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Menopause 101: What Tests to Ask Your Specialist About

October 24, 2014 By Ellen Dolgen Leave a Comment

As we get older, it seems like our visits to doctors become more and more frequent. An ache here, a pain there. Truth is, one way to reduce the number of doctor visits in perimenopause and menopause is to actually schedule a few crucial medical tests. That way, you can nip any pending medical conditions in the bud and get on with your, “I’m-not-gonna-let-this-hold-me-back” life.

Please note: This is not intended to be medical advice. Consult your menopause specialist about the best course of action to take, as every women has unique needs.

Did you know that menopause symptoms can mimic those of other conditions? According to the North American Menopause Society, these symptoms are similar to those of thyroid disease, for instance. Depending on your medical history, it may make sense to undergo medical tests to rule out such conditions.

Am I really in menopause?

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels are sometimes measured to confirm menopause. Because these levels vary, you can’t rely on a single test. If, after several tests, your FSH blood level is consistently 30 mIU/mL or higher, and you haven’t had your menstrual period for a year, you’re probably a member of the menopause club. Note: If you’re using certain hormone therapies (such as birth control pills), an FSH test is not valid. Some doctors prefer to test the Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) levels instead, because they are not affected by birth-control pills. During menopause, AMH levels are decreased.

Blood tests

If you’re still menstruating, your hormone panel (blood test) should be done during the first three days of your period. It can test for the following hormones:

DHEAS (DHEA sulfate) - a hormone that easily converts into other hormones, including estrogen and testosterone
Estradiol- the main type of estrogen produced in the body, secreted by the ovaries. If yours is low it can cause memory lapses, anxiety, depression, uncontrollable bursts of anger, sleeplessness, night sweats and more.
Testosterone - Free testosterone is unbound and metabolically active, and total testosterone includes both free and bound testosterone. Your ovaries’ production of testosterone maintains a healthy libido, strong bones, muscle mass and mental stability.
Progesterone- If yours is low it can cause irritability, breast swelling and tenderness, mood swings, “fuzzy thinking,” sleeplessness, water retention, PMS and weight gain.
TSH(thyroid-stimulating hormone) - If yours is irregular, you may need to have your Total T3 and Free T4 checked as well.

If you’re already in the midst of perimenopause or menopause, here are other important tests to consider:

Bone density

This test, also called a bone scan or DEXA scan, can reveal whether you have osteopenia or osteoporosis. When you enter perimenopause and menopause, the drop in estrogen can do a number on your bone mass. Don’t worry; the scan is quick and exposes you to very little radiation.

Cancer marker

CA-125 (cancer antigen 125) is a protein best known as a blood marker for ovarian cancer. It may be elevated with other malignant cancers, including those originating in the endometrium, fallopian tubes, lungs, breasts and gastrointestinal tract. If your test comes back positive, don’t panic; this test is notorious for producing false positives!

Cholesterol

Like your moods, cholesterol levels change in perimenopause and menopause. An excess of cholesterol can build up artery plaque, narrowing blood vessels and potentially causing a heart attack. A cholesterol panel usually includes checking your HDL (high-density lipoprotein or the good cholesterol), LDL (low-density lipoprotein or bad cholesterol) and triglycerides (molecules of fatty acids). You’ll need to fast for 12 hours before this test (a perfect time to step on the scale!).

Vitamin D3

This vitamin helps maintain normal blood levels of calcium and phosphorus, keeping your bones strong.

A friendly reminder

I’d be remiss if I didn’t remind you about your monthly breast self-exam and your annual mammogram. You also should schedule an annual checkup with your general physician, and an annual pelvic exam with your gynecologist. And, I hate to tell you, but if you’re 50 or older (45 for African Americans), you need to schedule a colonoscopy, according to the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.

And don’t forget to floss. Seriously. Regular dental checkups are important, too, as untreated gum infections can lead to more serious health issues. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, people with periodontal (gum) disease are almost twice as likely to have heart disease.

Remember that, when you’re in perimenopause and menopause, it’s important to not only focus on “down there,” but on your body as a whole. That includes your mental and emotional health as well. Now, more than ever, you need to take time to take care of you. So schedule your tests… then schedule a spa appointment.

Suffering in silence is OUT! Reaching out is IN!

Ellen Dolgen

Ellen Dolgen is an outspoken women’s health and wellness advocate, menopause awareness expert, author, and speaker. After struggling with her own severe menopause symptoms and doing years of research, Ellen resolved to share what she learned from experts and her own trial and error. Her goal was to replace the confusion, embarrassment, and symptoms millions of women go through–before, during, and after menopause–with the medically sound solutions she discovered. Her passion to become a “sister” and confidant to all women fueled Ellen’s first book, Shmirshky: the pursuit of hormone happiness. As a result of the overwhelming response from her burgeoning audiences and followers’ requests for empowering information they could trust, Ellen’s weekly blog Menopause MondaysTM, was born. Menopause MondaysTM is a platform from which Ellen reaches the true needs of her readers through varied and substantive discussions of menopause, women’s health, and the modern woman’s life today as a menopausal woman. Her weekly newsletter provides readers the most current menopause news and research. With her updates,women gain access and the knowledge needed to take charge of their health and happiness. Her motto is: Suffering in silence is OUT! Reaching out is IN! In addition to Ellen’s ever-growing social media presence, EllenDolgen.com has fast become “the place” on the web for informative and entertaining women’s menopause and wellness engagement. Ellen is #1 on Dr. Oz Sharecare.com Top 10 Social HealthMakers on Menopause. In 2012, 2013 and 2014, EllenDolgen.com/Menopause Mondays was named first on the list of the “Best Menopause Blogs” by Healthline. Ellen is also a regular contributor to over a dozen leading women’s health blogs. Ellen has founded a women’s health and wellness program that provides corporate education events for businesses, healthcare institutions, and other organizations. She produces and facilitates Menopause Mondays PartiesTM for organizations across the country. In addition, she works with pharmaceutical companies in helping them to have new point of view in order to better understand and address women’s health needs. Ellen chaired a social media roundtable for Novo Nordisk in 2012. In 2013, Ellen was a key spokesperson for GLAMTM (Great Life After Menopause), a non-branded campaign sponsored by Novo Nordisk. Ellen serves on the Community Advisory Board of Scripps Memorial Hospital, La Jolla and has chaired and served on various boards and committees for Fresh Start Women’s Foundation, San Diego Hospice, Brandeis University, Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, NARAL, the Phoenix Heart Ball, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Angel Charity for Children, Brewster Auxiliary, and Handmaker Home for the Aging. Ellen’s lifelong commitment to philanthropy through board representation, fundraising, and event organization continues with her founding of her weekly newsletter, Menopause MondaysTM, which promotes viable women’s health practices and wellbeing for women around the world. Ellen has appeared on the “TODAY Show”, “TODAY Kathie Lee & Hoda”, “The Katie Show,” “NBC Nightly News”, “The Rachael Ray Show,” “The Doctors,” Oprah Radio, Playboy Radio, NPR’s “Tell Me More,” Doctor Radio, and dozens of regional and national media outlets. In 2011, she appeared in a production of “The Vagina Monologues.” Ellen was one of the first regular contributors to debut on The Huffington Post’s “Huff/Post50,” which targets 116 million Americans over the age of 50. Ellen is the founder and president of Menopause MondaysTM and is a principal of Dolgen Ventures. Like Ellen Dolgen on Facebook, follow her on Twitter and Pinterest, connect with her on LinkedIn, Google+, and Klout, watch her videos on YouTube, and subscribe to her newsletter.

Put Out Those Cigarettes - Smoking During Menopause

April 25, 2014 By Ellen Dolgen 4 Comments

If you’re smoking during menopause, you may want to put down that cigarette. Almost every day, there are studies being released about what can happen to you if you smoke and are dealing with perimenopause or menopause. The information may help you quit smoking that much faster.

In a recent research study published online in the journal Menopause, researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania report the first evidence showing that smoking causes earlier signs of menopause. The study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Perelman School of Medicine Translational and Clinical Research Center, and the Perelman School of Medicine Center of Excellence for Diversity.

In an announcement of the study’s findings, it was noted that although previous studies have shown smoking hastens menopause by approximately one to two years regardless of race or genetic background, this study is the first of its kind to demonstrate that genetic background is significantly associated with a further increased risk of menopause in some white women who smoke.

In the case of heavy smokers, this can be up to nine years earlier than average in white women with certain genetic variations. Genetic variation refers to diversity in gene frequencies, and can refer to differences between individuals or to differences between populations. In this case, we’re talking about differences between individual women in the study. The genetic variants were present in 62 percent of white women in the study population.

“We already know that smoking causes early menopause in women of all races, but these new results show that if you are a white smoker with these specific genetic variants, your risk of entering menopause at any given time increases dramatically,” said the study’s lead author, Samantha F. Butts, MD, MSCE (yes, that’s really her last name), assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Penn Medicine.

Smoking during menopause can also make menopausal symptoms more severe. Dr. Sarah Nyante of the US National Cancer Institute just released a study that found that women smokers are 19% more susceptible to develop breast cancer after menopause than women who don’t smoke after menopause.

Smokefree.gov has four more great reasons to consider entering a smoke-free zone.

Your Skin Ages FAST

In addition to its effects on menopause, smoking can do a number on your skin. Smoking can cause skin to be dry, lose elasticity; you may get wrinkles sooner and even stretch marks. A smoker’s skin tone may become dull and grayish. Your teeth will yellow and your fingers will have a brown tinge.

Belly Fat

Most women find that they suddenly start gaining weight and their pants shrink during menopause. As if that is not frustrating enough, many smokers find that those menopausal muffin tops are bigger than their non-smoking friends. Smokers also have less muscle tone than non-smokers and it’s harder for them to control diabetes.

Lower estrogen levels

Did you know that smoking lowers your estrogen levels? There are so many other symptoms of low estrogen for example, dry skin, thinning hair, and memory problems. Women who smoke have a harder time getting pregnant and having a healthy baby.

Other smoke-related health problems

The average age for onset of menopause (when you have been without a period for 12 consecutive months) is 51. According to the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), during and after menopause, your risk of other health conditions rises, and smoking increases that risk even more, including: Heart disease , stroke, breast cancer and diabetes. There are so many other smoke –related health issues that you put yourself at increased risk for like: decreased bone density, rheumatoid arthritis, gum disease, ulcers, post-surgical complications, and depression.

The good news

Now are you ready to quit? Margery L.S. Gass, MD, NCMP, executive director of NAMS, has some good news to share with us. She notes that women who quit smoking before age 40 erase most of the risk of early death. The risk of stroke and heart disease drops quickly after you stop smoking. (The risk of cancers drops more slowly.) Women who quit by age 50 buy back about six years, and those who quit by age 60 gains about four years of the decade they’d lose if they didn’t quit.

When you add up all the risks that could happen when you’re smoking and going through menopause, it could feel like you’ve got a losing hand in poker. If you want to better your odds, then it might be a good idea to quit smoking. Gamblers say that you can’t beat the house. And if you want to stay in that house for a long time and oh, say, meet your future grandchildren, putting out that cigarette that you’re about to light up right now, is just one step towards a smoke-free future.

Suffering in silence is OUT! Reaching out is IN!