Welcome to EmpowHER and thanks for your question. The fact your doctor doesn't want to check your hormonal levels because you have a cycle might be true. Because hormone levels can and do fluctuate, many doctors advise getting tested more than once -- about a month apart. Talk to your doctor and explain your how you feel about getting your hormonal levels checked. There are different types of test he can perform: FSH Blood Level Measurement
This is the key test to determine whether or not you are in menopause. A sample of your blood is taken to measure the levels of FSH -- follicle stimulating hormone -- in your blood. Because your FSH levels rise when your ovaries stop producing enough estrogen, high FSH levels can signal that your body is entering menopause.
Estrogen (Estradiol) Levels
Estradiol is the primary human estrogen -- and when your ovaries begin to fail, your circulating estradiol levels drop. This is why doctors often give you a serum estradiol concentration test to measure the amount of estradiol in your blood. In this case, the doctor is looking to see if your estrogen levels are lower than normal -- again, a signal of ovarian failure, or, in other words, early menopause.
Here's a link that might help:
https://www.empowher.com/condition/menopause
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Hi elizabean,
Welcome to EmpowHER and thanks for your question. The fact your doctor doesn't want to check your hormonal levels because you have a cycle might be true. Because hormone levels can and do fluctuate, many doctors advise getting tested more than once -- about a month apart. Talk to your doctor and explain your how you feel about getting your hormonal levels checked. There are different types of test he can perform: FSH Blood Level Measurement
This is the key test to determine whether or not you are in menopause. A sample of your blood is taken to measure the levels of FSH -- follicle stimulating hormone -- in your blood. Because your FSH levels rise when your ovaries stop producing enough estrogen, high FSH levels can signal that your body is entering menopause.
Estrogen (Estradiol) Levels
Estradiol is the primary human estrogen -- and when your ovaries begin to fail, your circulating estradiol levels drop. This is why doctors often give you a serum estradiol concentration test to measure the amount of estradiol in your blood. In this case, the doctor is looking to see if your estrogen levels are lower than normal -- again, a signal of ovarian failure, or, in other words, early menopause.
Here's a link that might help:
https://www.empowher.com/condition/menopause
Best of luck,
October 27, 2011 - 10:16amDaisy
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