Perimenopause refers to the time leading up to menopause when a woman’s body begins the transition towards permanent infertility. This transitional stage usually starts for women in their late 30s and 40s and lasts up until menopause which is marked by 12 consecutive months without a period. The duration of perimenopause varies but can last for several years. It is often characterized by irregular menstrual cycles, hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, mood changes, vaginal dryness and loss of libido. Many women start to wonder if they can self-test to determine if they are in perimenopause. Here’s what you need to know about self-testing for the symptoms of perimenopause.
What are the most common symptoms of perimenopause?
The most common symptoms that women may experience during perimenopause include:
- Changes in menstrual cycle length – Periods can become shorter or longer and the time between cycles may vary.
- Heavy, light or skipped periods – Flow can fluctuate month to month.
- Hot flashes – Sudden sensation of heat in the upper body, sometimes with sweating and reddened skin.
- Night sweats – Hot flashes at night leading to sweating and interrupted sleep.
- Vaginal dryness and discomfort – Declining estrogen can cause thinning and dryness of vaginal tissues.
- Loss of libido – Decreased estrogen can lead to a drop in sex drive.
- Mood changes – Irritability, anxiety, depression are common.
- Difficulty sleeping – Insomnia is frequently reported by perimenopausal women.
- Fatigue – Can be caused by poor sleep.
- Hair thinning or loss – Estrogen deficiency can cause hair to thin.
Keep in mind that not every woman will experience all or even most of these symptoms. The severity and duration of symptoms also varies significantly among women going through perimenopause.
Can you self-test for perimenopause at home?
There are a few different options for self-testing at home to help determine if you may be going through perimenopause:
Menstrual cycle tracking
One of the easiest ways to self-assess is to track your periods carefully for several months. Watching for changes in cycle length, heavier or skipped periods can indicate you are likely in early perimenopause. There are many period tracking apps that make it simple to monitor your cycles.
FSH urine test
FSH stands for follicle stimulating hormone. In perimenopause, FSH levels start to rise as estrogen levels decline. There are urine test kits available over-the-counter you can use at home to measure FSH. The higher your FSH compared to baseline levels indicates you are likely in perimenopause. These tests aren’t always accurate and should be repeated over several months.
Estrogen urine test
As ovarian function and estrogen levels decrease, it is possible to detect lower estrogen levels in urine. These simple home urine tests can reveal if estrogen is declining. As with FSH tests, estrogen levels can fluctuate so serial testing is best.
Symptom questionnaires
There are questionnaires and quizzes available online to help women self-assess if they may be experiencing common perimenopausal symptoms. Monitoring your symptom severity over time can assist in determining if you are in early perimenopause.
Vaginal pH testing
Over-the-counter vaginal pH test strips can detect rising pH levels which signal dropping estrogen levels. pH above 4.5 indicates lowered estrogen effect. These strips are easy to use at home but results can vary depending on stage of menstrual cycle.
Skin temperature monitoring
Skin thermostats become less accurate as estrogen declines in perimenopause. Hot flashes also elevate skin temperature. Monitoring devices worn on the skin or used periodically at home can record warmer skin temps associated with perimenopause.
What are the limitations of self-testing?
While self-testing can provide helpful clues, there are some limitations to be aware of:
- Results may be difficult to interpret on your own without your doctor’s input.
- Hormone levels can fluctuate and single tests may not be accurate.
- Testing cannot provide a definitive perimenopause diagnosis.
- Over-the-counter test kits are not as precise as lab tests.
- Self-collected samples may not be as reliable.
Self-testing is most useful when performed serially over several months and partnered with tracking of symptoms. Make sure to share results with your healthcare provider to help interpret any tests you do at home.
What testing can your doctor do to confirm perimenopause?
If you believe you may be in perimenopause based on self-testing and symptoms, make an appointment with your healthcare provider. They can help confirm a perimenopause diagnosis through additional testing such as:
- Physical exam – Assess symptoms and changes.
- Medical history review – Age, periods, health conditions.
- Blood hormone level tests – FSH, estrogen, progesterone levels.
- Pelvic exam – Look for vaginal dryness, thinning.
- Endometrial biopsy – Sample uterine lining to check for changes.
Doctors may also run blood tests to rule out other conditions with similar symptoms. Thyroid disorders and anemia are examples. Bring the results of any self-tests you have done to share with your provider.
When to see your doctor
You should make an appointment with your healthcare provider if:
- Your periods become very irregular from your normal cycle.
- You experience heavy bleeding or bleeding between periods.
- You have any bleeding after 12 months of no periods.
- You develop significant and frequent symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness.
- You have concerns about results from any self-testing you did at home.
Perimenopause symptoms can disrupt sleep, mood and quality of life so it is important to consult your doctor if you believe you may be in early menopause transition. Your provider can offer guidance on relieving symptoms as well as risk factors to monitor including bone loss, heart disease and urinary health.
Conclusion
Women interested in assessing if they may be entering perimenopause can perform self-tests at home such as menstrual cycle tracking, hormone level urine tests, symptom quizzes and vaginal pH testing. However, self-testing has limitations so it is important to partner with your healthcare provider to interpret results and get their clinical input. They can perform more precise lab testing and exams to confirm if you are transitioning into menopause. Connect with your doctor sooner rather than later if you have concerns about changing cycles, annoying hot flashes or other symptoms that may be slowing you down. With a proactive approach including self-care, lifestyle adjustments and treatment when needed, many women are able to manage the changes of perimenopause and move forward feeling their best.