It’s not always easy to confirm that the menopause has actually happened.
Of course, irregular periods and the occasional hot flush are a sign that changes are taking place,but timing the actual menopause is not so simple.
And it is important to know - not just for preventing symptoms in the most
appropriate way, but also for contraception.
A truly menopausal woman will be infertile and will have no need of contraception.
However, most doctors advise menopausal women under 50 to continue with
their contraception for two years after their last period, and for one year if they are over 50.
Even identifying the last period can be difficult for a woman either still taking
the Pill (as bleeding still occurs every month) or who has just started Hormone
Replacement Therapy (HRT) for the relief of early perimenopausal symptoms.
Most doctors will evaluate a woman’s menopausal status according to her
symptoms (hot flushes, for example), pattern of periods, and medical record.
It is possible to take a blood test to measure levels of a reproductive hormone known as FSH.
However, while elevated FSH levels may be a sign of the menopause, the test is
not always accurate and results can’t be guaranteed.
Surgical removal of the ovaries for various medical reasons will, of course, create an immediate menopause, whatever the patient’s age, and all the symptoms and risks associated with a natural menopause will apply to these women.
This is also the case in those rare instances of premature ovarian failure, when
the hormonal system fails at an early age and the ovaries lose their normal function.
The outcome, however, is still the same - menopausal symptoms and an
increased risk of osteoporosis, heart disease and stroke.
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