home menopause test

Uses

• diagnosis of menopause
• monitoring hormone replacement therapy

Principle

• Urine Tests:
  • Menocheck, RU25 Plus Menopause Test cost about $20 (2004)
  • similar to in home pregnancy test
  • tests measure FSH
  • elevated urine FSH may indicate menopause, but alone is NOT a reliable indicator of menopause
• Saliva Tests:
  • tests measure estrogen, progesterone, testosterone & other hormones
  • cost is about $60 (2004)
  • women collect the sample at home & mail the sample to a lab for testing
• Test interference:
  • oral contraceptives elevate estrogens & progestins & diminish FSH

Management

• treat symptoms, not test results

More general terms

• home diagnostic test kit

Additional terms

• menopause