Are menopause test kits worthwhile?
Every day, about 6,000 U.S. women begin to experience hot flashes, night sweats and irregular menstrual cycles that signal the onset of menopause.
Many women also report trouble sleeping, mood swings, brain fog, weight gain, changes to their libido, skin and hair. But they get little help from their doctors because so few are trained in this poorly studied area of medicine.
Enter menopause kits, which are in great demand among the growing number of women determined to learn whether an end to their reproductive years is at hand. With over-the-counter and online kits going for $30 to more than $500, it is a very lucrative market.
Are they worth the cost? Dr. Rebecca M. Sauer, a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist who leads the new UCI Health menopause program, has her doubts.
The kits, which detect levels of certain hormones in urine, may indicate fluctuations consistent with perimenopause, the first phase of what can be a seven to-15-year process for a woman's menstrual cycles to stop.
However, Sauer notes, even the most expensive tests may not provide all the information a patient would need. Here, she discusses what patients need to know.
What are menopause test kits, anyway?
Menopause kits usually test for basic hormones, especially follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which is produced by the pituitary gland in women to stimulate the ovaries to produce estrogen. Some kits also test for additional hormones, which may provide insights into FSH hormone production and ovulation.
How do the tests work and how long does it take to get results?
Urine tests are used to detect the presence of FSH and other key hormones. It generally takes about 30 minutes to get results.
Can menopause test kits diagnose menopause?
No. While the kits can accurately detect certain hormone levels, they aren't like a pregnancy test, which provides a yes or no answer. Results of these hormone tests by themselves aren't enough to diagnose menopause.
For most women, that diagnose requires that menstrual cycles have ceased for a period of at least 12 months. But for people who have had their uterus or ovaries removed, blood tests are needed to estimate their menopausal status. This testing and determination should be done by a qualified healthcare provider.
How should one prepare for menopause testing?
Knowing the limits of menopause testing kits is important. They cannot provide a single diagnosis or guide therapies.They can provide information of interest to a patient or individual but not for clinical assessment.
What other hormones do the kits check for?
Some kits also test for luteinizing hormone, which is a progesterone marker called PdG, as well as an estrogen marker called E3G. It's important to understand the role of each hormone in a typical menstrual cycle and as a woman approaches menopause.
Unlike some medical conditions, such as diabetes or a thyroid disorder, a single test is not enough to diagnose menopause or determine that treatment is necessary.
"These kits are not necessary for a patient to talk about their medical issues and advocate for themselves," Sauer says. "It's important to see a health provider who is experienced in perimenopause and menopause to address their concerns:'
To learn more or schedule a consultation with Dr. Rebecca E. Sauer, call 714-456-2911.
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