Yes, menopause is "not an illness". But the degree to which it affects women goes right across the spectrum and it can cause or accelerate a host of other serious illnesses. So it should be treated seriously when a women is suffering or at risk of osteoporosis, depression and a host of other conditions.
I hear some women speaking about their menopause, Sailing through it appears to be the favourite mode of transport. However, I remember those very women several years ago, and they stayed in a lot more, went about with very red faces, which now are lined and with aged skin, some divorced, (surprise surprise). I know myself the Truth is they did not 'sail' through it. Possibly Alzheimers is setting in and they forget what they went through, or they may wish to downplay it. This is part of the problem, women trying to be superwomen, women pretending it didn't affect them, the issue not receiving enough attention in the medical world. Maybe women are embarrassed about it, and not want to advertise the fact they are getting older, I don't really know. But I do know I was not well enough informed before I was 40 and women should be extremely well educated about this inevitable part of being female. If you speak about menopause to women aged 38 even, they think they have until their 50s before they worry about it. Just like I did. I was talking to my sis in law, who is eight years younger than me and her friend, around the same, they knew NOTHING about vaginal atrophy, irregular periods, palpitations. My friend, who is 43 (and peri) and I looked at each other, we were only 2 years older than these women when our symptoms started. Why are women kept in the dark? I would not have put things off til my 40s had I known what a disastrous decade was facing me.
It is shocking how little information/interest some doctors have,. As I said, when I was attending specialists in hospital they said I was too young to have menopausal symptoms at aged 41-43!!! Such rubbish. It should be taken very seriously when menopause affects a woman's quality of life. For NHS to even think of 'saving money' with FSH testing is surely a false economy when you see the other illnesses brought on by not treating menopause properly. And it seriously NEEDS to be treated in lots and lots of cases, my own included.
Women with severe symptoms who wish to be tested, should have some way to show where along the meno path they are. There is not enough research done if we do not in 2013 know how to test this. It's necessary to know where you are along the journey - within a year or so. Then you can have an idea of whether you can face without HRT, another 6-12 months say, or a another 10 years, of bad symptoms. Even though FSH levels fluctuate, once they reach a certain level, you won't ovulate any more, and you are reaching the very end of menstruation - much nearer the end. There are online tests available for less than 10 euros, which can give you some indication. Here in Ireland they do test for FSH on Medical Card / NHS system, you can ask, within reason, for testing quite a few times, along with thyroid and other blood tests.