Menopause Test Kits - What are They and Do They Work?
At some point in time in your life, every woman faces menopause. It
is as normal and as frustrating as puberty. Where puberty is the time in
a girls life when hormone levels begin to rise and the body undergoes
changes in her hair, acne, breast development etc, - menopause is the
time in a woman’s life when the hormone levels begin to drop. Along with
that come changes in your hair, bone density, the cessation of the
menstrual cycle and other bodily changes that can be quite irritating
for the unsuspecting woman.
Today there are over the counter tests that can be administered very
similarly to a home pregnancy test. The test is used to determine the
amount of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) that is in your urine.
Unfortunately, this test in and of itself is not a reliable test to
determine if you are in fact going through menopause. FSH levels
fluctuate as your hormones are changing. Those changes can be attributed
to where you are in your menstrual cycle, whether or not you are
pregnant, or just to indicate a change of some sort has occurred in your
hormone level. It does not indicate why those changes have occurred.
Many things can alter the results of the test such as did you use your
first urine of the morning? How much water did you drink before you took
the test? Have you recently stopped or changed any medications, for
example oral contraceptives, estrogen supplements or hormone replacement
therapies? All of these factors can give a false positive or even a
false negative test result.
Taking the test is relatively easy. Basically, you urinate on a stick
similar to taking a home pregnancy test. However, it is a two-step
process. Step one is taken while you are on your menstrual cycle; step
two is done about a week later. Of course, you will want to read and
follow the instructions carefully. If you are no longer menstruating,
you can take part one of the test at any time during the month – the
second part still needs to be done a week later.
It is important to remember that a positive test does not always
indicate that menopause has started. However, it is a good indicator
that the hormone levels are changing. A negative test likewise, does not
necessarily indicate that menopause has not started.
The menopause test kits are still relatively new on the market. Prior to
making any major changes in your life or before you choose to stop using
birth control, check with your physician. These test kits are not a
reliable substitute for a physicians test to determine whether or not
you still have the ability to conceive a child. The last thing you want
is a late in life – unexpected surprise. Especially if you are planning
on taking that long awaited, second honeymoon or retire from your job to
travel the globe. Knowledge is power and when it comes to your health,
there is no better knowledge to have than to know for sure if you are in
fact in the midst of menopause. |
