What is the Menopause? The Menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation and is not usually diagnosed until twelve months after the last menstrual period. The time leading up to the Menopause and the following twelve months is known as the perimenopause. The onset of the perimenopause is caused by changes in the levels of hormones in the female body that regulate the menstrual cycle. As the body produces less and less oestrogen, it increases its production of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH). Therefore, testing for increased levels of FSH can help to determine whether a woman is in the perimenopausal stage. As oestrogen levels fall, a woman's skin becomes thinner so she may find her skin is drier and her hair may also become thinner. The lining of the vagina will become thinner and the womb will also become smaller and the lining thinner. This thinning can also affect the bones and a condition called osteoporosis can develop, approximately 1 in 4 women are at risk from osteoporosis. Why is it important to perform a Menopause Test? It is important to perform a Menopause Test because if a woman knows she is perimenopausal, it means that she can take the appropriate steps to keep her body healthy and avoid the health risks associated with menopause, which include osteoporosis. Osteoporosis tends to occur after the menopause when the bones have lost much of the calcium they need to remain strong and firm. Other health risks associated with the Menopause include increased blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and increased risk of heart disease. Who should perform the Menopause Test? You should perform the Menopause Test if you are you over 45 years of age, have been feeling persistently tired, irritable with unexplained mood swings, or even feeling depressed. Perhaps you have been having sudden hot flushes and sweating or perhaps your periods have become irregular? When should the Menopause Test be taken? If you are still having monthly periods, take the first Menopause Test during the first week of your cycle i.e. during days 2-7 with day 1 being the first day of your period. If the result is negative but the symptoms persist, repeat with the second test one week later. If you are no longer having periods, the test can be taken at any time of the month and repeated one week later. You should aim to use the first morning urine because it contains the most hormone and will give the most accurate result. How accurate is the Menopause Test? In a clinical trial that involved 200 urine specimens, the results demonstrated greater than 99.0% overall accuracy when compared to other urine membrane FSH tests. What should I do if the Menopause Test is positive? If the Menopause Test is positive you should carry on using contraception in your usual way and see your doctor to discuss the results and any appropriate treatment. |
