Senior doctors warn that expensive, over-the-counter hormone tests for menopause, which private clinics and retailers sell for self-testing, are medically unnecessary and may undermine women’s healthcare.
Though these testing kits claim to provide tailored insights through measuring hormone levels, experts assert they are misleading and of no clinical benefit.
Dr. Stephanie Sterry, co-author of a BMJ editorial on Menopause Misinformation is Harming Care, states that these tests are not evidence-based, do not contribute new information, and may lead women to spend hundreds of pounds without affecting their treatment.
In the UK, there exist two types of menopause hormone kits: rapid urine-based tests and finger-prick blood tests that require laboratory analysis.
Urine tests are sold at retailers like Asda and Superdrug for around £8, while blood tests range from £32 to £189.
Guidelines from NICE, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the British Menopause Society suggest that for women over 45, menopause can be diagnosed based on symptoms alone, as hormone levels are not stable and offer no reliable diagnostic value.
Dr. Paula Briggs, chair of the British Menopause Society, emphasizes the need for NHS-led care and criticizes the commercialization of women’s health.
Some clinics defend these tests, suggesting they facilitate discussions with doctors and help differentiate between menopause and other conditions, despite Dr. Sterry arguing that hormone testing does not correlate with cancer symptoms or severity and can lead to underdiagnosis and undertreatment.
Asda and Superdrug have been asked for comment, with Superdrug arguing that customer feedback led to offering FSH level measurements with the results including tailored medical advice.
