The end of a woman's fertility and menstruation, is a time called menopause. Menopause begins for most women around the age of 51, according to the Mayo Clinic. This natural phase of life occurs once the ovaries stop producing eggs, and female sex hormones, progesterone and estrogen. A woman is menopausal after she does not have a menstrual period for a year. Symptoms such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness may be enough for a physician to diagnose menopause, but women may require further evaluation before diagnosis.
FSH
Checking the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) may help confirm menopause. This hormone, secreted by the pituitary gland, stimulates the ovaries to produce eggs in the first cycle of a woman's menstrual cycle. FSH also stimulates the ovaries to produce estrogen and progesterone. In turn, progesterone and estrogen assist the pituitary gland in regulating the secretion of FSH. During menopause, the ovaries stop producing the hormones and the level of FSH in the body rises. A blood or urine test determines the level of FSH in the body. FDA-approved urine tests are available for home use, according to the American Association for Clinical Chemistry.
Estradiol
Estradiol is a form of estrogen found in the body. It is responsible for the growth of the uterus, Fallopian tubes, and vagina, and promotes breast development. The ovaries and the pituitary gland produce estradiol. When checking estradiol levels, they physician determines the function of the ovary. A blood test confirms the levels of the hormone. Women who still have menstrual cycles will have a varying amount of estradiol in the body during different points in the cycle. As the ovaries stops functioning, the levels of estradiol decrease; therefore, low levels of the hormone indicate menopause. Levels less than 30 pg/mL indicate menopause, according to Medline Plus.
TSH
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), produced by the pituitary gland, stabilizes the amount of thyroid hormones in the blood. A dysfunction of the pituitary gland causes increased or decreased levels of TSH in the body. Increased amounts of TSH will cause symptoms of hyperthyroidism such as an increase heart rate and weight loss. Decreased amounts of TSH cause hypothyroidism and symptoms such as weight gain and fatigue. Because symptoms of a thyroid disorder may mimic symptoms of menopause, testing the TSH levels helps determine if the symptoms are menopause or hypothyroidism, according to the Mayo Clinic. Testing the TSH includes taking a blood sample to measure the level.
