How is my menopause diagnosed?

Understanding your situation when you're going through menopause can be very confusing. There are so many terms being used, so many symptoms to deal with and so many changes in your body. What's going on here?

 

Lets try simplify it a bit:

 

The different stages of menopause:

The term "menopause" relates to the time after your last menstrual period (It literally means pausing or stopping of your menstruation). However, your symptoms may start several years before your last period (this is called perimenopause) and may continue for a long time after you've stopped menstruating. Once you've gone one year without a period, you are in post menopause. Some symptoms can continue for years and years while you are post-menopausal.

You may have had a hysterectomy at any time during your reproductive life. This doesn't mean you're now menopausal (unless you've had your ovaries taken out as well).

 

Testing for menopause:

There are no blood tests or saliva tests available that can accurately diagnose you as menopausal, perimenopausal or post-menopausal. This is because your hormones may be fluctuating on a day-to-day basis so these tests will only reflect a single snapshot in time.

 

So how is menopause diagnosed?

 

The best diagnostic tools of menopause are:

-        your symptoms

-        your age, and

-        your medical and gynaecological history

 

Symptoms:

The most common symptoms of menopause can be divided into two groups: those that are due to oestrogen deficiency and those that are due to progesterone deficiency.

 

Oestrogen deficiency symptoms include:

- Hot flushes

- Night sweats

- Dry skin

- Vaginal dryness

- Anxiety

- Feeling emotional

- Fatigue

 

Progesterone deficiency symptoms include:

- Irritability

-Moodiness

- Overheating at night

- Weight gain

- Poor sleep

- Headaches

-Sweet cravings

 

A third hormone deficiency, Testosterone, will present with:

- Low sex drive

- Low energy

- Low motivation

 

Age:

Most women experience their symptoms between the ages of 45 and 60. Symptoms may start earlier, and this is called early menopause (40-45) or Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (<40). Many women experience symptoms beyond the age of 60 and occasionally into their 70s and 80s.

Some lucky women breeze through menopause without even noticing!!

 

 

 Your medical and gynaecological history:

Some important things to share with your doctor include:

- did you suffer with PMS (premenstrual syndrome)?

- have you had endometriosis?

- a history of fibroids

- any sensitivity to contraceptive pills

- difficulties with your weight

 

Is it really menopause or could it be something else?

Many conditions can present with menopause symptoms. Its important not to miss something else. As such it is important to provide as much information as possible to your doctor so that a proper assessment can be made.

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