During the menopause, women may experience a range of symptoms, such as hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal dryness, and sleep disturbances. While menopause is a natural process, it can also increase the risk of certain health conditions. That’s why it’s important to get a menopause health check blood test. This test can help evaluate your risk of developing various health conditions and enable you to take proactive steps to manage your health. In this post, we highlight everything we test for as part of our Menopause Hormone Health Check.
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Thyroid profile
Thyroid blood tests check for hormones, antibodies and thyroglobulin. In doing these tests, we can identify conditions like hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) or hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). These conditions can have symptoms similar to menopause, which is why we like to include this in the health check – to rule these conditions out. Symptoms of these conditions include, but are not limited to:
- Underactive thyroid: tiredness, weight gain, muscle aches, dry skin, irregular periods, loss of libido
- Overactive thyroid: anxiety, mood swings, difficulty sleeping, sensitivity to heat, muscle weakness, loss of libido
Hormone profile
This test will give us a picture of your hormone levels. It measures your testosterone, oestrogen, and Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) levels, and whether you have any deficiencies. A hormone test also checks how well some forms of HRT treatment are working (i.e. gel, patch, or spray), as we can identify how well oestrogen is being absorbed into the bloodstream.
Cholesterol
As menopause can increase your risk of raising cholesterol levels, testing for this is important. This test identifies your risk of developing heart disease and allows for a proactive approach; if your levels are high, your menopause doctor will advise you on how to lower them before it develops into something potentially more serious.
Vitamin B12
Knowing Vitamin B12 levels is important during menopause, as you may be at increased risk of a deficiency due to hormonal changes. Vitamin B12 testing is often included as part of a menopause health check to assess whether you are getting enough of this vital nutrient. A deficiency in vitamin B12 can lead to a range of health issues, including fatigue and weakness.
Iron levels
Iron levels are tested in a menopause health check because menopausal women are at an increased risk of developing iron deficiency anaemia. This can lead to symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath. Additionally, women going through menopause may experience heavy menstrual bleeding, which can further decrease iron levels in the body.
Vitamin D
It’s essential to have enough Vitamin D, particularly if you’re going through menopause; many women experience loss of bone strength as oestrogen levels decline. Vitamin D promotes strong bones and helps your body to absorb calcium – a deficiency can result in similar symptoms to the menopause, such as musculoskeletal aches and tiredness. Testing for this gives us a clear idea of why you may be experiencing these symptoms and, if you’re deficient, we can give you bespoke advice on how to maintain normal levels.
Calcium
During menopause, oestrogen levels drop significantly which can lead to loss of bone strength and increase the risk of osteoporosis. Calcium plays a crucial role in maintaining healthy bones and teeth, so it’s important to test calcium levels during a menopause health check. If calcium levels are found to be too low, it can indicate your risk of osteoporosis and the need for calcium supplements or other treatments, which your GP will advise on.
Blood count
Blood count levels are also tested to evaluate overall health and identify potential health risks. A decrease in red blood cell count can indicate anaemia, which is common during menopause due to hormonal changes. Anaemia can cause fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath, and may require treatment with iron supplements or other therapies. Additionally, monitoring white blood cell count can help detect infections or other immune system disorders that may be more common during menopause.
Liver function
Hormonal changes during menopause can affect your liver function and increase the risk of liver disease. A liver function test can help evaluate overall liver health and identify potential liver problems, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis.
Kidney function
Menopause can increase the risk of kidney disease, and hormonal changes during this time can also have an impact on kidney function. A kidney function test can help evaluate overall kidney health and identify potential kidney problems, such as kidney stones or chronic kidney disease.
Ca-125 ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is a potentially deadly disease that disproportionately affects women during and after menopause. As such, it is included as part of a menopause health check to assess whether you are at risk of developing this type of cancer. Symptoms of ovarian cancer can often be difficult to detect, which is why it is important to undergo regular screening tests, taking a proactive approach.
