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When you think of menopause, you might automatically think of hot flashes and mood swings. While a drop in estrogen (which occurs during menopause) certainly causes these symptoms, another notable change many women experience during menopause is weight gain. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, women gain an average of five pounds during menopause. Some women might gain as much as 15 to 25 pounds. Learning how to fight potential weight gain now can make it easier to maintain your body weight for overall better health.
But, levels of both estrogen and FSH normally go up and down during your menstrual cycle. So, these test results alone cannot be used to predict or confirm menopause. Levels of two other female hormones, progesterone and luteinizing hormone (LH), also rise and fall during your menstrual cycle. Progesterone levels drop after menopause, and LH levels go up (see chart below).