The frequency and severity of menopausal symptoms do not correlate to the levels of either follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or serum estradiol. Reproductive estrogen levels are typically much higher than required to reduce symptoms. Management with hormone therapy is based on using the lowest effective dose to reduce symptoms to an acceptable level. Relying on elevated FSH to make a diagnosis may result in women being denied effective therapy for disruptive symptoms; use of an unreliable test may in this way contribute to less than optimal care. Using blood levels to adjust hormone therapy may result in higher doses of hormone therapy than are needed to reduce and manage symptoms.
Conditions: Menopause, postmenopausal women, hysterectomy
Procedures: Hormone levels, estradiol, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FHS), luteinizing hormone (LH)
Treatments: Hormone therapy
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