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There are innumerable such tests! Each test requested only evaluates a specific aspect, and as such it is vital to recognise what information is required in order that an appropriate test is chosen.
Blood tests carried out around the time of the menopause can usually be grouped under the following headings:
- Tests aimed to support a diagnosis of menopause
- Tests aimed at eliminating other medical problems as being the cause of
symptoms currently experienced by the woman
- Tests aimed at providing baseline information of areas of the body, which may become
increasingly vulnerable now that the menopause has been
reached
- Tests aimed at ensuring normal function in areas of the body which may be asked to
process recommended drug therapies
- Having a blood test - what it means to you.
Diagnosis of a menopause status
Assessing sex hormone levels may do this, eg:
The hormone levels generally assayed are:
- hormones from the pituitary gland
called follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and Lutenising
hormone (LH). These hormones in menstrual life show a
typical cyclical pattern as they control the ovarian
function of hormone and egg production
- oestradiol which is the main oestrogen from the ovaries. In menstrual life it shows a cyclical fluctuation dependent upon the phase of the menstrual cycle that the individual is in when the blood test is taken.
The results of this assay in the menopause, demonstrate increasing levels of the pituitary hormones as they strive to initiate a response from the ovarian tissue, which because they are now not functioning, means that the level of oestradiol will be low.
Elimination of other conditions
A number of blood tests may be suggested in an attempt to exclude other conditions, which could mimic symptoms seen in a menopausal individual, eg:
- ensuring blood picture normal -
full blood count (FBC), Haemoglobin (HB), urea &
electrolytes (U&E's)
- ensuring thyroid function normal - thyroid function tests (TFT's).
Baseline information of potentially vulnerable areas of the body
Now that menopause has intervened it is known that certain aspects of bodily functioning may become more vulnerable, primarily due to the lack of oestrogen that results in the menopause, eg:
lipid profile - the main elements checked under this heading are total cholesterol, triglycerides, high & low density lipoproteins. Each individual woman's genetic inheritance and her lifestyle factors particularly diet, exercise and smoking habits will have had some effect on these parameters over her life so far. These effects may have been either positive or negative. During a woman's menstrual life oestrogen helps to maintain the amounts and balance of each of these constituents in a pattern which is more protective of the cardiovascular system than that which is seen in the post menopausal woman.
The awareness of what a woman's lipid profile is can provide indirect information on the health of the cardiovascular system. It can also be a factor that the individual and her clinician can use to decide on the most appropriate health strategies to adopt. Dependent upon the results it may be an impetus for commencing specific medication therapies as well as being a tool to assist the clinician to suggest the most suitable hormone therapy product should such a recommendation also be the woman's wish.
Ensuring the normal functioning of tissues which process prescribed drug therapies, eg:
liver function tests - as the liver is responsible for the breakdown of many substances including drugs, it is important to be aware of its health and ability to carry out this task. By a series of analyses it is possible to establish whether the liver could indeed carry out the function of the degradation of any prescribed drugs satisfactorarily.
Clotting profile tests - if a woman's family or personal medical history gives rise to concerns regarding the normality of her blood clotting system then it is prudent to fully investigate for any clotting defects. This is a necessity before the prescription of any drug therapies eg HRT, that may compromise the individual's safety should they have a blood clotting problem. The presence of a blood clotting defect would not necessarily preclude the prescription of HRT but would make the choice of hormone(s) and their method of administration a more carefully weighed choice with the woman being fully informed as to her risk/benefit equation.
Having a blood test
Most blood tests require little if any preparation on the part of the patient. One or two will necessitate a period of fasting before the test so that an accurate reading is obtained, a good example is the blood test to determine the lipid profile. Blood is drawn from a vein, a favoured site for the venepuncture is the elbow bend area of the arm. Minimal discomfort is associated with the procedure, which is rapidly completed. There should be no after effects.
Please remember to remind/inform the person requesting the test if you suffer from any problems which can be transmitted by the blood such as Hepatitis or HIV.
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