Advertisement

 

doctorslounge.com

 
Powered by
Careerbuilder

 

                    Home  |  Forums  |  Humor  |  Advertising  |  Contact
   Ask a Doctor

   News via RSS

   Newsletter

   Gynecology

   News

 

 Conferences


   CME

   Forum Archives

   Diseases

   Symptoms

   Labs

   Procedures

   Drugs

   Links

advertisement.gif (61x7 -- 0 bytes)

   Specialties

   Cardiology

   Dermatology

   Endocrinology

   Fertility

   Gastroenterology

   Gynecology

   Hematology

   Infections

   Nephrology

   Neurology

   Oncology

   Orthopedics

   Pediatrics

   Pharmacy

   Primary Care

   Psychiatry

   Pulmonology

   Rheumatology

   Surgery

   Urology

   Other Sections

   Membership

   Research Tools

   Medical Tutorials

   Medical Software

     
 
 

 Headlines:

 
 
 

The Doctors Lounge - Gynecology Answers

"The information provided on www.doctorslounge.com is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her physician."

Back to Gynecology Answers List

Forum Name: Gynecology

Question: High FSH and Premature Menopause


treehuggins - Thu Jan 25, 2007 12:29 am

I am 36 year old female thinking about ttc #2. LMP Nov. 26 2006 and I am not pregnant. Borderline Hypothyroidism. I was having hot flashes and trouble sleeping along with no period and went to OB/GYN. My maternal family history includes early menopause (<40).

My FSH level on day 50 was 139 mIU/ml. No other hormone tests were done. I understand that the FSH is incredibly high and indicates a postmenopausal level but is testing only FSH enough to determine that I have reached menopause and that my only hope of another baby is by donor egg? Or would it do any good to request that we try to start my period with 10 days of progestin and test FSH on day 3 or 5 if I have a period? Is there anything else to consider before throwing in the towel??

Thank you for your consideration.
Dr. Leigh Anderson - Thu Jan 25, 2007 8:29 am

The following reply was taken from earlymenopause.com

Because hormone levels can and do fluctuate, many doctors advise getting tested more than once -- about a month apart. as there is a slim chance you're experiencing what is sometimes called "temporary menopause" -- a condition sometimes brought on by traumatic stress among other things.
-- Different labs may use different ranges in their testing. So if and when you do get re-tested, be sure to ask your doctor not only for your specific results, but also for the range used by the lab.
Here, then, are the specific tests you may want to consider asking for:

FSH Blood Level Measurement
This is the key test to determine whether or not you are in menopause. A sample of your blood is taken to measure the levels of FSH -- follicle stimulating hormone -- in your blood. Because your FSH levels rise when your ovaries stop producing enough estrogen, high FSH levels can signal that your body is entering menopause.

Normal FSH day 3 value is 3-20 mlU/ml
FSH levels above 10 to 12 mlu/ml indicate that your ovaries are starting to fail. In other words, this means that you are in perimenopause -- the beginning stages of menopause when you notice physical symptoms, but before you have stopped having a period for a year, or have "diminished ovarian reserve"
Higher FSH levels -- levels about 30 to 40 or above -- are usually taken to signal menopause or ovarian failure. You may even be getting periods with your FSH levels this high, but it still is a sign that your body isn't producing enough estrogen to maintain regular ovarian function.

Keep in mind that you may end up with FSH levels that are well in the post-menopausal range, but still be getting a period. This is one of the things that differentiates premature menopause or premature ovarian failure from "regular" menopause (I. e. menopause that occurs to older women after a full year without a period). Yet again, this hammers home the unfortunate fact that you may indeed be in premature menopause even if you're having periods. Once your FSH levels have reached a certain height for a period of time, it's highly unlikely that they'll drop back to premenopausal levels. As mentioned above, because hormone levels can and do fluctuate, remember that the FSH is far from foolproof. Some women can test with a high FSH, then revert to normal levels the next month...and so on. Again, it's generally wise to get tested more than once.

Once your FSH Levels are confirmed by another test, talk to your OB/GYN about alternative pregnancy plans.

Keep In touch

Dr. Anderson


Check a doctor's response to similar questions

send to a friend

 

advertisement.gif (61x7 -- 0 bytes)
 

Are you a doctor or a nurse?

Do you want to join the Doctors Lounge online medical community?

Participate in editorial activities (publish, peer review, edit) and give a helping hand to the largest online community of patients.

Click on the link below to see the requirements:

Doctors Lounge Membership Application

 
     

 advertisement.gif (61x7 -- 0 bytes)

 

 



We subscribe to the HONcode principles of the HON Foundation. Click to verify.
We subscribe to the HONcode principles. Verify here

Privacy Statement | Terms & Conditions | Editorial Board | About us
Copyright © 2001-2007 The Doctors Lounge. All rights reserved.