home menopause test

Indications

(promoted 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

Recommendations:

• treat symptoms, not test results

More general terms

• home diagnostic test kit

Additional terms

• menopause