Which test is best to tell you if you’re in
Perimenopause?
There isn’t one.
You have to go off your symptoms, your age and how you’re feeling. I know that can feel frustrating! But this is why you need to educate yourself as your first line of defence.
The average age a woman starts experiencing symptoms is 40-45 years old but I see it younger and older in practice.
We see women as
young as 35 with symptoms (especially post-baby) and women as old as 48 before their first symptoms show up.
Symptoms could be...
- Poor sleep
- Weight gain
- Irregular or changing periods
- Less ovulation
- Low progesterone
- Mood swings
- Brain fog
- Memory feels off
- Hot flashes
- Heart palpitations
- Low libido
- Vaginal dryness
- Skin dryness + changes
- Digestion
changes
- Hair loss
YES, there are great tests to help you understand your symptoms and struggles in Perimenopause like...
- A full blood panel
- Gut and stool testing like the GI Map test
- Mineral and heavy metal testing like the HTMA
- DUTCH hormone testing - NOTE this one isn't for everyone
during this stage - especially if your period is irregular
but there is no one test to "diagnose" you in Perimenopause. There is no one test that will work for every woman.
AND beyond that, there is no point in investing in testing unless you also understand the WHY behind what we're
testing.
Taking the best care of your body in this period of time means mastering your lifestyle, habits, nutrition, exercise and stress management and educating yourself along with tracking your symptoms vs. dismissing them.