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[Mary1962]

I know doctors will say that the hormone levels fluctuate a lot day to day etc during perimenopause stage, but why do some practices refuse to give you the blood test for your estrogen and other hormones when you're having interesting symptoms in the perimenopause and yet others are more than happy to do so?  I'd put money on the fact that my estrogen is very high and would like to know how high but they won't give me the blood test - as it's now leading to other symptoms I'd kind of like to know!  Do others find this with their GPs? 

[honeybun]

I suspect it's budget related. Why do a test that is so unreliable. Save money and be guided by symptoms alone.
The test can vary hour by hour never mind day by day so I can understand why they think it's a waste of time.


Honeyb
x

[CLKD]

My Gynae won't do blood tests for hormones ........ why not ask your Surgery what their procedure is?

[sweettooth]

I think it is more necessary when taking HRT.  When women are in peri, bloods are not reliable as they are sooo changable so some GPs would probably go by symptoms, possibly prescribe hrt if suitable and then monitor with reviews, blood tests etc.

To be on the safe side, some GPs take a variety of blood tests when a woman presents with problematic symptoms that mimic menopause just incase there is something else going on x

[Hurdity]

Hi Mary1962

I presume you mean low rather than high? The hormone levels do fluctuate considerably during peri-menopause but it is the decrease in oestrogen particularly that characterises this time as the ovaries begin to stop working.

I am always posting this article but in case you haven't read it - it's one of the back magazine articles that Dr Currie wrote about peri-meno.

Most docs tend to go on symptoms and in relation to periods but some docs also do blood tests, but as honeybun says - one test alone may not be sufficient to show anything. However if your doctor is disregarding your symptoms which you think are peri-menopausal signs  (period irregularity is often the first sign but some women start to get flushes and sweats even before the periods start to change), then you should insist on it. Just to emphasise if your periods have become irregular this is likely to be a sure sign I would say...

What symptoms are you concerned about?

Hurdity x

edit - oops I forgot the link!
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/article-perils-of-the-perimenopause.php