What hormones can you test for menopause and hormone treatment?

During menopause and hormone therapies, important hormones to monitor are estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone, testosterone and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which are essential for assessing hormonal status and any disturbances.

With menopause and hormone treatments, there are several hormones that can be tested to assess hormonal status and any disturbances.

Here are some of the most common hormones that can be tested:

• Estradiol (E2)

This is a form of estrogen produced primarily in the ovaries. Estradiol levels are important to measure because they can decrease significantly during menopause, which can cause various menopausal symptoms.

• Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)

FSH levels rise when ovarian function declines during menopause. This hormone is essential for the regulation of the menstrual cycle and egg production by the ovaries. An elevated FSH level is an indication that menopause has occurred or is in progress. Check out the FSH test here!

• Luteinizing hormone (LH).

LH works together with FSH to regulate ovulation. Like FSH, LH can be elevated during menopause. You can find our LH test here!

• Progesterone

This hormone is produced in the ovaries after ovulation and during pregnancy. Progesterone levels may also be important to determine during hormone replacement therapies.

• Testosterone

Although often considered a male hormone, testosterone also plays a role in women, including affecting libido and maintaining muscle mass. Testosterone levels can be affected by menopause and hormone therapy.

• Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

Although not specific to menopause, thyroid function can affect women around menopause, mimicking symptoms of menopause such as fatigue and weight gain. TSH testing can be useful to rule out other causes of these symptoms.

These hormone tests can help diagnose menopause and determine the most appropriate treatment strategies, such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT). It is important that these tests be done under the guidance of a health care professional, who can interpret the results in the context of your personal health history and symptoms.