Health After Menopause Blood Test

What is menopause?
Menopause is the stage when a woman hasn’t had her period for a year due to a decrease in oestrogen and progesterone hormones. This means she can’t naturally conceive.
Before reaching menopause, most women go through perimenopause. During this phase, periods become irregular, and the flow may change. Menopause typically happens between 45 and 55 years old, with the UK average at 51. Early menopause, occurring before 40, is also possible.

Common symptoms
Many women experience menopausal symptoms that can begin up to five years before their periods stop. These symptoms can include:

1. Hot flushes, night sweats, and flushing
2. Vaginal dryness and discomfort during sexual activity
3. Sleep difficulties
4. Low mood or anxiety
5. Reduced sex drive (libido)
6. Issues with memory and concentration
While these symptoms are typically not a cause for concern, it is advisable to consult with your general practitioner (GP) if you are worried.

How is menopause diagnosed?
Menopause is a natural part of the ageing process, and many women self-diagnose the onset of menopause as their menstrual cycles become irregular. The primary clinical indicators of menopause involve the absence of periods for a year, coupled with your age. However, in certain circumstances, such as if you’re under 45, a blood test might also be offered to assess hormone levels.
While there isn’t a specific test for diagnosing menopause, it may be beneficial to consult with a general practitioner (GP) or a specialist if:
1. Your symptoms are severe.
2. Irregular periods commence before the age of 45

What effect can menopause have on general health?
Menopause symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, mood swings, and changes in libido, combined with hormonal shifts during menopause, can impact a woman’s mental and emotional health. Adopting a holistic approach to health, including regular physical activity, a well-balanced diet, and stress management, can contribute to reducing the overall impact of menopause on health and well-being.

What are ways to manage menopause symptoms?
Since each person is unique, what works for one may not work for another. Therefore, it’s important for you to find what works best for you.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Synthetic hormone medications can be used to help you transition into menopause and ease symptoms by artificially boosting your hormone levels. You should always consult your GP to find out if hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the right thing
for you.

Supplements
Phytoestrogens are substances found in certain plants that have oestrogen-like effects. These have been shown to reduce hot flashes. Foods high in phytoestrogens include soybeans, tofu, tempeh, and sesame seeds. Some food supplements contain
phytoestrogens, like Dong Quai, liquorice, and red clover.

Exercise
Mild exercise for about 20 minutes, at least 3 times a week, has been found to reduce hot flashes. It also has a positive effect on mood — reducing anxiety and depression. Taking your exercise outside will also help to boost vitamin D, which is
really important for your bone health.

Nutrition
A healthy balanced diet, with enough fruit, vegetables, and wholegrains, is very important as you age. Getting enough calcium, like in dairy or calcium-enriched alternatives, is also really important.

Healthy sleep practices
It’s recommended to aim for 6-8 hours of sleep each night, and try to keep electronic devices like mobile phones and laptops away from your bed or out of your room. Additionally, avoiding excessive caffeine and alcohol can also help prevent sleep
issues. Practising meditation or mindfulness exercises can also help reduce stress levels, which in turn promotes better sleep.

How are chronic diseases linked to menopause?
Following menopause, a woman faces an increased risk of developing chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, dementia, cancer, and osteoporosis. However, adopting healthy lifestyle behaviours can significantly reduce the likelihood of these conditions, emphasising the preventive aspect of maintaining overall health post-menopause. A simple blood test that measures your cholesterol, vitamin D and long-term blood sugar levels can indicate your risk.

Heart disease
For women over the age of 50, heart disease, especially a type called coronary heart disease (CHD), is the top cause of death. A major factor behind this is the drop in oestrogen levels, which plays a protective role in maintaining the health of your blood vessels. After menopause, factors like increased blood pressure and a rise in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels become more common, further increasing the risk of heart disease. Monitoring cholesterol levels with regular blood tests, maintaining a healthy diet, and regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing these conditions.

Osteoporosis
Oestrogen plays a key role in maintaining bone density. When oestrogen levels drop after menopause, there’s an acceleration in bone loss. This can lead to a condition known as osteoporosis, making bones more fragile and likely to break. Vitamin D plays a crucial role in maintaining bone health by regulating calcium and phosphorus levels in the body. Monitoring Vitamin D in regular blood tests and ensuring sufficient Vitamin D, either through diet, supplementation, or sunlight exposure, helps to maintain bone health.
Regular weight-bearing exercise, such as resistance training and walking, stopping smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption, all reduce the risk of osteopenia in older age.

Diabetes
Due to changing hormones and sleep disturbances, menopause can worsen insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a condition where cells in your muscles, fat and liver don’t respond to insulin as well as they should, making it difficult to take up sugar
(glucose) from your blood. Because of this, the pancreas has to work even harder to produce even more insulin, and your blood sugar levels stay higher than they should. Over time, chronic insulin resistance can lead to prediabetes, then type 2 diabetes, if
it isn’t treated.
Ways to help reduce your risk include decreasing your intake of refined carbohydrates and sugars, exercising regularly, and maintaining a good sleep routine. Keeping an eye on HbA1c by taking a blood test every 3 -6 months can be very helpful – this is reflective of your average blood sugar levels over the last 3 months, and can help determine whether you are at risk of diabetes.

For more information about our tests please look at our Frequently Asked Questions here.