 1-14) is 4 IUs, in perimenopausal women it is 14 IUs. In perimenopause we see elevated FSH as well as LH hormones.
In general we see fluctuating estrogen levels throughout perimenopause, but mostly women experience elevated estrogen levels and decreased progesterone levels.
Perimenopause is different for every woman and one of the ways we evaluate a woman's menopausal status is by her menstrual cycle and by symptoms. The perimenopausal transition can begin as early as the late 30's although the average age is 47.5 years.
Here are some general guidelines for determining perimenopausal status.
Perimenopause is the period of time before a woman reaches 12 continuous months without a menses.
Early perimenopause is characterized by a varying cycle length greater than 7 days different from normal.
Late perimenopause is when there are two skipped cycles and an interval of no menses for 60 days. This is often the phase when women begin to experience hot flashes.
I realize you dont have a cycle due to your hysterectomy, but your hormone levels along with your symptoms can help you and your doctor determine if you are perimenopausal.
October 23, 2009 - 11:40amThis Comment
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