Does anyone know what is considered the FSH range to show perimenopause?

I am going to tell you what my dr. told me a couple of days ago after me pestering her( she is very nice though) about the exact ranges they go by. My FSH was 3.4 back in July which at the time she said I was perimenopausal. I have had a rough few mo. with extreme sensations of menopause daily I went back a couple of weeks ago and FSH was 17.5. Went back because my periods which were becoming irregular really started to be all over the mo. She said Iwas still normal. Couldn't understand this seing as how 1 particular site said anything above a 10-12 is inicative of ovaries failing. So I called again and said what are you considering normal, she was very nice seeing as I'm sure she remembers me well since I was in her office balling cause I felt so bad. She said "you are almost there, as if i was in labor and she was encouraging me to finish the race" anything above 20 they consider menopausal. So what I think I've learned is there is no inbetween in these ranges your either "normal" or menopausal when normal really isn't "normal" does that make sense? I had my estrogen tested also and she said it was "normal" I thought normal I am having hotflashes every min. however during that phone call I pushed for more info. there also and she said I was postmenopausal in 2 of the "phases" and 2 points away from postmenopausal in the other phase. So because i was 2 points above the bottom # this was now considered normal she then said I was on the very low end of "normal". My estro. was 32. I hope I didn't confuse you I do that to myself sometimes it is all hard to understand. HUGS Mikki

My doctor sent me for a whack of tests, including this one, last spring. When he reviewed the results with me, he just went down the list saying, "Normal. Normal. Normal... Makes me wonder why I sent you"

Very reassuring at the time, but later I wondered if they were normal for normal women, peri, menopausal, post... in other words, he didn't say what the numbers were and didn't put them in any sort of context.

My gyno's sending me for the same tests plus more, so I just looked it up.

earlymenopause.com/tests.htm

I actually requested a copy of my blood work which shows what the normal ranges are. I went for day 3 testing which is follicular and normal was anything under 10.2, midcycle was up to 33 and postmenopausal was 23 and up. Don't know if that helps but it should.

Also, dont' be afraid to request a copy of your blood work. Its good to have so you know where you are at.

Getting copies of your blood work is good advice. I've been asking for copies for years. I just found a copy recently from 2000, when I first started discovering that all of my symptoms over the years were probably hormonal since no Dr. could find anything wrong with me. Anyway, at the time, they said my levels were normal, and I took their word for it. Well, now after all the years of research I've been doing, I now know that the levels were not "normal", they were low. How frustrating, all these years of suffering when maybe there could have been some help after all. Although, I still can't find a Dr. that knows enough about hormones to help me, so I continue to suffer, like many of you. But at least now I'm 98% sure it's hormonal, (the health anxiety part of me still tries to convince myself something really bad is wrong) My period is due in a few days so this week hasn't been fun. It's strange, the day before and day of I get this burst of energy and get alot done, so I look forward to those 2 days, but then all falls apart from the end of my period through ovulation. Isn't it fun?!! I thought it sounded like you were almost there sunflowermmh from your levels. I hope it won't be much longer for you!!
God Bless You All,
Faith