Hormonal changes develop when a woman is pregnant; however, women who are experiencing symptoms of menopause have fluctuating hormones as well. The problem is that because there are symptoms common to both conditions, it can be difficult to distinguish between the two. Sleep problems, headaches, bloating, constipation, food cravings, breast tenderness, bladder control and mood swings are all common complaints during pregnancy and menopause. Here's some information on tell if the symptoms are caused by pregnancy or menopause.
Instructions
1. Familiarize yourself with the symptoms of each, especially if you are approaching 50. See your doctor for an accurate diagnosis. Your doctor will order blood tests and perform other routine lab tests to confirm whether you are pregnant or experiencing symptoms of menopause. Pregnancy can usually be diagnosed within 2 to 3 weeks following conception. The presence of the human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone in the blood or urine is the test used to confirm pregnancy. Once the fertilized egg implants in the uterus, the body begins to produce this hormone.
2. Ask your doctor to order a simple blood test used to measure the amount of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) produced by the pituitary gland, particularly if a pregnancy test comes up negative but symptoms persist. Very high doses of FSH usually indicate that a woman is in menopause. A doctor may order additional lab studies--as well as consider a woman's other symptoms--before diagnosing the onset of menopause.
3. Pay attention to the timing of any abdominal cramping. During the early weeks of pregnancy, the stretching uterus causes cramps. In much the same way, women who usually experienced cramping during their menstrual cycles often continue to get cramps during perimenopause, which is the first stage of menopause. Even though a woman is no longer ovulating, her body may continue to go through a hormonal cycle. See your gynecologist if cramps persist for more than a year after periods stop.
4. Keep a careful eye on any spotting. You may think it's only a light period, but if the duration is shorter than usual you could be pregnant. Spotting occurs in some pregnant women about 10 to 14 days after fertilization. Spotting during menopause is not uncommon either, as hormonal changes cause the vagina to decease in size. In both cases, spotting should gradually taper off. Take a home pregnancy test and then schedule an appointment with your doctor regardless of the result.
5. Don't ignore the symptom of fatigue. Progesterone levels rise in those first weeks of pregnancy making you feel extremely tired. Lower blood sugar levels and increased blood flow can also drain you of energy when you are pregnant. Fatigue should diminish during the second trimester. When it comes to the role of hormones, the opposite is true for menopause. The drop in estrogen and progesterone levels during menopause can cause fatigue. Being awakened by night sweats doesn't help the quality of sleep either.
6. Consider your emotional state. Mood swings are common during the first trimester of pregnancy. Increased fatigue in addition to headaches and elevated hormone levels can make you feel irritable. Your emotional state can improve for a while after those first few weeks of pregnancy as your body adjusts, but mood may dip again in your final trimester as you get closer to giving birth. Keep in mind that just because you may cry easily these days doesn't mean that you are pregnant. Changing moods during menopause are also attributed to fluctuating hormones. As levels of estrogen and progesterone go up and down, so can your mood. How long these symptoms of menopause last can differ from one woman to the next. Keep in mind that other life changes during the middle years can overwhelm a woman creating mood swings.
Tags: during menopause, symptoms menopause, weeks pregnancy, doctor order, emotional state, estrogen progesterone
