Serum follicle stimulating hormone and estradiol in peri/postmenopausal women attending Siriraj Menopause Clinic: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVES To determine serum levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Estradiol (E) in peri/postmenopausal women attending the menopause clinic. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective descriptive study. SETTING Siriraj Menopause Clinic, Gynecologic Endocrinology Unit, Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital. STUDY POPULATION Peri/postmenopausal women attending Siriraj Menopause Clinic from January 1994 to December 2003. MATERIAL AND METHOD Medical records of women who had a blood test for FSH and/or E2 prior to hormonal therapy were reviewed. RESULTS During a 10 year period, there were 116 eligible patients who could be classified into perimenopausal (31 cases), natural postmenopausal (43 cases), and surgical postmenopausal (32 cases) groups. Age at registration of perimenopausal (47.87 +/- 4.38 yr) and surgical postmenopausal (48.06 +/- 6.49 yr) groups were younger than that of the natural postmenopausal group (55.74 +/- 6.80 yr). The perimenopausal group, who still had regular menstruation, was the youngest. The average FSH level of 60.46 +/- 33.15 mIU/mL was not different among groups. The estradiol level of perimenopausal (79.05 +/- 83.62 pg/mL) and surgical postmenopausal (63.05 +/- 136.39 pg/mL) groups were significantly higher than that of natural postmenopausal (25.05 +/- 37.663 pg/mL) group (p = 0.001). Serum level of FSH or E2 was not correlated with age or years since menopause. There was significant but minimal negative correlation between serum levels of FSH and E2. CONCLUSION Serum FSH and/or E2 levels are not accurate enough by themselves to rule in or rule out perimenopause. The authors suggested that clinicians should diagnose perimenopause based on menstrual history and age, without relying on laboratory testing.