FSH of 56 not post-menopausal??

[Nancy T]

I am 51 years old and just got tested for FSH for the first time, as I'm going to be in a vaccine study where you must not get pregnant. I haven't had a period for four years but have occasionally had tiny bits of extremely irregular spotting.

The study people said that for their purposes, you have to have an FSH of 60 to be considered postmenopausal. Mine is only 56. (I can still be in the study--it just means that I have to use two forms of birth control even though my husband had a vasectomy in 1986!)

Anyone know what FSH level is GENERALLY considered postmenopausal? Just curious. I've googled all over the place and can't find anything that talks specifically about FSH numbers. (They said that my gynecologist would say I'm postmenopausal with a value of 56, but for study purposes that's not good enough.)

Thanks,

Nancy T.

[bab1067]

They have probably set that number as the cutoff number in their study. They can't risk someone getting pregnant who somehow slipped through the cracks who was supposed to have been in menopause and is now in a vaccine trial with god knows what side effects vs what COVID -19 does. Postmenopausal values are 25.8 to 134.8. I would tell them your two forms of birth control are your spouse's vasectomy and condoms, if you want to be in the study.
https://www.labcorp.com/tests/004309/follicle-stimulating-hormone-fsh

[specialmom]

Hi bab1067, welcome to the forum. Thanks for your helpful info!