Diagnosing Menopause: Why We Don't Require Lab Tests at Felix

The menopause transition is a significant phase in life that can bring about lots of new experiences and questions about health and well-being. Hormonal fluctuations during menopause can cause symptoms like hot flashes or vaginal dryness, leaving many to wonder if tracking these fluctuations can help with managing symptoms. 

Menopause Isn't a Disease – It's a Natural Phase of Life

First off, it's key to understand that menopause isn't a sickness that needs finding and fixing. It's a normal stage in life. Our focus at Felix is on easing the tough symptoms that can come with menopause – not treating menopause itself like it's a problem.

Why Is There No Lab Work for Menopause at Felix?

At Felix, we don't use blood tests to figure out if someone is going through menopause or to decide on hormone treatments, and there's a good reason for that. This decision is based on guidelines from the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC) and Choosing Wisely Canada. They say that if you're at the age when menopause usually happens and you're having common symptoms, there's no need for tests to measure your hormone levels. Instead, understanding whether it's menopause comes from talking about your symptoms and looking at your health history.

Why is it important to not rely on lab work? 

Interestingly, the intensity and how often you have menopause symptoms does not correlate with the levels of hormones like follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) or estradiol. Just because a hormone test shows high FSH doesn't mean it tells the whole story of your menopause experience. Making decisions based solely on these numbers could mean missing out on treatments that could really help with difficult symptoms.

The best way to figure out how to help you goes beyond just lab test results. It involves your healthcare practitioner getting to know you—listening to what you're experiencing and understanding your health history. If decisions were made only based on hormone levels, there's a risk of not fully grasping what you're dealing with, which could leave you without the right support for those troubling symptoms. It's crucial that care is tailored to you, focusing on your individual needs, not just numbers on a lab report.

Supporting You Through Care

Felix healthcare practitioners are trained to identify and manage menopause symptoms, as well as to pinpoint anything requiring further care. This approach ensures that every individual receives the care and attention they need, focusing on symptom relief and overall well-being. By moving away from the notion of menopause as a disease requiring lab diagnosis, we embrace a more holistic and understanding approach to care. 

At Felix, we understand how important it is to feel in control of your health care and we aim to provide you with exceptional support that aligns with the latest medical guidelines.

Our menopause informed healthcare practitioners are always willing to talk about the symptoms you’re experiencing, because we know how challenging they can be.