How is menstrual/hormonal status determined?

Options
Iwannacookie
Iwannacookie Member Posts: 191
edited July 2014 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

I had a hysterectomy last year but kept my ovaries and haven't experienced any symptoms of menopause.  I'm 44 and even though I don't have periods anymore, it is assumed that my hormones are still pretty much in full force.  

My question is--How are menstrua/hormonall status and ovary function determined, for the purpose of hormone therapy?  Is there a simple blood test, or several throughout the course of a month?  Or something else?

Thanks.

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • dltnhm
    dltnhm Member Posts: 873
    edited July 2014

    My oncologist orders a blood test and 3 levels are tested: Estradiol, FSH, and LH. 

    Prior to chemo, even at age the age of 48, my levels were tested & I was not even approaching menopause. My last cycle was the week before my chemo began. 

    2+ years later, I have not had another period. My labs at 2 years did not put me squarely in the post-menopausal range. Although my Estradiol number placed me in the post-menopausal range, my FSH & LH results did not & were not close. 

    I am continuing on with Tamoxifen & we are going to run those labs again in October. 

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jennie93
    Jennie93 Member Posts: 1,018
    edited July 2014

    Cookie, I was premenopausal at diagnosis, chemo stopped my periods, and after about 18 months without one, my doc ordered a blood test to see if it was really menopause.  The test says yes, it is.  But then I was reading here and it sounds like that test is not foolproof.  

    http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/hormonal/ask...

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Iwannacookie
    Iwannacookie Member Posts: 191
    edited July 2014

    So there is a simple blood test, and they only have to do it once?  And no matter where your hormones are in your cycle, they can detect whether or not you are menopausal or are approaching menopause?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jennie93
    Jennie93 Member Posts: 1,018
    edited July 2014

    That's what my MO led me to believe.  But that article above makes it sound not quite so simple.  

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Iwannacookie
    Iwannacookie Member Posts: 191
    edited July 2014

    It sounds like the test gives you a definite maybe.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jennie93
    Jennie93 Member Posts: 1,018
    edited July 2014

    With the numbers I got, I'm definitely in menopause.  But it sounds like when the ovaries were shut down by chemo, they can sometimes 'wake up' again, even years later. That would be a shock... lol

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories