Menopause Profile II

This comprehensive profile offers a fuller assessment for women approaching, going through, or wishing to understand the menopause transition. It builds on our core menopause hormone check with additional hormones, ovarian reserve testing, and key health markers that become particularly important around this stage of life. As well as helping to understand your hormonal picture, it looks at areas such as bone, heart, and metabolic health, which can be affected as hormone levels change.

Core menopause hormones

• FSH and LH: hormones from the pituitary gland that rise as the ovaries become less active, helping to assess the menopause transition
• Oestradiol (E2): the main form of oestrogen, which declines around menopause
• Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH): a marker of ovarian reserve. It is most useful in earlier or perimenopausal assessment and in giving an indication of how the ovaries are functioning, rather than as a standalone menopause test

Other hormones

• Thyroid (TSH and free T4): a fuller thyroid assessment, as thyroid problems are common and their symptoms overlap closely with those of menopause
• Prolactin: helps identify another hormonal cause of irregular or absent periods
• Testosterone, SHBG, and free androgen index (FAI): androgen levels also change around menopause and are relevant to symptoms such as low energy and reduced libido

Health markers around menopause

As oestrogen falls, certain longer-term health risks increase, so this profile includes key markers to help you stay ahead of them:

• Cholesterol panel (total, HDL, and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, non-HDL, and ratios): cardiovascular risk rises after menopause, so checking your cholesterol is valuable
• HbA1c: checks longer-term blood sugar control, as metabolic risk also increases
• Vitamin D: important for bone health, which becomes a particular priority as bone loss can accelerate after menopause
• Ferritin and Full Blood Count: check your iron stores and for anaemia, common where perimenopausal periods become heavy

An important note on interpretation

Menopause is largely diagnosed from your symptoms and age, with blood tests playing a supporting role, particularly in younger women. Around perimenopause, hormone levels can fluctuate significantly from day to day, so a single set of results may not tell the whole story and is best understood alongside your symptoms. AMH gives useful information about ovarian reserve but does not by itself confirm menopause. Your results are best discussed with your GP, who can interpret them in context and advise on management, including whether hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or other support may be suitable.

Why it matters

The menopause transition affects far more than periods and fertility, influencing mood, energy, sleep, bone strength, and heart and metabolic health. This comprehensive profile helps you understand your hormonal picture and check the health areas that matter most at this stage, supporting informed conversations with your doctor and proactive steps to protect your long-term wellbeing.

Core Menopause Hormones
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Luteinising hormone (LH)
- Oestradiol (E2)
- Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)

Other Hormones
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
- Free thyroxine (fT4)
- Prolactin (PRL)
- Testosterone
- Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG)
- Free androgen index (FAI, calculated)

Health Markers Around Menopause
- Total cholesterol
- HDL cholesterol
- LDL cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- Non-HDL cholesterol
- Cholesterol ratios (TC/HDL, LDL/HDL, TG/HDL)
- Glycated Haemoglobin (HbA1c)
- Vitamin D (25-OH)
- Ferritin
- Full Blood Count (FBC)

No special preparation required.

For blood tests, we recommend drinking plenty of water beforehand to ensure smooth sample collection. If you are taking any regular medication, continue to do so unless advised otherwise by your doctor.