What does menopausal status mean?
Women can be in three different stages of menopause; pre-menopausal (regular period), peri-menopausal (irregular period), or post-menopausal (no longer having periods). Some treatments, such as chemotherapy, may bring about early menopause, especially in women close to the average menopausal age. However, this early menopause is sometimes temporary and so it is important, especially for younger women, to be sure of your menopausal status before deciding on further treatments. A doctor will determine whether you have gone into permanent menopause by testing the levels of the following hormones; estrogen, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH). Some treatments, such as aromatase inhibitors, can only be given to post-menopausal women.
