What should I know about Menopause Check?

A 'Menopause Check' (e.g., hormone or DNA test) is often marketed to help assess menopausal status. However, its reliability is limited: hormone levels (FSH, estradiol) fluctuate significantly and are only meaningful on specific cycle days. Genetic tests for menopause timing (e.g., rs16991615) have small effect sizes and lack clinical validation. Menopause is a natural process defined by symptoms and cycle changes – not a single biomarker. A blood FSH test can help when status is unclear, but must be interpreted by a doctor. Many commercial Menopause Checks combine multiple markers, yet evidence for improved management is weak. Instead, symptom tracking and medical guidance (e.g., hormone therapy consultation) are more useful. Caveat: None of the provided sources directly address a Menopause Check; this answer is based on general medical knowledge.