Re: Menopause diagnosis
From: Victoria (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri, 31 Jul 1998 16:01:23 -0500 (CDT)
Dr. Ind,
Thank you very much for your answers. Can you tell me, since I am still
capable of getting pregnant, would I be better off taking an oral
contraceptive rather than HRT? Wouldn't that accomplish the same
osteo/cardiac protection and provide birth control at the same time? For
the last 19 years I haven't had to worry about birth control - my
husband had a vasectomy, but we are no longer together, and I am only
human. But I definitely don't want to end up being pregnant. Thanks.
At Fri, 31 Jul 1998, Victoria wrote:
At Fri, 31 Jul 1998, Thomas wrote:
>
>At Fri, 31 Jul 1998, Victoria wrote:
>>
>>I'm 46, regular periods (27 days apart, 4 days duration), no obvious
>>menopausal symptoms except maybe night sweats. I was surprised when my
>>doctor said the results from my recent physical indicate I am in
>>menopause: Estradiol was 31 (PG/ML) and FSH was 20.4 (MIU/ML), HDL was
>>79, cholesterol 193, Chol/HDL 2.44. When blood was drawn I had finished
>>my period about one week prior. Due to my size and family history,
>>(5'1", 105 pounds, white, grandmother with severe osteo and mother with
>>heart disease), the doctor has recommended prempro, even though I had a
>>breast biopsy 6 years ago - it turned out to be an abcess.
>>
>>My questions:
>>What are the relevant values for menopause for estradiol and FSH, the
>>range that says I'm menopausal?
>>
>>Since my periods have always been regular and haven't stopped, can I
>>still get pregnant? I assume the answer is yes, but the doctor had her
>>PA tell me since I'm in menopause I can't. This is contrary to what I
>>have read.
>>
>>Thanks for any information you can provide.
>
>YOU ARE NOT IN YOUR MENOPAUSE. By defintion you are not in your
>menopause as you are still having regular periods. By definition your
>periods should have ceased for a year before menopause can be diagnosed.
>However, you may be in your 'Climacteric' (the period leading up to your
>menopause). There are times in your climacteric when HRT is advised and
>this is probably what your doctor is talking about.
>
>The cholesterol and HDL are of no proven value indiagnosing menopause
>(especially at the age of 46). However, they may be of value in
>determing your future cardiac risk which HRT may prevent. This is the
>area of a primary health care physician so you should speak to him/her
>about this. The low estrogen levels and high FSH levels are suggestive
>of climacteric and impending menopause but can be caused at a certain
>very small time in a normal premenopausal woman's cycle. If you are
>still menstruating regularly, then it is worth repeating the test at
>another time in your cycle.
>
>If you are still menstruating you should assume that you can still get
>pregnant and use contraception.
>
>--
>Dr Thomas Ind MB BS MD MRCOG
>St George Hospital
>Kogarah
>Sydney
>NSW 2217
>AUSTRALIA
>
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