Will A Menopause Test Really Work For You?Typically, a woman can expect to experience menopause anytime between the age of 40 and 60 years old. Some, however, experience premature menopause as early as 27 years of age. Premature menopause or early ovarian failure may come as a result of chemotherapy, radiation therapy or removal of the ovaries (oophorectomy). A woman must undergo menopause test to check for the onset of menopause as well as the accompanying conditions like:
Tests for recognizing the menopause itself however, are considered with skepticism by experts. Hormone tests to determine menopause are often ambiguous because hormone levels may fluctuate depending on the individual being tested. The best indication of menopause is the absence of menstruation for 12 months or more in a woman between 40 and 60 years of age. Otherwise, hormone testing is effective only in the elimination of other conditions that may affect menstruation and will not indicate the need for menopause relief. There are home menopause testing kits that measure the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the urine. However, experts indicate that there is a reliability problem with such tests because the FSH level alone is not a surefire marker for menopause. Because menopause remains a mystery to medical science even at this date, experts are wary of any definitive opinion on tests that purport to say whether one is experiencing menopause or not. A woman may actually experience menopause and its symptoms while FSH levels remain normal or in pre-menopause levels, or vice versa. FSH levels fluctuate when a woman ovulates so a woman may experience irregular periods (with her FSH levels fluctuating during this period) and yet she may still not be in menopause. Treatment for menopause will only commence when symptoms are apparent, no matter how high or low FSH levels are, so testing for FSH is a waste of time and money. Knowing the FSH level is most helpful to determine whether the sex organ is functioning properly to indicate fertility, and may indicate premature ovarian failure in women below 40 years of age. If this is the case, more in-depth diagnostic examinations may be recommended so that the doctor can suggest treatment for women who are trying to conceive. In women within the age-range for menopause, bone mineral density testing is recommended because there has been a direct link between the lack of estrogen and osteoporosis. Thus, regular bone testing will prevent bone disintegration from getting worse during menopause. Other tests for older women that are prone to getting cancer include pelvic examinations (including pap smears) and mammograms. However, these are age-linked concerns, and may be carried out whether or not a woman is menopausal or not. A menopause test will not set a woman’s mind at rest as to the fact that she could be in menopause or not. The best indicator of menopause is the complete cessation of menstrual period over 12 months even in the absence of recognized menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, headaches and mood swings. However, even if these symptoms are not present, she should still undergo regular bone density testing and pelvic examinations to ensure early detection of age-related cancers such as breast and cervical cancer. |