Perimenopause Blood Test & Hormone Test

Perimenopause Panel

Measure hormones that impact your menstrual cycle and reproductive health as a way to kickstart an informative conversation with your healthcare provider. For women 45 years and older. Read more

Test details

Sample type:

Blood

Preparation:

If you are having menstrual cycles, it is best to have your sample collected on cycle days 2, 3 or 4 (cycle day 1 is the first day of your period). If you are not having menstrual cycles, the test can be performed at your convenience. You do not need to do anything special to prepare for the sample collection. Fasting is not required for this test.

Test type: In Person

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$129.00

+ $6.00 Physician Service Fee

Quantity

What

The Perimenopause Panel measures hormones including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, luteinizing hormone (LH), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), to help give you insights about your hormone levels.

Who

Women ages 45 and over who are beginning to have changes in their menstrual cycle, have stopped menstruating, or are experiencing symptoms like hot flashes. Must be 18+ years of age to purchase.

How

Blood

Where

Find a location near you

Schedule an appointment, then visit a Quest Diagnostics patient service center location.

About the Test

The Perimenopause Panel measures follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, luteinizing hormone (LH), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in the blood to help determine if you’re entering or are already in the perimenopause transition phase. This panel may be helpful for women who have a history of irregular menstrual periods and a negative pregnancy test to help you and your doctor decide next steps for handling any symptoms you may be experiencing.

The Perimenopause Panel measures a different combination of hormone levels that commonly change during a woman’s transition period, including follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, luteinizing hormone (LH), and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). During the perimenopause, hormone levels can vary greatly.

FSH is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates the ovaries to produce eggs, but it also controls the menstrual cycle. With aging, estrogen levels decrease and FSH levels increase. This test measures your level of FSH. High levels can indicate that you have begun the menopause transition. Irregular periods, hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and changes in the skin or hair can all be symptoms of high FSH levels.

Estradiol is the primary and most potent form of the hormone estrogen. Estrogen is first produced at puberty. Estradiol levels fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle during your reproductive years but begin to decline during the menopause transition. Most menopausal symptoms like hot flashes occur due to the drop in estrogen levels. A low level of estradiol can indicate the start of the menopause transition.

Luteinizing hormone is another sex hormone produced by the pituitary gland that helps to control the menstrual cycle and triggers ovulation. As estrogen levels decrease with aging, LH levels increase. High levels of LH may indicate the beginning of menopause.

The Thyroid Function Test measures thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in the blood to evaluate thyroid function, which is critical for regulating weight, energy, body temperature, mood, and overall health. If your TSH levels are abnormally high or low, this may indicate that your thyroid is either underactive (hypothyroidism) or overactive (hyperthyroidism). During menopause, TSH levels can also rise as estrogen decreases. And those with undiagnosed hypothyroidism can have symptoms that are similar to menopause. If you have severe symptoms, it may be an indication of an underactive thyroid. If test results identify abnormal TSH levels, free thyroxine (T4) blood levels will be tested using your submitted sample at no additional cost to you to provide information needed to help diagnose hypothyroidism.

The following signs and symptoms may indicate perimenopause or menopause:

Hot flashes or flushes (most common)
Irregular menstrual cycles
Insomnia
Weight gain or bloating
Mood changes
Breast tenderness or pain
Depression
Headaches

You must be a female 45 years or older to purchase this test on questhealth.com. See below for the appropriate panel based on age and symptoms. Purchases not permitted in: AK, AZ, HI.

You do not need to do anything special to prepare for the sample collection. Fasting is not required for this test.

After you provide your specimen, it generally takes up to 5 business days to process and release your test results. However, processing times may vary. Your test results will be available in a clear and easy-to-read report. If your results differ from expected ranges, you may receive an alert call from an independent healthcare coordinator. Independent physicians are available to discuss questions or concerns you may have regarding your results. This physician may be able to prescribe menopause-symptom and/or hypothyroidism specific treatment, if appropriate.

The stages of menopause are usually clinically diagnosed by a healthcare provider based on your symptoms and history. To help you prepare for a discussion with your provider, a template is provided below for you to record the type of symptoms, duration, and severity. Use this, along with your results, to continue the conversation with your doctor.

Click here to download a printable version of our symptom tracker.

Symptoms may include:

Hot flashes
Irregular menstrual cycle
Insomnia
Weight gain or bloating
Mood changes
Breast tenderness or pain
Depression
Headaches

If thyroid (TSH) is abnormal, free thyroxine (T4) is also performed on the sample you have already provided.

How it works

In-person
In-home sample collection

Buy a lab test & schedule an appointment

No doctor visit required for purchase. Book a visit to one of 2000+ Quest locations.

Schedule an appointment

Visit Quest for sample collection

Complete your test sample collection during your scheduled appointment.

Get fast results online

Access results online as soon as they’re available.

View results

Get physician support

Discuss your results with an independent physician at no extra cost.

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+ in-home sample collection

If in-home service is available in your area, purchase for an additional $55 fee.

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Schedule an appointment

After you make a purchase, Quest Mobile will contact you to schedule an in-home sample collection appointment.

In-home sample collection

A Quest Mobile phlebotomist will collect your sample and deliver it to Quest Diagnostics.

Get fast results online

Access results online as soon as they’re available. Discuss your results with an independent physician at no extra cost.

View results

In-home sample collection is not available in all locations.
Is in-home sample collection available near me?

Menopause is a natural part of life, but it can be an incredibly challenging time for women. Menopause is often referred to as a catch-all term for the entire menopause transition, but it does involve several stages. Knowing what to look for during each stage can help you better understand your body and seek the right support.

FAQs

What is the difference between early menopause, perimenopause, menopause, and post menopause?

Perimenopause is a transition phase where the ovaries start to make less hormones and menopausal symptoms tend to begin. This stage can last anywhere from 2 to 10 years, with an average of five years, and stops when menopause begins.

Menopause is the stage when a woman’s period stops. The ovaries no longer release eggs and estrogen levels become very low. Once a woman has not had a period for 12 straight months, she has gone through menopause. However, it is important to ensure that the lack of periods is not due to another reason (like abnormal thyroid function or the use of birth control pills.)

Early menopause means that you are entering this transition earlier than average. Most women enter perimenopause between the ages of 40 and 44 and enter menopause in their early 50s, however, some can begin earlier.

Post menopause is the time after a woman has gone through menopause. The symptoms that happen during menopause may start to fade away but could continue for a decade or longer in many women.

These tests are to help you and your doctor determine which stage of menopause you may be in or if you have another underlying health problem causing your symptoms.

How do I know if I am in menopause?

You are in perimenopause until you have had no periods for 12 consecutive months without any other underlying causes. Once that has occurred, you have transitioned to menopause. Only a physician can evaluate your symptoms and diagnose menopause.

Will symptoms like hot flashes go away once I have transitioned to menopause?

For most women, their symptoms like hot flashes last through perimenopause, and then subside once they’ve reached post menopause. If you are having symptoms, speak with your doctor about recommended therapies for your personal situation.

What if my menstrual period stops and then starts again?

Menopause is when you have no period for 12 full consecutive months. If one occurs any time short of 12 months, then you are still in perimenopause and the clock begins again. This transition can last anywhere from 2 to 10 years.

Can I use my FSA or HSA funds to purchase tests at questhealth.com?

You may be able to use your FSA or HSA funds to purchase lab tests at questhealth.com. Please review your FSA/HSA plan or check with a tax professional to confirm specific requirements for individual eligibility.

Tests purchased on questhealth.com are only for individuals who intend to pay directly for testing and do not want to submit a claim for reimbursement under their health insurance.

Perimenopause Panel

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