Blood test results "normal"

[GreatPotato]

I'm 51, been having atrocious night sweats but no other symptoms. Periods still regular as clockwork. The nightsweats are worse in the week before my period.

I "saw" GP because I'm assuming this is the start of menopause but he said without other symptoms he wanted to check other stuff. Good, he's being thorough.

He sent me for a raft of blood tests, which don't seem to have included the test for menopause (hormone levels?)

Anyway, I'm now told the blood tests are all normal, which is good, but do I need to know if i am in perimenopause or just let nature take its course?

I don't think blood tests for hormone levels are generally used for diagnosis because of the fluctuations. Symptoms are used instead. The NICE guidelines linked to at the top of the Menopause board are useful.

Over the age of 45 they go by symptoms and not hormones in bloods as they are unreliable and change regularly.

I got my surgery to email me my results so I could see the actual levels and not just be told they were normal. I can see my folate, ferritin and potassium are in the low ranges.

My gp told me that bloods for menopause would just tell him whether a patient was able to menstruate or peri menopausal or fully menopausal.

He said it wouldn’t be of any use so no point.

I thought that was pathetic and made a private acupuncture appointment which solved all my night sweats (which turned into day flushes eventually too) and my heavy period issues.

I’d highly recommend it. No symptoms and no hormones to take was a winner for me. Totally worth the £50-£60 it costs for a therapist in my area.

Why suffer when you don’t have to. Apologies if you can’t afford it so it’s not an option. I couldn’t afford such luxuries for years but the benefit was so great I prioritise it for various things now as I no longer see it as a luxury, more a necessity!

Whenever I've had a blood test and called the surgery for the results, I've had the same from the receptionist "yeah, they came back normal". It isn't helpful at all is it Thankfully I can now see my results on an app, and Dr Google takes care of the rest (oh dear).

Hi going through the same. My GP did lots of blood tests not hormonal (they fluctuate so not really useful). My B12 and folate are low so need rechecking and treatment. My GP agrees that I am probably peri menopausal, I have been told I can have HRT if I would like. I have started various alternative treatments and do feel some relief.

You almost certainly will be in perimenopause because of your age. If you can cope with the symptoms you can keep going as you are. If you can’t cope, or don’t want to live with night sweats/hot flushes, then go back to your GP surgery and ask to see the menopause specialist. They should know that blood tests are irrelevant at deciding if you’re in peri and talk to you about options.

I'm 53 and have had 3 sets of bloods done for something else over the last couple of years, and they say they will do a hormone check too just to see and each time it says normal for hormones.

I have every symptom of it for the last couple of years - periods every 3 months or so and then either just spotting or very heavy flooding, night sweats, insomnia, itchy vulva a week or so prior to periods, aching bones, flushes, anxiety, problems with concentration etc etc.

Don't think the bloods count for much, or maybe they have to be taking at a certain time in cycle to show fluctuations.

Actually I am "only" 52 ! Brain has gone to pot!

There are also benefits of taking HRT on osteoporosis, vascular health and dementia. I've just started.