Which hormone is ordered to determine menopause?

FSH, or Follicle Stimulating Hormone, is a key hormone that is often ordered to determine menopause status. During the transition to menopause, there is a decline in ovarian function, which leads to decreased production of estrogen. In response to this decline, the pituitary gland increases the secretion of FSH to stimulate the ovaries. Therefore, elevated levels of FSH in the blood can indicate that a woman is entering menopause, as the body is attempting to compensate for the failing ovarian function.

In contrast, while estrogen levels would be useful in understanding a woman's hormonal status, they typically decrease during menopause, making them less reliable for diagnosing the transition. LH levels also increase as menopause approaches, but FSH is the primary hormone used to assess ovarian reserve and function. Prolactin is unrelated to menopause and is more significant in assessing other conditions related to breast health and reproductive function. Therefore, FSH is the most definitive hormone among the choices for determining menopause.