Private Menopause Tests Under Fire

Senior doctors are sounding the alarm over costly, over-the-counter hormone tests for menopause, labeling them clinically ineffective and potentially harmful to women's healthcare.

These testing kits, available at private clinics and online for self-testing, claim to provide bespoke insights into hormone levels. However, experts assert they are misleading and unnecessary.

Dr. Stephanie Sterry, co-author of a recent editorial in the BMJ titled 'Menopause Misinformation is Harming Care,' explained, "These tests are marketed as essential for personalizing hormone therapy when, in reality, they offer no new insights into treatment effectiveness."

The Problem with Popularity

As the market for these tests grows, the medical community observes a rise in self-proclaimed experts disseminating advice through social media, further complicating women's understanding of their health needs.

"Unfortunately, these tests encourage women to spend hundreds of pounds without any real benefit to their treatment," Sterry reiterated.

Types of Home Testing Kits

In the UK, two primary types of menopause hormone tests are offered: rapid urine tests yielding results in just two minutes, and finger-prick blood tests sent for laboratory analysis with results typically available in one to two days.

Prices range from £8 for urine tests at high street retailers like Asda and Superdrug to £189 for blood tests at clinics like Bluecrest Wellness.

Expert Guidelines Overlook Hormone Levels

Leading health organizations, including NICE and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, emphasize that menopause should be diagnosed based solely on symptoms for women over 45. Daily fluctuations in hormone levels render them unreliable for diagnostic purposes.

Dr. Paula Briggs, chair of the British Menopause Society, voiced her concerns over the growing misconceptions surrounding Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), prompting women to seek unregulated treatments at high costs.

The Rise of Misguided Expectations

Briggs remarked, "The rise in these tests has fostered unrealistic expectations about HRT—especially concerning mental health benefits and the belief in a 'quick fix.'" She advocates for a collaborative approach to NHS-led care.

Dr. Susanna Unsworth, another specialist in women's health, added that the prevalence of these tests constituted a significant concern, revealing that women often arrive at appointments already armed with potentially useless results.

A Call for Evidence-Based Practice

Dr. Martin Thornton from Bluecrest defended the tests, suggesting they empower women by correlating symptoms with data.

Yet, Sterry countered this argument, insisting there is no correlation between test results and the actual symptoms women experience, highlighting the risk of underdiagnosis and undertreatment.

"The principle of evidence-based practice dictates that tests should guide patient care, and current hormone testing doesn’t meet this criterion," she concluded.

A Cautionary Note to Women

Asda and Superdrug have acknowledged customer interest in these tests, with Superdrug asserting that their results come with tailored medical advice. However, the overarching message from medical professionals is clear: proceed with caution and ensure any treatment is guided by symptoms rather than potentially misinterpreted data.