Menopause comes from two Greek words that mean “month” and “to
end,” and the current medical definition of menopause means
exactly the same: the absence of menstruation for twelve months.
Menopause can occur between late thirties and late 50s, and not
a single woman can avoid this period. Considering that menopause
hits a woman in her most active life stage, it is not surprising
that women want to prepare to menopause and avoid discomfort
using a wide variety of convenient menopause tests.
Although menopause is a natural part of growing older, many
women find menopause symptoms start interfering with their daily
lives. Menopause symptoms include missed or heavy menstrual
periods, hot sweating and flashes, mood changes, nervousness,
insomnia and a general feeling of being “down”. Due to hormonal
changes a woman may add some weight or her hair may thin. Then,
after the stopping of menstrual periods for a full twelve
months, a woman enters menopause, and after twelve months a
woman is post-menopausal. And while many women may experience
mild discomfort, others may have moderate to severe health
problems and may want to ease their symptoms.
Menopause symptoms can be relieved, if not avoided, by timely
preparation. Menopause tests help women detect menopause in its
early stage. Using menopause tests may be reasonable even for
women in their 30s to determine when their ovarian function
changes which may mean the slow shift into the perimenopause.
Such symptoms are irregular menstrual periods, hot flashes,
insomnia, nervousness, decreased sexual desire, or night sweats
may signal the approach of perimenopause or menopause, but they
can also manifest a number of other disorders and conditions.
For accurate results, menopause test employs a hormonal analysis.
The menopause test measures the presence of a hormone known as
follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). This hormone is produced by
woman’s pituitary gland. Follicle stimulating hormone levels
increase temporarily each month to stimulate ovaries to produce
eggs. When a woman enters menopause and ovaries stop working,
her follicle stimulating hormone levels increase.
Applying urine to the wick of a menopause test kit activates
menopause tests. If a woman’s hormonal level is higher than
normal, it may signal that she is approaching menopause.
However, this test will not show not if a woman definitely is in
menopause or even in perimenopause. Menopause test may be
influenced by oral or patch contraceptives, hormone replacement
therapy, or estrogen supplements that a woman has been taking
before the test.
There are a number of traditional menopause tests that should be
done in doctor’s office. Typically these tests require a sample
of blood that is sent to an outside lab for examination. Results
are normally available three to five days later. If the
menopause test results show that the hormonal levels are
increased above the norm, it is standard medical protocol to
perform a second menopause test.
Today, menopause symptoms can be relieved using traditional or
herbal therapy methods. If you are concerned about the symptoms
of menopause talk to your doctor about a menopause test.