How to read test results for FSH and LH

[maddux417]

Whatever those initials mean. My Dr. ran blood tests the other day and I got the results but have NO idea what they mean. The nurse called me and told me they were normal and I asked if that meant normal for me at 49 or anyone at any age. She said age normal so I asked her where I stood in relation to the process of perimenopause. She said it looked like I was post-menopausal...which is really scary 'cause my periods are as regular as ever. Which leads me to believe that the 'nurse' doesn't have a clue. So, who here can guide me through the process of demystifying these results. I have a page full of numbers and no idea what they mean. Thanks in advance.

[ainfante]

Originally Posted by maddux417

Whatever those initials mean. My Dr. ran blood tests the other day and I got the results but have NO idea what they mean. The nurse called me and told me they were normal and I asked if that meant normal for me at 49 or anyone at any age. She said age normal so I asked her where I stood in relation to the process of perimenopause. She said it looked like I was post-menopausal...which is really scary 'cause my periods are as regular as ever. Which leads me to believe that the 'nurse' doesn't have a clue. So, who here can guide me through the process of demystifying these results. I have a page full of numbers and no idea what they mean. Thanks in advance.

Post your numbers and the range limits and we will help interpret them for you.

Andrea

[maddux417]

Thanks. I'll try to type this the way it looks on the paper. FSH 12.1 FOLLICULAR PHASE 3.5-12.5 MID-CYCLE PEAK 4.7-21.5 LUTEAL PHASE 1.7-7.7 POSTMENOPAUSAL 25.8-134.8 LH 11.8 FOLLICULAR PHASE 2.4-12.6 MID-CYCLE PEAK 14.0-95.6 LUTEAL PHASE 1.0-11.4 POSTMENOPAUSAL 7.7-58.8 PROLACTIN 7.6 3.4-24.1 TESTOSTERONE,TOTAL 27 0-82 TSH 0.95 0.27-4.20 I'm guessing that some of these numbers are just normal range references but I'm just baffled. I was two weeks past my period when this was taken if that plays any part in interpretation. Any help is appreciated.

[ainfante]

Originally Posted by maddux417

Thanks. I'll try to type this the way it looks on the paper. FSH 12.1 FOLLICULAR PHASE 3.5-12.5 MID-CYCLE PEAK 4.7-21.5 LUTEAL PHASE 1.7-7.7 POSTMENOPAUSAL 25.8-134.8 LH 11.8 FOLLICULAR PHASE 2.4-12.6 MID-CYCLE PEAK 14.0-95.6 LUTEAL PHASE 1.0-11.4 POSTMENOPAUSAL 7.7-58.8 PROLACTIN 7.6 3.4-24.1 TESTOSTERONE,TOTAL 27 0-82 TSH 0.95 0.27-4.20 I'm guessing that some of these numbers are just normal range references but I'm just baffled. I was two weeks past my period when this was taken if that plays any part in interpretation. Any help is appreciated.

what this tells me and I've read enough of these, trust me is #1 you are not ovulating #2 you are definitely perimenopause, you are not menopause cause you still have your period. You many at times not even get a period in some months like starting now or in the future. You are close to menopause though and your TSH is in the low normal ranges and TSH has to do with your thyroid. So what I would do is run a complete thyroid panel, antibodies, Free T4, Free T3 and another TSH together.

Hope this helps,

Andrea

[maddux417]

Andrea, Thanks so much for your expert evaluation. Since the Dr.'s office has deemed me 'normal' I don't know if they would be open to running more tests. The reason for the test in the first place is because of the hair loss I have experienced. I don't just mean on my head, although as I sit at my desk at work I feel like the christmas tree that Charlie Brown selected. My hair rains down on my desk, my clothes, my chair....But the most upsetting is the fact that I have almost no pubic hair left. It's kind of demoralizing. Anyway thanks again for the read,... and the ear. M.C.