A Guide To Perimenopause Test At Home, Perimenopause Symptoms & Treatment Options

Are you healthy but suddenly feel warm? Do you wake up sweating, and the room is cold? Well, you may be entering the perimenopause phase of your life. As women approach midlife, these changes can bring about various physical and emotional shifts, often leaving them feeling unprepared and confused. However, to help understand these changes, there are now perimenopause tests at home which are a good way for women to check on their health by themselves as they go through this important time in life.

Like all aspects of life, the reproductive cycle follows a natural progression. 

As the oestrogen and progesterone levels decline, egg production in the ovaries slows, and perimenopause symptoms may start, and it usually progresses over several years.

Can a perimenopause test at home truly live up to the promise of untangling the mysteries of perimenopause? This blog delves into the science behind at-home perimenopause tests, exploring their accuracy, limitations, and how they can fit into your healthcare journey. Read on!

Table Of Contents

1. What Is Perimenopause?

2. Perimenopause Test At Home. Can You Self Test For Perimenopause?

3. How Do You Confirm Perimenopause?

4. Perimenopause Symptoms

5. How Do You Confirm Perimenopause?

6. Can Blood Tests Confirm Perimenopause?

7. Perimenopause Treatment

8. The Final Say

9. FAQs

10. References 

What Is Perimenopause?

Perimenopause is a phase where your body begins to transform into menopause. During this period, the body hormone "estrogen" produces considerable declines in the ovaries, which leads to irregular menstrual cycles or periods. During this time, your body's reproductive period is almost over.

Perimenopause begins at the age of around 30 to 50. Perimenopause varies from woman to woman. The average duration of perimenopause is 3 to 4 years, but it can last from as little as a few months to as long as 10 years.

Other physical changes and symptoms can also occur in your body as it adjusts to different hormone levels. Along with that, fertility also decreases during perimenopause, but you can still get pregnant. 

Also Read: What Are The 34 Symptoms Of Menopause, And How To Manage Them?

Perimenopause Test At Home. Can You Self Test For Perimenopause?

Home menopause test kits measure follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels in your urine. The pituitary gland produces FSH. FSH levels temporarily increase each month to stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs. As you enter menopause and your ovaries stop producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone, FSH levels also increase. 

Using the At-Home Test

To conduct the perimenopause test at home test, place the device under the urine stream or dip it into a urine cup. Wait for the indicated time for the reading to appear, providing a straightforward and non-invasive method for gaining valuable insights into your hormonal health.

Interpreting Results and Next Steps

A menopause self-test can tell you whether you have elevated FSH levels rather than whether you are menopausal or perimenopausal. If your levels are high and your symptoms are bothersome, it may be time to consult your doctor. They will review your medical history and that of your family before providing recommendations on how to manage your symptoms best. 

Considerations for Those Still Menstruating

For individuals still experiencing periods, albeit infrequently, FSH levels can fluctuate during the menstrual cycle. Even with changing hormone levels, pregnancy remains a possibility as ovaries may continue to release eggs.

How Do You Confirm Perimenopause?

Perimenopause is a natural part of life and represents a transition that can last for several years. For this reason, perimenopausal is usually not diagnosed unless the symptoms cause significant discomfort or inconvenience. 

That is why sometimes determining whether you have menopause symptoms can be difficult specially with a perimenopause test at home. Your symptoms, medical history, age, and physical examination can help your doctor make a diagnosis. 

If your doctor suspects another medical condition, such as a thyroid problem or hormonal imbalance (other than menopause), may be causing your symptoms, he or she may recommend that you get a hormone test. You can also get a perimenopause test at home.

Hormone testing uses a hormone panel to check levels of estrogen and other sex-related hormones. This type of test can tell you if you are approaching menopause or have reached menopause.

Perimenopause Symptoms

During menopause, your body may experience subtle or not-so-subtle changes. You can experience: 

1. Irregular Periods

As ovulation becomes more difficult to predict, the time between periods may become longer or shorter, your periods may become lighter or heavier, and you may miss some periods.

If your menstrual cycle length changes consistently for more than 7 days, you may be experiencing early perimenopause. If your periods last longer than 60 days, you are more likely to experience late menopause. 

2. Mood Changes

Before and after menopause, you may experience mood changes, irritability, or an increased risk of depression. These symptoms may be caused by sleep problems associated with hot flashes. Mood changes can also be caused by some factors unrelated to hormonal changes during menopause. 

Also Read: What Causes Mood Disorder? Know Its Types And Tips To Improve It!

3. Vaginal And Bladder Problems

As estrogen levels decrease, vaginal tissue loses lubricity and elasticity, which can make intercourse painful. Low estrogen levels may also make you more susceptible to urinary tract infections or vaginal infections. Loss of tissue elasticity can cause urinary incontinence. 

Also Read: Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Prevention And Management

4. Declining Fertility

If ovulation becomes irregular, your ability to get pregnant decreases. However, as long as you have your period, pregnancy is still possible. If you want to avoid pregnancy, use birth control until your period ends for 12 months. 

5. Changes In Sexual Function

Sexual arousal and desire may change around menopause. However, if you enjoyed satisfactory sexual intimacy before menopause, it is likely to continue after menopause. 

6. Changes In Cholesterol Levels

Decreased estrogen levels can cause negative changes in blood cholesterol levels, including increased levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol), which may increase the risk of heart disease. 

At the same time, many women have reduced levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, the “good” cholesterol, which also increases the risk of heart disease.

Can Blood Tests Confirm Perimenopause?

The medical field has long employed blood tests to evaluate diverse aspects of an individual's health; these evaluations yield extensive information about bodily functions–ranging from hormone levels and nutritional status to organ function, among others. Within the context of perimenopause, blood tests not only diagnose but also enhance our understanding of these transformations. Here are the considerations for blood tests for perimenopause: 

1. Hormone Balance 

Hormones such as estrogen and progesterone play an important role in regulating a woman's menstrual cycle and overall well-being. During menopause, hormone levels can fluctuate dramatically, causing symptoms that many women experience. One day, you may be dealing with brain fog, hot sweats and exhaustion, and the next day, you may come back energised and at full strength. 

• Perimenopause often triggers a rise in levels of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), suggesting that the ovaries intensify their efforts to stimulate egg production due to dwindling estrogen levels; high FSH levels thus could signal overcompensation by the ovaries amidst declining estrogen.

• Estradiol represents a form of estrogen and its levels undergo fluctuations during the perimenopausal stage. Notably, commonly associated with the transition to menopause is a decline in estradiol.

  
  

Your current hormonal balance reveals itself as a snapshot through blood tests, offering invaluable information. To check your hormone levels, you might require multiple blood tests or opt for a second one six weeks later. This method enables clinicians to customise treatment plans and interventions specifically to reduce symptoms and aid women during their transition phase.

2. Identify Other Health Indicators 

In addition to hormonal balance, blood tests can reveal important indicators of a postmenopausal woman's overall health. For example, blood tests evaluate lipid profiles, blood sugar levels, liver function, and thyroid function. 

These tests can help identify conditions that may mimic menopause symptoms, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or thyroid disease. A comprehensive evaluation will allow your doctor to create a customised treatment plan that promotes your overall health and well-being, as well as your menopause symptoms. 

Perimenopause is a complex physiological process that affects women differently. It is important to understand that symptoms can vary in intensity and duration. A comprehensive approach that integrates symptoms, medications, family history, and objective blood tests can provide more detailed information to develop solutions for the effective management of menopause.

Perimenopause Treatment

Generally, Perimenopause does not require medical treatment. However, if your symptoms are causing you discomfort, your doctor may be able to help. Treatment options include

The Final Say

Perimenopause is a natural and inevitable phase in a woman's life, marked by significant hormonal changes. Although it does not always require medical treatment, knowing its signs and the tests that are possible can give women more confidence to manage this time of change.

Perimenopause tests that can be done at home provide an easy method to learn about changes in hormones and add value to the usual blood tests taken with a doctor's help. Together with detailed blood assessments, these home tests help give a complete picture of a woman's health during perimenopause.

Different treatments, like drugs and hormone therapy, can help with symptoms, but every woman's experience of perimenopause is different. It is important to talk with medical experts for advice that fits you and to look at options made just for your health situation. Embracing this phase with knowledge and support can pave the way for a smoother transition into the next stage of life!

FAQs

1. What are the best at-home menopause tests?

Here are the best menopause tests at home:

• Everlywell Perimenopause Test

• Clearblue Menopause Stage Indicator

• Reveal Menopause Test

  
  

2. Is there any menopause testing kit?

Yes, I know, the Menopause testing kit is for women facing menopause symptoms like night sweats, mood swings and hot flashes. 

3. What does a menopause self-care involve?

Regular exercise may help you maintain a healthy weight, sleep better, and elevate your mood. Weight-bearing exercise, like walking and strength training, can also help you avoid osteoporosis during and after menopause.

4. Is there a home test for perimenopause?

Yes, you can self-test or self-analyse the Perimenopause test at home from the symptoms and through home tests & also, you can easily manage it at home through lifestyle management.

5. What is the most accurate test for perimenopause?

Blood tests are considered as the most accurate & reliable tests for perimenopause diagnosis.

References

• Perimenopause | healthdirect

• Perimenopause Diagnosis & Treatment | Dignity Health

• Perimenopause | Johns Hopkins Medicine

• Perimenopause: Age, Stages, Signs, Symptoms & Treatment

  
  

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