Trailing Thoughts

Yesterday while working, someone asked me about home menopause testing kits, I was not able to really help them so I decided to do some research on what these tests are really predicting and do they work? Well first I will answer the last part of the question. I personally would save my money- the urine tests that give values of FSH are not the greatest because it is not always constant with the results. Higher levels FSH can indicate menopause but they are not diagnosic of menopause. The other tests are saliva based tests and the concentration of hormones in the saliva really do not mimic the concentrations in the body, thus another possibility for false answers. Saliva tests are really not recommended based on many problems. The urine tests are FDA approved becuase of the reason that they are pretty accurate at saying there are high levels of FSH, but not for the reasons of what this test predicts.
An additional warning, patients taking birth control can have untrue results because the hormones from the birth control can mess with the results.
Now what exactly is this hormone, FSH? Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is produced by the pituitary gland and with women, FSH is responsible for stimulating the development & maturation of ovary follicles during each monthly period. FSH is found in blood and is excreted through urine, making it an ideal hormone to test for because most experts agree that the levels of FSH in the blood and the urine are similar. There is a increase in FSH right before ovulation starts. After ovulation, the ovary follicle ruptures, releasing an egg which causes the developed corpus luteum to produce & secrete progesterone and some estrogen. These secretions will cause the level of FSH to decrease. As women get older and menopause gets closer, women start having a decrease in ovarian function. In the long run, this causes FSH levels to increase. Here is where the testing kit comes in. It will try to measure the FSH. The urine tests require the first morning urine because this is the most concentrated urine of the day.
So do you want to spend anywhere from $20 to $160 dollars to test if you are experiencing symptoms of menopause? I suggest that you do not, but instead you should have a talk with your doctor.
Do not home treat your menopausal symptoms( ie. hot flashes, mood swings, irregular bleeding, sexual problems, sleeping problems, more anxiety, etc.) with herbs. There is a continuing debate on the uses of herbals and other hormone therapy and whether it increases more serious risks of health problems, such as cancer, in the future. The doctor and you should sit down and discuss the benefits and the risks associated with menopause symptom treatment.