Myths vs facts: Fertility Check and Wechseljahre

The question of myths vs facts regarding fertility checks and menopause is important, as many consumer DNA tests overpromise. While some genetic variants (e.g., in BRSK1) are weakly associated with age at menopause, the effect sizes are tiny. Menopause timing is influenced by hundreds of genes, lifestyle, environment, and chance – a SNP chip cannot reliably predict an individual's age. Similarly, 'fertility checks' based on microbiome or salivary hormones often lack robust validation. Menopause is a natural transition; no test can replace clinical evaluation. For infertility or early menopause symptoms, consult a gynecologist or endocrinologist. The evidence for actionable, personalized insights from direct-to-consumer tests in this area is weak – marketing claims dominate. Fact: No home test can accurately determine individual fertility or menopause timing.