Testing for perimenopause at home

When women enter perimenopause, there’s no memo that shows up in the mailbox. Instead, unexpected and often disruptive symptoms begin to pop up, even though you might still be getting your period. You might find yourself tossing and turning at night, struggling with sleep issues that don’t align with your usual patterns. You could start noticing new facial hair, brittle nails, or even acne. One of the most frustrating and uncomfortable symptoms is vaginal dryness, which can make sex painful or less enjoyable. This can be especially alarming because it doesn’t just affect you—it can impact your relationship with your partner as well. And all of this can happen long before you miss your period altogether.

Menopause officially begins after 12 months without a period, but what about the transition period leading up to that? Let’s face it—society doesn’t do a great job of educating young girls about their periods, and menopause education is even worse. It’s no wonder many women are left wondering, “What’s happening to my body?” or, “Is this menopause, or something else entirely?”

What many women don’t realize is that there are actually tests you can pick up at most drugstores that help you measure your FSH levels. FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) is often tested when women are trying to gauge their ovarian reserve, but it can also give you some insight into where you are in your health journey as you approach menopause.

The FSH Test: Your New Best Friend?

One of the most common at-home tests for perimenopause measures your FSH levels in your urine. Here’s how it works:

• You pee on a stick (sound familiar to anyone who’s used a pregnancy test?).
• You may need to test over several days to get a clearer picture of what’s happening with your body.
• The test looks for higher FSH levels, which may indicate that your ovaries are producing less estrogen.

Recently, Clearblue (yes, the same brand behind pregnancy tests) launched a "Menopause Stage Indicator" test, which allows you to track your FSH levels over a 10-day period by testing every other day. There are now a range of providers offering FSH tracking tests that can range anywhere from $10 to $200, depending on the provider and how many hormones they test.

Why Aren’t These Tests More Popular?

You might be thinking, "Why haven't I heard of these before?" Well, there are a few reasons:

• People aren’t aware: Many women don’t know that changes in hormones like FSH can be tracked with common drugstore tests. The catch is, these hormone tests are often shelved next to pregnancy tests, so it’s not immediately obvious that they can also provide insights into menopause.
• Doctors aren’t sold on them: Many healthcare professionals are hesitant to rely on these tests. They prefer diagnosing perimenopause based on symptoms, rather than hormone levels alone.
• Hormone levels are unpredictable: FSH levels can fluctuate widely, even for women who are still menstruating regularly. As you enter perimenopause, FSH levels may vary, which can make it difficult to interpret the results and get a clear answer.‍
• They don’t give the full picture: These tests can't predict exactly when menopause will occur or how severe your symptoms will be. They also may not fully reflect the symptoms you're actually experiencing, which is why doctors rely more on your personal experience and symptom tracking.

The Bottom Line

While these tests are available and can provide some insight, they’re not a magic solution for figuring out perimenopause. Most doctors still rely on the classic “no period for 12 months” rule, combined with tracking symptoms, to diagnose menopause.

That said, having an affordable, at-home test can offer some relief for women who are confused or anxious about the changes happening in their bodies. Not everyone has easy access to a doctor, and menopause is still a topic that many women find difficult to discuss. Picking up a simple test at the drugstore can give you some privacy to start understanding what’s going on without feeling awkward or uncomfortable.

Next time you’re walking through the aisles of your local drugstore, you might spot one of these tests. If you think you’re in perimenopause, they might give you some indication of where you are in your health journey—especially if you track your results over a longer period of time. Just don’t be surprised if your doctor raises an eyebrow when you bring in the results. While doctors may be cautious about using these tests for a diagnosis, staying informed, tracking your symptoms, identifying patterns, and taking proactive steps will help expand your options and improve your health outcomes.

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References:

1. Joyce C Harper, Samantha Phillips, Rina Biswakarma, Ephia Yasmin, Ertan Saridogan, Sheila Radhakrishnan, Melanie C Davies, Vikram Talaulikar^{, “}An online survey of perimenopausal women to determine their attitudes and knowledge of the menopause”, Womens Health (Lond). 2022 Jun 26 ;https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9244939

2. .Bisma Tariq, Samantha Phillips, Rina Biswakarma, Vikram Talaulikar, Joyce C Harper, “Women’s knowledge and attitudes to the menopause: a comparison of women over 40 who were in the perimenopause, post menopause and those not in the peri or post menopause”, 2023 Aug 30;23:460.https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10469514/

3. Alice Park, August 31, 2023, "There's Now an At-Home Menopause Test, But Does Anyone Need It?  Time Magazine. https://time.com/6310046/at-home-menopause-test/