Premenopause and Menopause: Understanding Changes in Your Health

Premenopause and menopause can affect much more than your menstrual cycle. As hormone levels change, you may notice differences in your sleep, mood, energy, weight or general wellbeing.

Every woman’s experience is different. For some, the transition happens gradually. For others, symptoms such as irregular periods, hot flushes, tiredness, poor sleep or mood changes may become more noticeable.

Blood tests can help you and your healthcare professional build a clearer picture of your health during this stage of life.

Why might blood tests be useful?

Menopause is not always confirmed through a blood test. Your personal doctor or gynaecologist will usually consider your age, menstrual pattern, symptoms and medical history.

However, blood tests may provide useful information in some circumstances. They can measure reproductive hormones and help investigate other conditions that may cause similar symptoms. Thyroid problems, iron deficiency, low vitamin levels and changes in blood glucose can all affect energy, mood, sleep and weight.

It is also important to remember that hormone levels can fluctuate during the transition to menopause. A blood result provides a picture of your levels at the time the sample was taken and should not be interpreted on its own.

Understanding the Premenopause Panel

The Premenopause Panel looks at several areas of health that may be relevant when periods or symptoms begin to change.

FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone and prolactin provide information about reproductive hormones. A Full Blood Count, iron and ferritin can help identify anaemia or low iron stores, which may contribute to tiredness or weakness.

Glucose and HbA1c provide information about blood sugar, while total cholesterol, HDL and LDL help assess blood lipids. Vitamin B12, Vitamin D and folic acid are also measured because low levels may affect general wellbeing.

Urea and creatinine are used to assess kidney function, while AST, ALT and GGT provide information about liver health. TSH, FT4, FT3 and thyroid antibodies are included because thyroid conditions can sometimes cause symptoms that overlap with those experienced during hormonal change.

Understanding the Menopause Basic Panel

The Menopause Basic Panel focuses on reproductive hormones, thyroid health and the general blood profile.

FSH, LH and estradiol provide information about hormonal activity. The panel also includes TSH, FT4 and FT3 to assess thyroid function, together with TPO and anti-TG antibodies, which may help identify autoimmune thyroid conditions.

A Full Blood Count gives information about red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. It can also help identify possible anaemia or other changes that may need further investigation.

Understanding the Menopause Extended Panel

The Menopause Extended Panel contains the same tests as the Menopause Basic Panel, with the addition of CA 15-3.

CA 15-3 is not a menopause hormone. It is a tumour marker that may be used in particular clinical circumstances, but the result cannot diagnose a condition on its own. Your doctor or gynaecologist can advise whether this test is appropriate and explain its relevance to your medical history.

CA 125 is another tumour marker that may be considered in some women, although it is not included in this panel. It can be useful in the investigation or monitoring of certain ovarian conditions, but it can also be raised for non-cancerous reasons. For this reason, both CA 15-3 and CA 125 should always be interpreted by your doctor or gynaecologist together with your symptoms, medical history and any other relevant tests.

Bone health during and after menopause

Oestrogen helps protect bone strength. As oestrogen levels fall, bone loss may become more noticeable, particularly after menopause.

Our Bone Care Panel measures calcium, Vitamin D and parathyroid hormone, which are involved in maintaining healthy bones. CrossLaps is a marker of bone breakdown and may provide information about the rate of bone turnover.

For a broader assessment, your doctor may recommend additional blood tests. These include phosphate (P) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), which help assess bone and mineral metabolism, and urea and creatinine to assess kidney function. Thyroid testing, including TSH and, where indicated, FT3 and FT4, may also help investigate thyroid conditions that can affect bone health. The choice of tests depends on your medical history and clinical findings.

These results should be considered alongside factors such as age, family history, diet, physical activity, medication use and previous fractures. In some cases, a doctor may also recommend a bone-density scan.

Cholesterol and cardiovascular health

Hormonal changes may also affect cholesterol levels. A Lipid Profile measures total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglycerides.

These results form only one part of a cardiovascular assessment. Blood pressure, blood glucose, smoking, activity levels, family history and other factors are also important when considering heart health.

Which panel is right for you?

There is no single blood-test panel that is suitable for every woman. The tests that may be useful depend on your age, symptoms, menstrual pattern, medical history and any treatment you are taking. You may our premenopause and menopause panels here.

Your personal doctor or gynaecologist can help you decide which tests are relevant and whether further investigation is needed. All laboratory results should be interpreted alongside your symptoms and overall health rather than viewed in isolation.