Menopause Blood Test
A private menopause blood test measuring the two hormones that change at the menopause, FSH and oestradiol, with LH, plus thyroid function (TSH and free T4), because an under- or over-active thyroid causes many of the same symptoms. For women under 45 with hot flushes, night sweats, irregular periods or mood and sleep changes, or anyone wanting answers. From £79 by kit, £119 in clinic or £139 with a nurse.... Read more
A private menopause blood test measuring the two hormones that change at the menopause, FSH and oestradiol, with LH, plus thyroid function (TSH and free T4), because an under- or over-active thyroid causes many of the same symptoms. For women under 45 with hot flushes, night sweats, irregular periods or mood and sleep changes, or anyone wanting answers. From £79 by kit, £119 in clinic or £139 with a nurse.
Key facts
- Price: from £79 with a finger-prick kit at home; £119 at a Goodbody clinic; £139 with a nurse home visit
- Measures: FSH, LH, oestradiol, TSH and free T4
- Kit covers: all five markers are reported from the finger-prick sample
- Timing: days 2 to 5 of your cycle if you still have periods; any time if your periods have stopped or are very irregular
- Results: emailed within 3 to 5 working days with a GP report
- Most useful: under 45, where NICE recommends blood tests to confirm the menopause; over 45 the diagnosis is made on symptoms and the test mainly rules out thyroid problems
- Standard: an NHS guided test: the same FSH, oestradiol and thyroid measurements a GP would order
Your questions answered
Is there a test for the menopause or perimenopause?
Yes, but it is not always needed. The menopause is defined as 12 months without a period, and NICE guidance says that in women over 45 with typical symptoms and changing periods it should be diagnosed on symptoms alone, without a blood test, because hormone levels swing so much during the perimenopause that a single normal FSH does not rule it out. Blood tests are recommended under 45, and essential under 40, where premature ovarian insufficiency must be confirmed and treated. They are also useful at any age to rule out thyroid disease, which mimics the menopause, and where contraception or a hysterectomy makes periods an unreliable guide.
What blood tests show you are in the menopause?
FSH and oestradiol. As the ovaries run low on follicles, oestradiol falls and the pituitary releases more and more FSH to try to stimulate them, so a persistently raised FSH, above about 30 IU/L, with a low oestradiol is the menopausal pattern; LH rises too. During the perimenopause the levels fluctuate from month to month, which is why a raised FSH on two samples six weeks apart is the standard for confirming the menopause under 45. This test measures all three, plus TSH and free T4 for the thyroid.
How do you test for perimenopause?
Mostly by symptoms and cycle pattern, because hormones during the perimenopause can be normal one month and menopausal the next. A blood test is still worth doing if you are under 45, if you want to know whether your symptoms are hormonal or thyroid, if you have no periods to go by because of contraception or a hysterectomy, or if you and your GP are deciding about HRT and want a baseline. Take it on day 2 to 5 of a cycle if you have one; a raised FSH supports the diagnosis, while a normal one does not exclude it, and your GP report explains which applies.
Will my GP do a blood test for the menopause?
Under 45, yes: NICE recommends FSH testing, and under 40 a full work-up. Over 45 with typical symptoms, many GPs will not, because the guidance says it is unnecessary and HRT can be started on symptoms alone; they may still check thyroid function. If you are over 45 and want the numbers anyway, to understand your symptoms or because you are on hormonal contraception, a private test is the straightforward route, and the GP report can go to your own GP to support a conversation about HRT.
How do I read menopause blood test results?
Your GP report does the reading for you, but the pattern is simple. FSH above about 30 IU/L with a low oestradiol, below about 100 pmol/L, indicates the menopause; FSH of 10 to 30 with fluctuating oestradiol is typical of the perimenopause; FSH under 10 with normal oestradiol on day 2 to 5 is a premenopausal pattern. TSH outside its range with an abnormal free T4 points to a thyroid cause instead of, or as well as, the menopause. Hormonal contraception suppresses FSH and oestradiol and makes the result uninterpretable, so tell us if you use it.
Why does a menopause test include thyroid function?
Because an underactive thyroid causes tiredness, weight gain, low mood, dry skin, hair thinning and heavy or irregular periods, and an overactive one causes flushing, sweating, anxiety, palpitations and poor sleep, all of which are also menopausal symptoms. Thyroid disease is common in women in their 40s and 50s, and it is treatable. Testing TSH and free T4 alongside FSH and oestradiol tells you whether you are dealing with the menopause, a thyroid problem, both, or neither.
Are home menopause test kits accurate?
Pharmacy urine kits detect whether FSH is above a threshold, once, and give a yes or no; they cannot distinguish the perimenopause from a normal mid-cycle surge and say nothing about oestradiol or thyroid. This test is a laboratory measurement of the actual levels of FSH, LH, oestradiol, TSH and free T4, interpreted by a GP against your age and cycle. A finger-prick sample analysed in an accredited laboratory is as accurate as a venous one for those markers.
Can a menopause test detect pregnancy, or can the menopause cause a positive pregnancy test?
No to both, in practice. This test does not measure hCG, the pregnancy hormone, so it cannot detect pregnancy; if there is any chance you are pregnant, take a pregnancy test first, and note that you can still conceive during the perimenopause. Very rarely, high LH near the menopause can trigger a faint false positive on a sensitive urine pregnancy test, because LH and hCG are chemically similar; a blood hCG test resolves it.
When in my cycle should I take the test?
Days 2 to 5, counting the first day of full bleeding as day 1, if you still have periods, because FSH is interpreted against the early-cycle range. If your periods are irregular, take it whenever you can and tell us your last period date. If they have stopped, or you have had a hysterectomy, any day is fine. If you use hormonal contraception or HRT the hormone results will reflect the medication rather than your ovaries; the thyroid results are unaffected.
What does a menopause blood test cost?
From £79 with the home finger-prick kit, £119 at one of 250+ Goodbody clinics or £139 with a nurse home visit, including laboratory analysis and a GP report. Menopause hormone panels in the UK typically cost £60 to £120 without thyroid; ours includes it.
How long do the results take?
Results are emailed within 3 to 5 working days of your sample reaching the laboratory, with a GP report that says whether the pattern is premenopausal, perimenopausal or menopausal, whether your thyroid is contributing, and what to do next, including how to raise HRT or thyroid treatment with your GP.
Is it normal for the perimenopause to last ten years?
It can. The perimenopause typically lasts four to eight years and begins in the mid-40s, but for some women symptoms start in the late 30s and continue into the 50s. Symptoms also change over that time, from cycle changes and sleep problems early on to flushes and vaginal dryness later. If symptoms are affecting your life at any stage, they can be treated; a long perimenopause is not something to wait out.
What happens next
Your results and GP report are emailed to you within 3 to 5 working days of your sample reaching the laboratory. The report explains each marker in plain language, flags anything outside the reference range and says what to do next, including when to take the result to your own GP. All samples are analysed by a UKAS-accredited laboratory.
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Available testing locations for Menopause Blood Test
Aberdeen Clinic GCI Advanced Aesthetics
Abergavenny Clinic Amatsu Centre
Airdrie Clinic Amiry & Gilbride Pharmacy
Aldershot Clinic Wellington Pharmacy
Alton Clinic Four Marks Pharmacy
Andover Clinic Dr Malaika Clinics
Anniesland Clinic Amiry & Gilbride Pharmacy
Arlesey Clinic Waterloo Farm Wellness
Armadale Clinic Dears Pharmacy
Ascot Clinic Ascot Pharmacy
AshbyDeLaZouch Clinic Aeternum Aesthetics
Ashford Clinic Breakspear Pharmacy
Aveley Clinic Doctor B Aesthetics
Aylesbury Clinic Aura Body Clinic
Aylesbury Clinic Pearlfect Care Pharmacy
Aylsham Clinic North Norfolk Ear & Skin Care
Ballingry Clinic
Barnet Clinic Co Wellbeing
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How our blood tests work
Have your blood taken in-clinic by one of our skilled phlebotomists and check multiple biomarkers in one go. Many of our tests can also be done in the comfort of your own home with one of our easy-to-use test kits.
Testing
Take a test, either in the comfort of your own home, with a nurse visit, or at one of our clinics nationwide.
Analysis
Your sample is analysed in the clinic, laboratory or using your home test equipment.
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Get your comprehensive detailed results report from the laboratory.
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Meet our Goodbody Experts
Our team of professionals has decades of experience so you can be sure you’re getting the best tests and support to understand and improve your health.
Get in touch with Our Team
Dr Lebeth Jacob
BSc (Hons) MBChB
Registered GP & Lead Medical Advisor
Dr Alexandre Akoulitchev
MA, PhD, FRSM
Clinical Support Advisor
Dr Cheng Boon
MBCHB, MRCP, FRCR
Consultant Oncologist
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