A menopause test can indicate if your symptoms, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness, may relate to menopause. Menopause tests measure the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels in your blood, which may be higher during menopause.
The level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in your body controls your menstrual cycle. FSH levels can increase during menopause. Menopause tests can indicate whether you may be experiencing menopause by analyzing the level of FSH and other relevant hormones in a saliva, urine, or blood sample.
These tests can help you decide whether you would like to consult a doctor about
- irregular periods
- hot flashes
- loss of bladder control
- disturbed sleep
- vaginal dryness
- mood changes
This article discusses menopause test kits in detail and provides a list of products you may wish to consider if you are looking to take a menopause test at home as part of your menopause journey. It also covers some frequently asked questions that can help you manage menopause.
- Best for minimal preparation before testing: myLAB Box At-Home Perimenopause and Postmenopause Tests | Skip to review
You can find various home menopause tests online, including blood tests for menopause. Below is a range of tests to consider if you are looking to manage menopause symptoms.
The table below compares each test in this article for price, collection method, and hormones tested.
| Price | Collection method | Hormones tested | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clearblue | around $19.45 | urine sample | • FSH |
| LetsGetChecked | $139 | finger prick | • FSH • LH • prolactin • estradiol |
| Everlywell | $99 | finger prick | • estradiol • FSH • LH |
| Labcorp | $139 | finger prick | • estradiol • LH • FSH • progesterone |
| myLAB Box | $99 | finger prick and saliva sample | • FSH • estradiol • progesterone |
Many menopause tests use a blood sample to identify hormone levels that might indicate you are experiencing menopause. However, they cannot definitively say if you are experiencing menopause.
Some companies provide these results online through an account or profile you set up when purchasing a test, while some will give you your results through an app. Many companies employ healthcare professionals who will contact you if they think it is necessary to discuss your results.
In general, at menopause, the body makes more hormones, such as FSH and LH, to compensate for the ovaries becoming less responsive to these hormones. Other hormones, such as estradiol, decrease. As such, blood test results showing high or low levels of specific hormones may indicate you are experiencing menopause.
For example, The North American Menopause Society suggests that if your FSH blood level is consistently elevated to 30 milli-international units per liter and you have not had a menstrual period for a year, you may have reached menopause.
You should make an appointment to speak with a doctor about your blood test results. Healthcare professionals will be able to take into account other symptoms and different factors to explain what your blood test results mean for you.
Menopause tests may be able to identify different hormone levels in your body. However, they do not determine whether you are experiencing menopause.
The North American Menopause Society notes that saliva and urine tests are inaccurate and tend to be expensive. Also, one test indicating elevated FSH level is insufficient enough to diagnose menopause.
Medical News Today chooses at-home tests that meet the following criteria:
- Safe laboratories: Where possible, MNT will choose companies that process test samples in
CLIA-certified labs. This means they follow state and federal regulations. - Privacy: MNT includes companies that offer robust and transparent privacy measures, such as data protection and discreet packaging.
- Test result speed: MNT selects companies that inform customers when they will receive their test results and whether they will receive them via email, app, or phone.
- Further support: MNT will indicate whether a company offers further support, such as a follow-up phone consultation with a doctor to discuss test results.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more.
You may wish to consider the following factors when choosing a menopause test:
- Certifications: You may wish to check that the company works with CLIA-certified labs to ensure they are in line with federal standards and undergo regular inspections.
- Results: You may prefer to opt for a test that has results available within a few days.
- Sample collection: Tests require a blood, urine, or saliva sample, or even a combination of different tests. You may prefer to opt for a saliva or urine test if you have a fear of needles.
- Doctor consultations: Some companies offer consultations, either with or without a positive test result. You may prefer to opt for a company that has medical professionals available to speak with if you wish for more immediate medical advice.
At-home menopause tests require you to collect your sample at home and mail it to a laboratory. Then, you will receive your results online or through the company’s app within a few days. You may be able to discuss your results with the company’s medical team.
Companies provide the instructions and tools, such as a collection tube, sample bags, and prepaid envelopes, that you will need for home testing.
Some companies require you to visit a lab, where a medical professional will collect a sample from you in person.
Generally, you can expect to pay over $90 for a menopause home test, though some tests are cheaper.
Some companies offer a subscribe and save or membership option to enroll in if you plan to purchase test kits regularly, which may help you save money.
Some females between the ages of 40 and 45 years may experience early menopause. This refers to the menopausal phase occurring earlier than usual, which may happen for various reasons. It may occur if you smoke, are undergoing chemotherapy, or have a health condition such as HIV or a thyroid disorder.
People who have gone through menopause may notice that they have not had their period for a year.
If you think you may be experiencing early menopause, you can consider contacting a doctor for advice. You may need to take a blood test to measure your hormone levels.
Different companies test for menopause in different ways. Most will ask for a blood sample to test your body’s hormone levels. High or low levels of different hormones may indicate you are experiencing menopause.
Healthcare professionals can consider your test results, alongside any symptoms you are experiencing, to rule out other conditions and confirm whether you are experiencing menopause.
Some companies state that it is necessary to do a menopause test at a specific time to get accurate results. For example, Labcorp recommends that you schedule your sample collection for the third day of your menstrual cycle. Additionally, Clearblue states that you should use the urine from the first time you pee in the morning.
Each individual company will provide instructions for you to follow to make sure you take a menopause test at the right time if a specific time is necessary.
Many companies offer different home tests for menopause. These tests involve collecting a sample of blood, urine, or saliva at home and sending it to a lab for testing.
Researchers have divided the female reproductive cycle into three general categories: reproductive, menopause transition, and postmenopause. Within these categories, there are 10 stages. Healthcare experts refer to this as the STRAW + 10 staging system.
The reproductive stage (stages -5, -4, -3b, and -3a) involves a regular menstrual cycle. The menopause transition stage (stages -2 and -1) is when perimenopause occurs. The menopause itself is considered point 0 in this staging system. The postmenopausal stage (stages +1a, +1b, +1c, and +2) begins when you stop having periods altogether.
For most females, menopause occurs between the ages of 45 and 56 years. The median age of natural menopause is 51 years in the United States.
Menopause is a phase in your reproductive life. During this phase, you will stop menstruating and may experience hormonal and physiological changes. Some symptoms of menopause include vaginal dryness and hot flashes.
You can consider buying a menopause home test to learn about your hormone levels, which change during menopause.
If you are experiencing symptoms of menopause or take a menopause home test, you may wish to discuss these symptoms or test results with a healthcare professional.