Perimenopause: Labs - Pt 1

Let’s dig right into Perimenopause labs since there is a lot to discuss. First off, it’s important to understand that perimenopause is a clinical diagnosis, meaning it’s based on symptoms and age rather than lab results alone. However, labs can still play a crucial role in your symptom relief. Many women going through perimenopause experience extreme fatigue, brain fog, low libido, weight gain, and a host of other symptoms that can be incredibly frustrating.

It’s important to remember that nothing happens in isolation in your body. While perimenopause is likely contributing to some of these issues, it might not be the only culprit. That’s why evaluating other potential causes is so important; doing so allows you to explore additional therapies that can help you feel your best.

So what labs should you consider? Start by checking all of your hormones: estradiol, progesterone, FSH, testosterone, SHBG, along with a Thyroid panel (TSH, free T4, free T3, reverse T3, TPO ab), Insulin, and DHEA-S; depending on your medical history, prolactin might be relevant too.

Perimenopause Labs

You might have heard about cortisol—yes, you could order that as well! The most effective way to evaluate cortisol levels is via saliva testing; however, keep in mind this isn’t typically covered by insurance—more on that next week!

In addition to hormonal assessments, don’t overlook other bloodwork such as Complete Blood Count (CBC), Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP), Iron Panel + Ferritin levels, Vitamin B12 + folate tests, Vitamin D checks, GGT, HbA1c, Lipid Panel, hs-CRP, and homocysteine.

These tests can provide valuable insights into inflammation levels in your body and conditions like insulin resistance or anemia. It’s not uncommon for women to hear their doctor say their labs are “normal.” But here’s the kicker: when doctors say “normal,” they often mean there isn’t any disease present—not necessarily that everything is functioning at its best. There’s a significant difference between ‘normal’ lab results and ‘optimal’ ones—and this distinction could be the key between feeling just okay versus feeling fantastic.

Next week we’ll dive deeper into more advanced testing for perimenopause—but starting with these accessible labs can truly make a world of difference in how you feel!