Looking to understand how the menopause may be affecting your health? Take our Perimenopause and Menopause Test to find out.
Our Perimenopause and Menopause Test is quick and easy. Just take your finger prick blood sample with our at home kit and use the pre-paid envelope to return your sample to our accredited lab.
Comes with our
£98.00
You can choose how you'd like to collect your blood sample. You may also want to add to your test panel depending on your age, sex and any symptoms. You'll save money compared to buying the tests separately.
Finger-prick blood collection
Use our simple kit to collect a blood sample from your finger at home.
Visit a clinic to have your blood taken
Book a venous draw at home or work with a nurse. You'll receive an email to book your appointment after you've placed your order. Over 18s only.
Arrange your own venous blood draw
Dr Claire Merrifield
GP, PhD and our Medical Director
Dr Claire Merrifield
GP, PhD and our Medical Director
The menopause brings with it hormonal changes that can affect your health in many ways. A lower level of oestrogen increases your risk of:
Our Perimenopause and Menopause Blood Test looks at blood markers related to these conditions, giving you insight into your personal risk profile and what you can do to optimise your health.
Perimenopause symptoms and menopause symptoms are very similar, although everyone’s experience of perimenopause and menopause are different.
Here are some of the common perimenopause & menopause symptoms:
Perimenopause describes the transition phase that women go through before reaching the menopause. The perimenopause often starts months or years before periods actually stop. The menopause itself is a specific point in time, usually defined as one year after your last period.
During the perimenopause, you may still have periods, though they're often irregular, and you can also still get pregnant. After the menopause, your periods will stop and you can no longer get pregnant without the assistance of IVF.
Thyroid problems are more common in women and become commoner as you get older so it's important to check your thyroid function as you approach the perimenopause and menopause. Thyroid health also influences your risk of heart disease and osteoporosis.
WHAT'S MEASURED?
Bone density decreases after the menopause which can lead osteoporosis. Vitamin D is essential for bone health and ensuring your levels are optimum can lower your risk of osteoporosis.
After the menopause, your body can't handle sugar as well as it used to which increases your risk of diabetes. HbA1c is a measure of your blood sugar control over the last 3 months.
WHAT'S MEASURED?
Cholesterol levels tend to go up in the perimenopause and menopause and they're the biggest driver of heart disease. Ensuring your cholesterol levels are optimal is key to minimise your cardiovascular risk.
WHAT'S MEASURED?
Perimenopause is the period of time leading up to the menopause when women may begin to experience irregular periods and other symptoms. The perimenopause may start months or years before periods actually stop.
Menopause is a point in time 12 months after a woman's last period. For most women this occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 years but it can happen earlier.
Early menopause is defined as menopause (i.e. no periods for one year) that happens between ages 40 and 45. About 1-in-20 women will naturally go through early menopause. There are some factors that make early menopause more likely:
It's best to take your blood samples in the morning, before you've eaten any food. Avoid any biotin supplements for two days before this taking this test. If biotin is prescribed by your doctor then you should discuss with them before stopping it.
On average, menopause symptoms last for about 4 years from your last period. Symptoms will often change over time and some women can continue to experience symptoms for 10 to 14 years.
For most women the perimenopause begins between ages 45 and 55.
Although the perimenopause and menopause can cause many symptoms, some of its most important effects are those that you cannot see or feel. The hormonal changes during this stage in life significantly affect your metabolic health - your cholesterol levels and sugar-handling for example. These have a big impact on your risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia and even cancer. Bone density also falls during this period putting you at higher risk of fractures. Our Perimenopause and Menopause Blood Test is largely designed to give you insights into these factors so you can optimise your health and reduce your risk.
We also test your thyroid function because thyroid conditions become more common as women age and can cause very similar symptoms to those of the perimenopause. Lastly we can optionally check your hormone levels which can give you an indication of whether you're likely to be perimenopausal. You may not require these if your symptoms are typical and you're between 45 and 55 but they can be useful if there's any doubt.
Testing levels of LH, FSH and oestradiol can give an indication of the perimenopause or menopause but you do not need a blood test to tell if you are perimenopausal or menopausal. You can usually tell if you're perimenopausal based on your age (typically between 45 and 55) and the symptoms you're experiencing. Similarly, the menopause is defined as the time one year after your last period.
However, blood tests for hormones can still be useful for a number of reasons. Firstly, sometimes perimenopause symptoms can be confused with other conditions. For example, thyroid disease is very common as women get older and can cause many of the same symptoms as the perimenopause. Secondly, blood tests can be useful to indicate that the perimenopause is likely if you're unsure of the cause of symptoms. This can sometimes be the case if you're younger than is typical for the perimenopause - e.g. under 45.