Signs of menopause
While women’s age and menopause symptoms (their subjectively experienced discomforts) are enough to know they have entered the transition, some may be looking for more objective evidence, such as menopause signs.
Signs of menopause are the results of various tests doctors may analyze to confirm that a woman has reached menopause. Because of the erratic hormonal fluctuations that occur prior to her menopause date, menopause signs are not typically looked at until her entry into postmenopause.
Keep on reading to learn more about the four main signs of postmenopause so that you have all the tools to properly take care of your health during the transition.
Amenorrhea
Amenorrhea, a medical term for absent periods, is a principal menopause sign. To confirm menopause, a woman must not have her menses for 12 consecutive months.1
Before that, it is very common for women to experience irregular periods, including heavier flow and skipped periods. Such menstrual abnormalities are caused by depleting ovarian reserve, which deregulates the levels of reproductive hormones that govern the menstrual cycle.
Low Estrogen Levels
Once a woman did not have her periods for a year, a doctor may check her estrogen concentrations in the blood. Estradiol levels (the main circulating estrogen) of 30 pg/mL and below is a reliable menopause sign.2
Estrogen is mainly produced by the ovarian eggs, a number of which is gradually decreasing throughout women’s lifetimes. By mid-40s, ovarian eggs are at near depletion, causing massive shifts in estrogen levels. Once ovaries have no more eggs, estrogen levels drop drastically and continue to be low for the rest of women’s lives.
High FSH Levels
Another menopause sign that may be used to confirm the end of a woman’s reproductive years is elevated FSH, or follicle-stimulating hormone, of 30 IU/L or higher.3
On a monthly basis, FSH stimulates the follicles (sacs containing ovarian eggs) to mature and start producing estrogen. By the time a woman reaches menopause, there are no follicles left in the ovaries. As such, FSH levels increase as there is not enough estrogen being produced to counteract it.
Elevated Vaginal pH
The arrival of menopause can also be confirmed by measuring vaginal pH, which increases in postmenopausal women above 4.5 (most commonly ranging between 4.5 and 6).4
During the reproductive years, vaginal pH stays in a moderately acidic range (below 4.5) to prevent infections. Due to low postmenopausal estrogen, the pH in the vagina increases, becoming less acidic. Levels above 4.5 can be treated as a sign of menopause, as long as a woman does not currently have a vaginal infection.
Additional Menopause Signs
Besides the aforementioned four menopause signs, there might be others women may come across as they research more about the transition.
This may include salivary hormone levels, which are not considered a reliable menopause sign as they can be affected by a variety of factors.
Additionally, some postmenopausal women may also have their bone mineral density measured. While undergoing regular bone density tests is essential for maintaining good postmenopausal health, it is mainly used to rule out or diagnose osteoporosis, not menopause per se.
Key Takeaways
It is worth keeping in mind that there is usually no need to obtain all of the aforementioned menopause signs. A woman’s age, experienced symptoms, and the cessation of menstrual periods are usually enough to confirm that she has reached menopause and enters the postmenopause stage. Nevertheless, doctors may still look for other signs of postmenopause, such as low estrogen levels, high follicle-stimulating hormone levels, and elevated vaginal pH. Confirming the arrival of menopause is important for ensuring adequate care and optimal health of women throughout their postmenopausal years, including reducing the associated health risks of that life stage.
Contact form
Schedule a Consultation
Visit Femcare Clinic in Pune today and experience the exemplary care provided
by Dr. Sonal Katarmal, the best gynecologist in Ambegaon Budruk, Pune.