Can missed periods / heavy periods still be a sign of peri if hormone blood tests all normal ?

[dahliaaa]

I'm 48 and I recently had some hormone blood tests done. They came back as completely normal (fsh: 5.4 lh: 6.8).

I know that the tests are not recommended now to find out if you are in peri (I only had them done because of some confusion at my surgery) but as I now have the results ... because they are so normal does that mean that the missed periods I've been having (plus heavier bleeding) can't be down to peri?

Hope that makes sense. Thanks

At 48 you’re more likely to be in Peru than not. Do you want help for the heavy periods. Have you spoken to the dr about it?

I did see GP a few months ago when one period was ridiculously heavy (and long). She gave me some progesterone to stop the bleeding which worked and I also had an ultrasound.

All structurally ok but womb lining was thickened so was referred on standard wait to see gynae. It's taken quite a while for that appointment to come through but it's now in 6 weeks.

I'm just interested really about the whole blood test thing.

Hiya, I too had hormone tests done at 48 (FSH 8, LH 13.6) and was told that they showed I probably had a way to go, but they said I was perimenopausal because of symptoms. Levels go up and down all the time - in peri they can be perfectly normal and then at postmenopausal level, or anything in beteen.

I've had them done yearly since: 49 (FSH 16, LH, 21), 50 (FSH 30, LH 33) so you can see how they've gone up as I get further through, and the last one indicates I'm in late peri (which other symptoms confirm).

Hope your tests come through soon.

18 months ago my period stopped for 3 months but all blood tests normal. It then came back and was reasonably regular until recently when it stopped again and I have now been told I’m in early menopause. So I had the same as you, missing period, normal blood tests and was perimenopausal and it’s now 18 months later I’m in early menopause with the blood tests showing this. I’m early 40s.

The first sign of peri and symptoms which consultants recognise as peri is a change in periods. Have a look at the info online about peri. Irregular cycles are often No 1, followed by flushes, sweats, mood swings, weight gain and insomnia.
My FSH showed post menopause when I went for another 18 months with almost regular periods. The blood test was done for other reasons, not to identify peri. A blood test is s napshot of that day only until someone is post meno.

Thanks so much for the replies - really useful.

Who did your tests? My local GP did mine and said the tests didn't show I was peri. I went to a specialist and showed her the blood work and she said I was definitely peri.

@SakuraBlossom
That's because the levels can be different every day. Nothing to do with who takes the blood.

Ah I see, you mean two drs interpreted it differently. Interesting.

Yes, one set of results and 2 Docs read it differently.

The blood results fluctuate daily in perimenopause which is why they don’t recommend them - as they are not of any use. With your symptoms and age you should just assume you are.

I knew that the results weren't particularly reliable but didn't realise that they can fluctuate daily. Useful to know.