Perimenopause Test Panel - More Information

The perimenopause test panel includes the complete blood count (CBC), comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), DHEA, estradiol, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), luteinizing hormone (LH), lipid panel, progesterone, prolactin, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), T4 Free, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), testosterone total & free, and vitamin D levels.

The estradiol test measures the level of estradiol in the blood and can help determine the extent of estradiol supplementation needed for a particular person. DHEA is a hormone precursor to other hormones like estradiol and testosterone and the DHEA test checks blood levels of this hormone. The FSH, LH and progesterone tests can help track the progress of perimenopause and provide additional information related to hormone treatment.

The total testosterone and SHBG tests are used to calculate the Free Androgen Index (FAI), a calculation that might help identify low testosterone levels in perimenopause. The FAI = 100 * (total testosterone / SHBG). The free testosterone test measures the amount of bioavailable testosterone in the blood at the time of testing.

The comprehensive metabolic panel screens electrolytes and checks liver function. The lipid panel test checks standard cholesterol and lipid levels. Abnormal liver or lipid levels might impact the type of treatment used. The HbA1c test screens for diabetes. The prolactin test looks screens for other conditions which might be causing perimenopause symptoms. The TSH and T4 test screen for thyroid disease which can contribute to perimenopause symptoms. The vitamin D test can help identify a vitamin D deficiency.