Is there a test for menopause?

If you've started to experience symptoms you think may be related to menopause, such as changes to your periods, hot flushes and changes to your mood, you may be wondering whether menopause can be tested. Yes, it can. A menopause blood test measures key hormones such as FSH, oestradiol and progesterone to give a clearer picture of where you are in your menopause journey.

In this guide, we explain how a menopause blood test works, what it can and can't tell you, and how Bluecrest's Advanced Menopause Profile pairs five key hormone markers with expert advice from a private GP. We also share the benefits of getting tested, from reassurance to helping you seek treatment or make lifestyle changes to manage your symptoms.

What is menopause?

Menopause is a natural phase in a woman's life that marks the end of her menstrual cycles and reproductive years. It describes the stage when periods stop due to declining oestrogen levels. It typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, though the timing can vary and it can occur earlier due to lifestyle factors, genetics, surgery to remove the ovaries or uterus, or some cancer treatments.

Menopause is officially diagnosed when a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. While menopause itself is not a medical condition, the symptoms can significantly impact a woman's quality of life. Understanding these changes through a test can provide valuable insights and help you manage symptoms effectively.

What is perimenopause?

The term menopause is used when you've not had a period for 12 months. Perimenopause describes the transition into menopause, and is used when you first notice symptoms of oestrogen decline, such as missed periods. It can begin several years before your final period.

Common symptoms of menopause

Knowing the common symptoms of menopause can help you identify whether you may be experiencing it. Although the length and severity can vary significantly from woman to woman, most women will experience some of the following:

• Irregular periods: this could be more infrequent periods, changes to the length or flow of your periods, or spotting in between (any spotting should be investigated by your GP to rule out other causes).
• Hot flushes: these tend to be short and intense and can cause profuse sweating, blotchiness on your face and neck, dizziness and disrupted sleep.
• Night sweats: body temperature changes through the night can cause you to wake up and struggle to get back to sleep.
• Vaginal dryness: falling oestrogen levels can cause the lining of the vagina to become thinner and drier, making sex more painful and uncomfortable.
• Difficulty sleeping: it can be harder to fall asleep, or you may wake up multiple times in the night (often not helped by hot flushes and night sweats).
• Low mood: you may find yourself more irritable, anxious or confused than normal, which can lead to lower mood and even depression.
• Reduced sex drive: falling oestrogen and testosterone levels can cause you to lose interest in sex.
• Memory and concentration difficulties: this can affect your work as well as your personal life.
• Dry skin: as oestrogen levels drop, the production of collagen and elastin reduces, which can cause skin to become thinner, looser, and more prone to wrinkles.
• Muscle and joint pains: it is common for women to experience aches, stiffness and swelling around their joints during menopause.

Why should I consider a menopause test?

Both menopause and perimenopause can cause symptoms that start years before your periods stop and continue for a time afterwards. For some women, the symptoms are relatively mild, but for others they can have a significant impact, affecting relationships, work and more.

A menopause blood test provides insights into your hormonal health, helping you understand where you are in your menopause journey. While symptoms such as hot flushes, irregular periods and mood swings are common indicators, a blood test offers a more accurate picture by measuring key hormones.

The benefits of a menopause test include:

• Confirming menopause and perimenopause: helping clarify whether you're in the early stages (perimenopause) or have fully transitioned, especially if you're unsure what's causing your symptoms.
• Understanding hormonal changes: measuring hormone levels helps identify imbalances, so treatment can be tailored to your specific symptoms.
• Ruling out other causes: giving reassurance that your symptoms are related to menopause rather than another condition.
• Making informed decisions: clear data helps you weigh up treatment options, lifestyle adjustments and how best to manage your symptoms, whether that's HRT, dietary changes or alternative approaches.

What does a menopause blood test measure?

A standard menopause blood test looks at FSH. Going one step further, Bluecrest's Advanced Menopause Profile offers insights into five key hormone markers for a more in-depth picture of your hormone health:

• Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH): FSH promotes egg growth in the ovaries and stimulates oestrogen production. As women approach menopause, they naturally stop producing eggs, causing FSH levels to rise, so elevated FSH can indicate the onset of menopause.
• Oestradiol: the main naturally occurring oestrogen in a woman's body. Low blood levels can indicate menopause.
• Testosterone: although often considered a male sex hormone, women have small amounts to help maintain hormonal balance. Levels naturally decline with age as the ovaries produce less, and abnormal readings are worth discussing with your GP alongside your other symptoms, in rare cases, abnormally high or low levels can indicate issues with adrenal glands.
• Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG): changes to SHBG can affect the amount of testosterone available to the body. Abnormal levels can cause mood swings, weight gain, low sex drive and infertility, so can be useful to rule out.
• Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH): TSH triggers the thyroid to produce hormones essential for normal balance. Thyroid issues can cause similar symptoms to menopause, so it's important to look at these levels alongside FSH.

In addition to insights into these markers, the Advanced Menopause Profile includes a private GP consultation, so you can ask questions and fully understand what your results mean for you. You can compare what's included on our packages page.

What are the limits of a menopause blood test?

Naturally fluctuating hormone levels during perimenopause can create varied results, so a menopause blood test must be interpreted by a doctor alongside a history of your symptoms to give accurate insight.

This is why our Advanced Menopause Profile includes a GP consultation, to ensure your results are reviewed and explained fully, and you aren't left with unanswered questions.

Can an at-home menopause test diagnose menopause?

Although home menopause testing kits are available, we don't recommend using them, as the results can be misleading and inaccurate. Fluctuating hormone levels mean blood or urine tests alone cannot determine menopause.

Additional information about your medical history, menstrual history and symptoms is also required for a healthcare provider to offer meaningful insight into whether your symptoms are likely due to menopause.

How can I check if I've gone through menopause?

It's possible to check whether you've gone through menopause using:

• Your menstrual history: your healthcare provider may ask about your cycle over the last year, as you're only considered to have reached menopause after a full year without a period.
• Blood tests: you may be advised to check certain hormone levels, which can suggest you've reached menopause and rule out other causes. Because levels fluctuate during perimenopause, results should always be considered alongside your symptoms and discussed with a GP.

How long do menopause symptoms last?

Generally, perimenopause symptoms start from a few months to a few years before your periods stop, while menopause symptoms typically continue for around four years after your last period. If you're finding your symptoms hard to manage, it's worth speaking to your GP, as there may be treatments that can help ease them.

When does menopause end?

You reach menopause when you haven't had a menstrual period for 12 months. Immediately after, you move into postmenopause, which lasts the rest of your life.

Can you have menopause without symptoms?

Most women will experience some symptoms, but not everyone experiences all of them. Changes to your period are often one of the first signs of perimenopause, but other symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats and mood changes may be more subtle, or you may not notice them at all.

Frequently asked questions

Can a blood test confirm menopause?

Not on its own. A blood test measures hormones like FSH and oestradiol, but because levels fluctuate during perimenopause, the results need to be read alongside your symptoms and menstrual history by a GP to be meaningful.

What hormone is tested for menopause?

FSH is the main one; it rises as the ovaries wind down. A fuller profile also checks oestradiol, testosterone, SHBG and TSH to build a clearer picture and rule out other causes such as thyroid problems.

Which Bluecrest menopause test should I choose?

Bluecrest offers two options: an FSH-based Menopause Hormone Test for an initial indication, and the in-depth Advanced Menopause Profile with a private GP consultation. See our guide to the two menopause hormone tests for a full comparison.

Check your hormone health

If you're experiencing symptoms you believe may be related to menopause or perimenopause and want reassurance, you can book a private Advanced Menopause Profile blood test. It provides insights into five key female hormones and includes a private GP consultation to discuss your symptoms and help determine if you're experiencing menopause. It can also help you plan and adjust treatment options like HRT to your needs.

We offer appointments across the UK, so you can book at a time and location to suit you. You can be confident of fast, accurate results, as we have established links with leading UK laboratories and are fully accredited for a wide range of private blood checks.

Need help? Call free on 0800 652 2183 to speak to our team.