Urine tests are not predictive enough to tell if a woman is going through a phase where her periods will stop, doctors told the BBC. The makers told the TV station that kits should never replace medical advice. Some companies sell UK-approved menopause tests online and in stores, which can be purchased without a prescription for around £ 10 for a pack of both. The tests, which give a result in a few minutes, accurately measure the levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which helps manage the menstrual cycle. But experts say it is not a reliable indicator of menopause or perimenopause. Dr Annice Mukherjee, a leading menopause and hormone doctor at the Endocrinology Society, told the BBC that the FSH urine test was “another example of the exploitation of middle-aged women in the menopausal commercial industry who have financial conflicts of interest”. He accused the companies of using misleading information that “FSH is sometimes a useful indicator of menopause” and called perimenopause a “hormonal train”. “It’s not useful for women to have access [FSH] directly, “he said. “It’s not a reliable indicator of perimenopause and it can be more confusing for women who take the test. In the worst case, misinterpretation of the results can cause harm. “ The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG), along with other top women health experts, said the exams could not help and could be misleading. A RCOG spokeswoman, Haitham Hamoda, a gynecologist consultant at King’s College Hospital who chairs the British Society of Menopause, said: “RCOG is not a prescription menopause test, as it is not a good method of detecting menopause or menopause.” NHS guidelines also discourage FSH testing for people over the age of 45 with classic menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, because it adds nothing diagnostic. Subscribe to the First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every morning at 7 p.m. BST The maker of the menopause test SelfCheck says that while menopause can not be determined with a simple test, hormonal imbalance is the most important indicator. And a consistently high FSH level may indicate “ovaries are not working” and “no egg production”. “These kits give you the feeling that you are responsible for your health by knowing your FSH levels and seeking medical help to successfully combat any of them,” he says. The company’s director, Dr John Rees, told BBC News: “Whatever the outcome, self-monitoring users, including the SelfCheck menopause test, are instructed to talk to their doctor before taking any action on the outcome. “Test instructions are reviewed and agreed with regulatory authorities prior to approval for use. “Self-monitoring kits are not intended to replace traditional health care pathways, but they can push people to talk to their doctor about their health concerns, whether they have a positive or negative effect.
