Physiological processes that occur in women during menopause affect formation of hormones FSH and LH: their rate of menopause is different from that observed in younger age. Often the patient's gynecologist who have reached menopause complain of deterioration of health, due to changes in the level of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing (LH) biologically active substances.
FSH function in the female body
FSH, also known as follitropin, is produced by the pituitary gland and supports the activities of the female reproductive system. A hormone released into the blood every 2-4 hours. His ultimate goal - the ovaries, where it stimulates the development of follicles, is responsible for ovulation and the production of estrogen.
For women in menopause the ovaries are depleted, weakened, follicles in them becomes smaller. Sex glands are no longer like they used to perform their function, gradually reducing estrogen synthesis. The pituitary gland responds to the fact that it begins to produce follicle stimulating hormone hard.
FSH levels during menopause increases 4-5 times and remains so for some years after the last menstrual period. Then it begins a gradual decline. But this does not happen in the development of pathological processes.
Indications for analysis
Analysis of follicle stimulating hormone in menopause is indicated for the early symptoms of this condition, which include:
- menstrual disorders;
- problems with urination (urinary);
- causeless irritability, sleep problems, frequent headaches;
- dryness of vaginal mucosa;
- irrational fever, excessive sweating.
These symptoms indicate that the patient has problems with FSH levels during menopause.
A full examination requires the simultaneous delivery of FSH and LH in menopause. This helps to evaluate the hormones of the female body.
How do
The most accurate results will be obtained when taking the biomaterial from 3 to 5 days of the menstrual cycle. When to take the analysis to women in menopause, tell the doctor.
The patient should be prepared for analysis:
- do not take alcoholic drinks for 1 week prior to drawing blood;
- 3 days before the visit to the lab should eat a healthy diet, giving up fried, greasy, spicy and salty;
- for 2 days before the blood donation does not go to the gym and give up other physical activities;
- Between meals and biomaterial fence must be at least 6 hours.
To assay for FSH during menopause and other physiological periods is taken venous blood. Interpretation of the results has been a doctor.
normal results
FSH level depends on the age of the woman. The following table lists data specific to different life periods.
| Age | Normal hormone levels (mIU / mL) |
| childhood (sexual maturity is not reached) | 1,5-4,0 |
| reproductive period | 1,7-25,0 |
| menopause | 140,0-150,0 |
The norm in women at menopause is the highest, but in different periods of the physiological state of the level changes. Thus, it is premenopausal 1,7-21,5 IU / ml, and postmenopausal - 25,8-134,8 mIU / ml.
Indicators of FSH in the reproductive period of change in the different phases of the menstrual cycle.
| cycle phase | FSH is the norm in women (MIU / ml) |
| Menstrual 1 to Day 6 | 3,5-12,5 |
| follicular, from 3 to 14 days | 3,5-12,5 |
| ovulatory from 13 to 15 day | 4,7-21,5 |
| 15 day luteal | 1,7-7,7 |
The concentration in the blood follicle stimulating hormone increases in the summer, when the heat comes. With the arrival of colder days the numbers are reduced.
The causes of variances and normalization of hormonal levels
FSH levels during menopause can be increased in the following cases:
- cancer of the anterior pituitary;
- Turner's syndrome and a number of other genetic abnormalities;
- endometriosis, ovarian cysts, producing hormones;
- taking medicines - metformin, prednisolone, Levodopa, Hydrocortisone, Glibenclamide et al. (The patient taking such drugs should inform your doctor about it.
The reasons for lowering the concentration of FSH during premenopausal and menopausal:
- receiving anabolics, spazmatikov, oral contraceptives;
- ovarian disease;
- problems with the hypothalamus and pituitary;
- prolaktinpodobnogo elevated levels of the protein.
Normalize hormone levels will help food, stimulates the production of cholesterol - meat, fat, oily fish, butter. The diet is recommended to enter the fruit, nuts, herbs. Eating performed fractionally - by 5-6 times a day. Needed exercise.
Allowed to take phytoestrogens, which are rich in flax, soy, hops. In addition, your doctor may prescribe medication to relieve the patient's condition. Thus, insomnia is recommended to take the drug, reducing the activity of circadian rhythms, with psycho-emotional disorders - magnesium, advised surgery at dizuricheskih disorders treatment.
