Written by Abigail Jackson - January 04, 2023
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is an important marker for menopause and its associated symptoms. Women who are going through menopause typically have higher levels of FSH in their blood than other women. The exact level that indicates menopause varies from woman to woman, but a level of 30 milli-international units per milliliter (mIU/mL) or higher usually signals that the transition has begun.
Before any conclusive diagnosis can be given, hormone tests need to be performed. These tests measure the levels of both FSH and luteinizing hormone (LH) in a woman's body and provide a baseline assessment of health during this time. LH and FSH work together to regulate many reproductive processes. When there is an imbalance between these two hormones, it is often due to changes in the female body caused by aging and menopause.
The hormonal imbalance that occurs with menopause causes the ovaries to produce less estrogen, leading to thinning of the vaginal walls, reduced lubrication, decreased libido and other associated symptoms. This decrease in estrogen also leads to an increase in FSH levels as the body attempts to stimulate the ovaries into producing more hormones, as it does when menstruation begins each month. As women approach menopause, their FSH levels rise much higher than what would be seen during average menstrual cycles because their bodies are attempting to compensate for the lower levels of estrogen being produced by the ovaries.
Diagnosing menopausal symptoms requires knowing not just a woman's FSH level but her overall health history as well. It is important for medical professionals to understand when a patient first started experiencing symptoms related to hormonal imbalance before making any decision about treatment options available for managing those symptoms. In addition, if a patient has experienced other changes related to age such as hot flashes then her doctor should take these into account as well before making any definitive conclusions about her condition or offering treatment advice.
Treating Menopausal Symptoms
The most common treatments used for managing symptoms related to low estrogen include lifestyle changes such as exercising regularly and eating healthy foods; using over-the-counter remedies such as creams or lotions applied topically; taking natural supplements such as black cohosh or flaxseed oil; and taking prescribed hormones such as biestrogen or Prempro®️ Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). For severe cases, doctor-prescribed medications may also be recommended by your physician depending on your individual needs and situation.
If you are experiencing significant changes in your body temperature beyond just hot flashes; constant fatigue; irregular periods; thickening of your facial hair; excessive weight gain; night sweats; vaginal dryness; loss of libido ; mood swings such depression anxiety or irritability then it’s best that you consult with your physician regarding these issues sooner rather than later especially if they interfere with your day-to-day life activities . Your doctor will examine all potential underlying causes , order relevant tests , diagnose any conditions present , and discuss with you possible treatment plans available . If needed , they may also refer you to Hormone Treatment Center where experienced therapists specialize in helping women navigate through this transitional period via customized bioidentical hormones therapy plans tailored around every individual needs .