Menstrual changes, insomnia, hot flashes – experiencing these symptoms is characteristic of menopause or climacteric. Usually occurring between the ages of 40 to 60, menopause often goes unnoticed by many women who chalk up their symptoms to stress, lack of sleep, or just getting older. Gain insights into your health with our easy-to-use menopause test kit. Identify menopause early and manage its symptoms effectively.
That’s especially true in early-onset menopause: approximately 1% of women experience menopause before the age of 40, and 5% undergo menopause between the ages of 40 and 45.
Identifying menopause with a menopause test kit is critical. Not only does it confirm the cause of your symptoms, but it also opens the door to new, effective treatments.
Let’s explore everything you need to know about menopause testing – and how to get tested.
What is Menopause?
Menopause is defined as the time in a woman’s life when her menstrual periods stop, and she can no longer have children. Menarche (or female puberty) and menopause form the bookends of a woman’s fertility period.
In most women, menopause occurs in the late 40s or early 50s – the median age of menopause is 51 years old. During this period, fluctuating hormonal levels lead to significant symptoms that usually last around four years before the final period. Some women experience symptoms for up to a decade, and around 10% experience menopausal symptoms for 12 years.
Menopause is strictly defined as the absence of menstruation for a whole year. Periods may become heavier or lighter as this approaches, and it’s not uncommon for a period to be late or to skip one or two periods entirely.
Symptoms of Menopause
Every woman’s experience of menopause is unique. For some, symptoms are relatively mild and last only a few months; others experience extreme fluctuations in their menstrual cycle alongside a host of other symptoms.
The most common initial signs of menopause are:
- Reduced menstruation frequency
- Heavier or lighter menstrual flow than normal
- Hot flashes, night sweats, and flushes (also known as vasomotor symptoms)
In addition to these cardinal signs, many women also experience:
- Weight gain
- Breast enlargement or pain
- Heart palpitations
- Dizziness
- Interrupted sleep
- Anxiety
- Poor memory or concentration difficulty (brain fog)
- Mood swings
- Reduced libido
- Bladder incontinence or urgency
- Joint stiffness or soreness
- Vaginal dryness or painful intercourse
- Hair loss
Due to hormonal changes (principally declining oestrogen production), some symptoms can cause long-term discomfort or disease. These include osteoporosis, cataracts, vulvovaginal atrophy, heart or blood vessel disease, and periodontal disease.
Diagnosing Menopause
Experiencing menopausal symptoms? Aged 40 years or older? Consider performing a menopause test. As seen above, menopause is no walk in the park. Identifying the condition early can ensure you take a proactive approach to the symptoms.
The most common menopause test kits measure the levels of certain hormones in the blood: usually follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and a type of oestrogen called oestradiol.
While FSH levels fluctuate daily, consistently elevated levels (>30 mIU/mL), combined with menstrual changes, is a clear indicator of menopause.
Our Menopause Test Kit tests for elevated FSH levels using a midstream urine sample. There’s no need to visit a doctor. You collect the urine sample at home, test it, and receive the result within the hour. We recommend repeating the result to confirm the findings.
Note: While elevated FSH levels are associated with menopause, they can also occur in individuals with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) or ovarian failure. If you suspect these conditions, always seek further medical investigation for confirmation.
Why Perform a Menopause Test?
Performing a menopause test can help you get ahead of any changes. Here are some reasons to consider a menopause test:
- Early Detection: Menopause can initially have a range of symptoms, some of which are quite subtle. A menopause test identifies these early changes, giving you more time to prepare and manage symptoms.
- Clear Confirmation: If you’re experiencing irregular periods or other symptoms, a menopause test can provide clear and conclusive evidence of whether you’re approaching or have entered menopause.
- Personalized Healthcare: Knowing you’re in perimenopause or menopause helps your healthcare provider devise a personalised care plan, considering things like nutrition, exercise, hormone therapy, and more.
- Emotional Preparedness: Understanding what’s happening to your body helps mitigate feelings of uncertainty or worry, promoting mental well-being during this transition.
- Bone Health: Post-menopausal women are at higher risk of osteoporosis. Early detection allows you to initiate preventive measures for bone health, e.g., calcium or vitamin D supplementation.
- Heart Health: Menopause increases the risk of heart disease. Timely identification ensures you take early steps to protect your heart health.
Alleviating the Symptoms of Menopause
Menopause itself cannot be stopped. It’s a normal and natural chapter in a woman’s life. Menopausal symptoms, however, are treatable through numerous medications, supplements, and interventions.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most popular treatment. It involves using supplementary oestrogen to replace the body’s own levels during menopause via skin patches, tablets, implants, or sprays. Sometimes combined with progesterone, it relieves several symptoms, including hot flashes, brain fog, joint pain, vaginal dryness, and mood swings.
Non-Hormonal Treatments
Other non-hormone medicines and treatments exist to relieve symptoms, such as Clonidine or Gabapentin for hot flashes and night sweats or antidepressants for mood swings. Cognitive-behavioural therapy also helps tackle low mood, anxiety, and some physical symptoms. Speak to your doctor or a health professional about the right treatment plan for you.
Don’t leave your health to chance – diagnosing menopause has never been easier through a menopause test kit. You can perform a quick, simple test at home if you notice any symptoms. You’ll also receive 24/7 support from our team and comprehensive instructions on how to perform the test.
Click here to order your menopause test today – take control of your body, your health, and your future.
