There is a lot of misinformation regarding the actual diagnosis of menopause. Most women and sometimes doctors will rely on the result of a blood test called FSH which can be increased when the ovaries have stopped working. An elevated level of FSH and will confirm the diagnosis of menopauses. The problem is that many women start having symptoms before the blood test changes. What is important for clinicians and for the patients themselves is to treat the symptoms arising at the time of the menopause and not the result of the blood test. If you are experiencing symptoms that are not usual for you, you should talk to your doctor about the possibility of hormonal changes even if your blood tests are normal. Many women remain untreated because their symptoms are dismissed and live quite miserably when a specialist opinion could dramatically improve their quality of life.
