Which laboratory blood test is used to diagnose menopause?

The diagnosis of menopause is primarily confirmed through elevated levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) in the blood. During the transition into menopause, the ovaries begin to fail, leading to reduced estrogen production. As a response, the pituitary gland increases the secretion of FSH in an attempt to stimulate the ovaries, which are no longer responding effectively.

High levels of FSH typically indicate that the body is in a postmenopausal state, as the ovaries stop producing estrogen and FSH levels remain elevated. In a woman who is pre-menopausal, FSH levels fluctuate with the menstrual cycle, but a consistently high FSH level is indicative of menopause.

While Luteinizing Hormone (LH) levels, estrogen levels, and progesterone levels can provide additional context regarding ovarian function and hormonal balance, FSH is considered the most reliable indicator for diagnosing menopause. Elevated estrogen or progesterone levels can sometimes complicate the picture, and LH is not as specific for menopause diagnosis. Overall, FSH levels remain the primary focus of laboratory testing for this purpose.