Menopause Test Kits: How They Work, Benefits and Choosing (2024)

Is it menopause or is it something else? Menopause can come with a whole host of unique symptoms and many people are looking for answers. Although there’s no true test for menopause, menopause test kits are becoming a popular solution. Read on to learn how these kits work, what they measure, and what they can mean for the menopause transition.

What Is a Menopause Test Kit?

A menopause test kit is a hormone test from home that usually tests for the presence of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). It’s important to note, though, that menopause can only be diagnosed by a clinician and you cannot establish a diagnosis of menopause from an at-home test alone.

Menopause test kits are not meant to replace medical care but are an interesting tool you can use if you are curious about your health. We can learn a lot about our bodies through hormone testing and research links changing FSH levels to perimenopause and menopause. When FSH rises and estrogen declines, it may indicate a transition into perimenopause or menopause. Menopause test kits can help you make sense of your symptoms and give you valuable insights into your health to help guide effective treatment.

How Menopause Test Kits Work

Now that you know what a menopause test kit is, let’s take a look at how they work.

What Does a Menopause Test Kit Measure?

Not all menopause test kits are created equal, but most are a type of FSH test and measure FSH levels in menopause. Different tests work in different ways and some hormone tests from home measure multiple hormones like FSH, LH, and Estrogen levels to determine your menopause transition stage.

Understanding Hormones: FSH, LH, and Estrogen Levels

Your menstrual cycle is controlled by the hormones FSH, LH, Estrogen, and Progesterone and how they interact with one another. In short, as a dominant follicle begins to develop, it starts to produce estradiol (E2), the dominant form of estrogen that helps regulate the menstrual cycle. Estradiol levels peak right before ovulation and drop after. Like the name suggests, FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) stimulates developing follicles which in turn help to produce estrogen. LH is also responsible for triggering the process of ovulation. While follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is mainly responsible for follicular development but also helps boost estrogen levels ahead of ovulation.

It’s a complicated dance involving predictable rises and falls in hormone levels every month. When those fluctuations become less predictable, you may start to experience menopausal symptoms.

How Hormone Fluctuations Indicate Menopause

As your ovaries stop producing eggs, hormone levels naturally fluctuate and then drop. This often leads to unpredictable cycles and other menopausal symptoms and the transition can last two to eight years.

During this time, estrogen and progesterone levels gradually decrease while FSH and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels may gradually increase. FSH is produced in the pituitary gland, and as your ovarian follicles decrease naturally estrogen drops as well. FSH levels then ramp up in an attempt to trick your body into making estrogen. Hormone FSH levels in menopause are often rising for this very reason and this is what menopause test kits are attempting to capture.

Types of Menopause Test Kits

At-Home Menopause Test Kits vs. Lab Tests

Most menopause test kits are measuring FSH levels in menopause. An at-home hormone test will use urine to test changing FSH levels across several days. Based on the average of these results, and other personal factors, they will provide a guide of where you sit on the reproductive timeline relative to menopause. They give some insight into your hormone levels and offer the convenience of a hormone test from home.

Lab tests offer a greater sense of accuracy and reliability because the sample undergoes sophisticated analysis using advanced techniques and equipment. The results are highly accurate and generally considered more reliable than home tests. Advancements in testing technology though have improved the accuracy of some types of tests. For example, Mira’s own research has found that hormone levels can be just as accurately measured in urine as compared to blood testing at a doctor’s office.

Some hormone tests from home will need a blood sample and some hormone testing kits will need a urine sample. The difference between these tests is simply the type of sample used and therefore the collection and detection method. Blood tests are usually more accurate than urine tests, but it can depend largely on the user and home tests can only account for so much.

Digital Hormone Trackers: An Emerging Trend

Emerging technologies have been on the rise for fertility tracking and there are a variety of “fertility devices” that range from wearable temperature detectors to rings that track heart rate variability (among others things). Digital hormone trackers are an emerging trend that hopes to close the gap in hormone testing and empower users to take charge of their hormone health, regardless of their fertility goals.

Digital hormone trackers like Mira’s hormone monitor can help connect the dots between your hormones and health. More than just a period and fertility tracking app, the Mira device allows you to track your hormones, view your hormone curve, record other health details, and get advanced cycle insights. Using a urine sample and special test wands, you can detect specific combinations of female hormones depending on your goals.

Our Menopause Transitions Kit tracks four key reproductive hormones (FSH, E3G, PdG, LH) to define your current reproductive stage and anticipate approaching menopause. Using our Ovum Wands you can test for FSH to provide insight into ovarian functioning and reproductive age. With regular tracking, you can see how your cycle and hormones are changing, and be able to identify your Menopause Transitions Stage thanks to the Menopause Transitions Mode in the Mira App.

When to Use a Menopause Test Kit

Recognizing Early Symptoms of Menopause

Menopause test kits can be helpful if you want quick answers about your health or are struggling to make sense of perplexing symptoms. The transition to menopause can be quite chaotic for your hormones and it can be helpful to have confirmation so you can track symptoms and advocate for yourself if necessary.

Confirming Perimenopause vs. Menopause

Many times when people are talking about menopause, they really mean perimenopause. It’s a small distinction, but when it comes to hormones and your health it can make all the difference. Menopause is when you haven’t had a period for at least 12 consecutive cycles whereas perimenopause is the transitional time before you reach menopause.

There is no perimenopause test, but being able to confirm where you are at in your menopausal transition can be hugely helpful for treating symptoms. Hormone levels can fluctuate, but testing can help provide a snapshot of where your hormones were at the time of testing. Armed with this information, it can be helpful for both diagnosis and providing a baseline for down the road.

Best Times to Conduct Hormone Tests

Hormones naturally fluctuate over the course of your cycle, but some days are better than others for testing. For menstruating people, FSH tests are best done on Day 3 of your cycle and testing on multiple days can provide more insight into fluctuating levels. And since levels are most concentrated in the first urine of the day, it’s best to test in the morning.

Benefits of Using a Menopause Test Kit

Convenience and Privacy

Hormone tests from home offer the convenience and privacy of being able to test in your own home rather than having to go to a lab or clinic. Convenience is a major factor since lab testing can be expensive and inaccessible for some. Menopause test kits allow you to take control of your health and can be a useful step in the process of diagnosis.

Tracking Hormonal Changes Over Time

Our hormones are constantly fluctuating, but being able to track these changes over time can be a helpful step in understanding your symptoms. It provides a roadmap to help you navigate the menopause transition and allows you to see the bigger picture of your hormonal health.

Personalized Insights for Symptom Management

Perhaps one of the biggest benefits of menopause test kits is the ability to gain personalized insights into your hormone health for symptom management. With consistent testing, you can see how your symptoms correlate with hormonal fluctuations and make a plan for treatment.

It can be difficult to navigate your menopausal transition alone and many people feel they need support. If you feel you could use a bit of guidance, Mira’s own Hormone Health Coaches can help! Our experienced hormone health practitioners can help you navigate the challenges you may be facing. We have dedicated experts that can help assess your symptoms, analyze your hormone tests, and provide practical guidance on managing the transition to menopause.

Limitations and Accuracy of Menopause Test Kits

Menopause test kits can be useful tools but they also have their limitations. They are not intended to diagnose any medical condition (including menopause) and should never replace medical care. With most tests you are only seeing a snapshot of your hormones at one point in time, rather than the broader picture which limits the impact of your results. As with most at home hormone tests or hormone testing kits, there’s also ample room for user error leading to inaccurate results.

Interpreting Results Properly

One of the main limitations of at home hormone tests like these is that they offer no real medical guidance or consultation for the results. Even though we know that hormone patterns like when FSH rises and estrogen declines may indicate a transition into menopause, it’s not a fool proof equation. Elevated levels of FSH may indicate you are heading to menopause but a negative test doesn’t necessarily indicate the opposite.

When to Consult a Doctor for Additional Testing

Menopause test kits can be a useful tool on your menopause journey, but diagnosing and managing menopause is symptom based. Many of these symptoms can be managed, but if any begin to interrupt your ability to work or live your day-to-day life, speak with your doctor. Doctors can not only help you manage your symptoms, but can rule out any other issues that may not be related to hormone FSH levels in menopause.

How to Choose the Right Menopause Test Kit for You

Everyone who menstruates has a unique experience and will continue to do so through perimenopause and menopause. Choosing the right menopause test kit for you may depend on the type of menopausal symptoms you experience and what you’re hoping to find.

Some factors to consider when choosing a menopause test kit:

Budget – How many times will you test and what if you need to test again? Consider all the costs of a test to see if it really fits your budget.

Testing Method – Can’t stand the sight of blood? Finger prick testing isn’t likely going to work for you. Read the instructions to see what your test requires and whether you’re up to the task or if there’s a different collection method you would prefer.

Convenience – Whether it’s the convenience of the testing kit or being left to interpret your results without a doctor, consider the easiest solution for your situation.

Medical Advice: When a Test Kit Is Not Enough

Several factors can affect your fertility and the menopause transition. If you have questions about your FSH levels, or are concerned about deeper issues than where you sit on the menopause timeline, speak to your healthcare provider. At home hormone tests are not intended to replace medical care and cannot diagnose on their own.

Conclusion

Menopause can come with interesting symptoms and health implications, so knowing where you’re at on the natural timeline of fertility can certainly be helpful. We can learn a lot about our bodies from hormone testing, and especially hormone testing for women like menopause test kits. Not all tests are created equal and some offer a snapshot of your hormones at that time while others offer more long term testing. Regular FSH tracking can be especially helpful for individuals who want to know how far away they may be from menopause or to monitor their symptoms during the transition. Monitoring your FSH levels at home is possible with the Mira Monitor and Mira Ovum Wands, which can measure numeric FSH levels in urine and help you keep track of hormonal changes over time.

Frequently Asked Questions