Menopause – a natural phase in a woman’s life. Perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause are the three stages in a woman’s life when the monthly period stops. This can occur in middle age when the body stops ovulating. The three-stage process includes:
- Perimenopause or menopause transition can start 8 to 10 years before menopause.
- Menopause is the time when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months.
- Postmenopause is the stage after menopause or after you have not had a period for 12 months or longer.
This article covers all the significant topics related to perimenopause such as the test cost, causes & symptoms of perimenopause, risk factors, and how to get tested for a perimenopause test.
- What is perimenopause?
- How long does perimenopause last?
- What causes perimenopause?
- Risk factors
- Perimenopause symptoms
- Complications
- Perimenopause test
- How is perimenopause treated?
- Lifestyle changes
- What is menopause?
- What is postmenopause?
- Provider locations
How much do the perimenopause tests cost?
The perimenopause test costs $99 in the US. Prior appointment isn’t required. You will get the results in your email in 2 to 3 business days after completing the procedure. Apart from this, doctor consultation is available for any kind of further treatment or medical advice.
The table below shows the perimenopause test provider and their prices. You can know more and book the test by clicking on the “Book Now” button.
Name of our Partner Labs | Book Online at Offer Price |
myLab Box(Home Test Kit)
| $99 |
Perimenopause test cost with insurance
Many insurance companies in the U.S. cover all the vital blood tests like perimenopause tests. However, the coverage provided by private health insurance companies and national health insurance programs like Medicare varies widely. Most of the health insurance policies cover perimenopause test costs only once or twice a year and when your physician orders more than twice in a year, you should pay the test cost out of pocket. So, you are recommended to check if your health insurance policy covers the perimenopause test cost.
Our perimenopause testing providers do not accept any kind of health insurance policy. However, they can provide you with an itemized receipt containing all the details viz the name of the test, code of the test, and CPT code which is necessary for insurance reimbursement purposes.
What is perimenopause?
The time during which the body makes the natural transition to menopause by marking the end of the reproductive years is referred to as perimenopause. Perimenopause has been called the change of life or transition period also called the menopausal transition. Perimenopause starts at different ages, but usually begins in the 40s and may start as early as the late 30s. A woman may exhibit several symptoms that are largely due to abnormal hormonal fluctuations during this period.
During perimenopause, the level of estrogen in the body rises and falls unevenly. The menstrual cycles may lengthen or shorten and may also experience menopause-like symptoms, like hot flashes, sleep problems, and vaginal dryness. However, treatments are available to help ease these symptoms. Perimenopause or menopausal transition lasts up till menopause or the point when the ovaries stop releasing eggs. In the last 1 to 2 years of perimenopause, many women have menopause symptoms.
How long does perimenopause last?
The length of each stage of the perimenopause can vary for each individual. The average length of perimenopause is 4 years, but in some cases, it may last only a few months or may continue for 10 years. Once a woman has gone through 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, she has officially reached menopause and the perimenopause period is over. But, if there are medications or medical conditions that may affect periods, it will be difficult to identify the specific stage of perimenopause.
What causes perimenopause?
Perimenopause is a natural process caused when the ovaries stop working. During childbearing years, estrogen and progesterone hormone levels rise and fall in a predictable pattern each month to enable conception and pregnancy. When a woman approaches her 40s and 50s, these hormone levels begin a gradual, unpredictable decline. Many of the symptoms or changes women experience during perimenopause are a result of decreasing estrogen.
Risk factors
Few factors make it more likely that you start perimenopause at an earlier age. It may include:
- In women who smoke, menopause occurs 1 to 2 years earlier than in women who do not smoke.
- Treatment for cancer with chemotherapy or pelvic radiation therapy is also linked to early menopause.
- A hysterectomy that removes the uterus, but not your ovaries, usually don’t cause menopause. A woman may no longer have periods, but the ovaries still produce estrogen. This surgery may cause menopause to occur earlier than average.
- Additionally, women with a family history of early menopause may experience early menopause themselves.
Perimenopause symptoms
- Hot flashes
- Irregular periods
- Breast tenderness
- Night sweats
- Sleep problems
- Weight gain
- Mood changes
- Vaginal dryness
- Vaginal pain
- Decreasing fertility
- Pain with sexual intercourse
- Loss of bone
- Changing cholesterol levels
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Joint and muscle aches
- Heavy sweating
- Urine leakage during coughing or sneezing
- Urinary urgency
Symptoms may vary among women, not all women experience all the symptoms of perimenopause to the same degree. And some women have almost no symptoms. As these symptoms may look like other conditions, it is essential to consult your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
Complications
- Bleeding between periods
- Bleeding that lasts longer than 7 days
- Extremely heavy bleeding
It is important to consult the doctor when you experience these signs. Because they may indicate that there is a problem with the reproductive system. And it requires diagnosis and treatment.
Perimenopause test
A doctor can make the diagnosis of perimenopause based on the symptoms. A blood test can be done to check hormone levels, but the hormone levels change during perimenopause. It can be helpful when several blood tests were done at different times for comparison. As perimenopause is a gradual transition no one test is enough to determine if a woman has entered perimenopause. Doctors consider many things, that include age, menstrual history, and what symptoms or body changes you are experiencing.
How is perimenopause treated?
Perimenopause doesn’t require treatment unless symptoms are bothersome. Treatments may include:
- Hormone therapy – Systemic estrogen therapy remains the most effective treatment option for relieving perimenopausal and menopausal hot flashes and night sweats. And it can also help prevent bone loss.
- Antidepressants can be used to stabilize moods or may be helpful for women who can’t take estrogen for health reasons. Antidepressants related to the class of drugs referred to as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may decrease hot flashes. This medication includes sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac), and paroxetine (Paxil).
- Gabapentin (Neurontin) – Although it is approved to treat seizures or chronic pain conditions, it helps to reduce hot flashes. And gabapentin is useful for women who can’t use estrogen therapy for health reasons and even for those with migraines.
- Vaginal estrogen – This is inserted directly into the vagina using a vaginal tablet, ring, or cream. It can help relieve the symptoms of vaginal dryness, urinary tract dysfunction, and discomfort with intercourse.
Lifestyle changes
Making certain healthy lifestyle choices may help ease some symptoms of perimenopause and make you feel better. This may include:
- Eat a healthy diet that includes vegetables, fruits, and whole grains
- Get at least 1,000-1,200 mg of calcium each day through your diet or supplement
- Exercise regularly
- Taking vitamin and calcium supplements
- Stop smoking
- Get more sleep
- Drink less alcohol
What is menopause?
Women are born with all of their eggs which are stored in their ovaries. These ovaries make the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which control the menstruation and the release of eggs (ovulation). Menopause takes place when the ovaries no longer release an egg every month and the menstruation stops. The end of a woman’s menstrual cycle is menopause. This occurs when a woman has not menstruated in 12 consecutive months. Usually, menopause begins between the ages of 45 and 55 but can develop before or after this age. And women can no longer become pregnant naturally.
Every woman’s menopause experience is different. When menopause occurs suddenly or over a shorter period symptoms are usually more severe. Conditions that impact the health of the ovary, like cancer, hysterectomy, or certain lifestyle choices (smoking) tend to increase the duration and severity of symptoms. Apart from this, the symptoms of perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause are the same. It is estimated that 75% of women experience hot flashes with menopause.
Common symptoms of menopause include:
- Insomnia
- Vaginal dryness
- Frequent urination
- Weight gain
- Anxiety
- Memory problems
- Reduced libido
- Dry skin, mouth, and eyes
- Headaches
- Racing heart
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Painful or stiff joints
- Reduced bone mass
- Less full breasts
- Hair thinning or loss
What is postmenopause?
Postmenopause is the period after a woman has not bled for an entire year. During this stage, menopausal symptoms may ease for many women. But some women continue to experience menopausal symptoms for a decade or longer after perimenopause. Once a woman is postmenopausal, the hormone levels will remain at a constant low level. She will no longer be able to become pregnant, and will not experience monthly menstrual cycles.
A woman can be at higher risk for the following conditions after menopause:
- Osteoporosis (a condition that causes the thinning of the bones)
- Cardiovascular disease
- Depression and other mental health conditions
- Changes in vaginal health like vaginal dryness
Medication, such as hormone therapy or healthy lifestyle changes and checking in with your doctor regularly, may reduce the risk of some of these conditions.
Provider Locations
Perimenopause tests can be done in any of the following locations by visiting the lab near you. To know the perimenopause test cost, refer to the first section of the article.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
Will insurance cover my testing cost?
No, insurance will not be covered in the billing. However, they will provide you with a receipt for insurance reimbursement purposes.
How should I book my appointment?
You can choose the most suitable provider from above and make an appointment by following the instructions mentioned by them.
Can I cancel my lab test order?
Yes, you can cancel your lab test order any time before your testing. A refund will be initiated after deducting the cancellation fee. However, cancellation is at the discretion of the provider.
Do the providers offer result interpretations?
Yes, a few providers may provide doctor consultation who will take you through the results and provide clarification if needed.
How do I receive my report?
To ensure your privacy, the test report will be mailed to you by the provider.
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