Why experts say menopause tests are a waste of money – and what to do instead

Menopause test kits marketed at consumers are promising answers that experts say they can't accurately give.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice) guidelines advise GPs that perimenopause in women over 45 should be diagnosed based on clinical symptoms such as hot flushes, irregular periods and mood changes only, and doesn't recommend routine hormone testing. NHS advice follows this line too. 

However, a quick look online or at pharmacy and supermarket shelves reveals a host of menopause self-test kits claiming to offer some certainty.

We've spotted everything from a £3.50 rapid urine self-test at Asda to a costly Ultimate Menopause lab blood test sold online for £200. 'Check if you’re going through menopause with our at-home test kit,' reads the blurb on one kit on sale at Superdrug. A Menopause Test Kit is available for £12 at Tesco – and there are at least another dozen brands on Amazon.

There's no single test for menopause

Menopause self-test kits typically test for follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in a blood or urine sample.

FSH is a hormone that stimulates ovarian follicles to release an egg. As your reproductive organs get less responsive during perimenopause, the brain releases higher levels of FSH to stimulate the process.

The higher the FSH, the tests say, the more likely it is that you are in perimenopause or menopause. However, leading experts we spoke to say such tests are not a reliable indicator and risk giving people a misleading picture of their health.

Theoretically, a high FSH reading could be a useful tool in helping a woman learn more about her cycle and life stage. But experts say it's too simplistic to indicate perimenopause or menopause alone – because FSH fluctuates for a whole host of reasons.

Sujeewa Fernando, of the Royal College of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians (RCOG), told Which? consumers should not rely on over-the-counter tests for menopause.

He said that, while for some women a lab FSH blood test might be considered alongside a wider clinical GP assessment, it can't give you the full picture.

'RCOG does not recommend over-the-counter menopause tests as these only measure follicle-stimulating hormone, rather than looking at the wider clinical picture. We encourage women to seek support from a healthcare professional, who can look at their symptoms and menstrual changes and advise whether any testing is appropriate.'

Fernando added that FSH naturally fluctuates throughout a menstrual cycle and during the menopause transition – while hormonal contraception can also affect levels, all of which makes a single result unreliable.

'A raised reading may point to perimenopause or menopause, but a normal one doesn't rule it out,' he said. 'Menopause should be diagnosed clinically from menstrual changes and symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, sleep or mood disturbance and vaginal dryness,' he said.

Nice only recommends FSH testing be considered by a GP where someone is under 45 and has symptoms – or is under 40 where early menopause is suspected. But even then, the test is interpreted in the wider context of clinical symptoms.

While these tests theoretically offer a more comprehensive view of hormone levels, experts say they still only offer a snapshot – and that hormones can fluctuate widely for a number of reasons, including during a typical menstrual cycle.  

Nice guidelines don't recommend measuring these hormones for menopause.

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Perimenopause: a 'cluster of symptoms' that needs GP assessment

Perimenopause can last for years and may cause a range of symptoms, including brain fog, mood swings, anxiety, joint pain, hot flushes, increased urinary tract infections (UTIs) and weight gain. In a 2026 survey of 23,000 women by the charity Menopause Mandate, 98.5% said menopause symptoms affected their quality of life. 

Kathy Abernethy, director of clinical practice at the British Menopause Society, recommends women push for a GP assessment, or to see a specialist, if they have symptoms or concerns, although she acknowledged that access to a menopause-trained GP could be a frustrating 'postcode lottery'.

When it comes to diagnosing menopause, she adds, it's important to look at the 'cluster of symptoms' holistically – and an FSH result doesn't add meaningful information.

'Women are in danger of being exploited – we’re being sold tests and supplements that have no evidence,' she said. 'An FSH test is accurate but not very useful. You don’t need a blood test or an FSH [to diagnose menopause]. It's like a jigsaw – you need all the pieces.'

In addition, 'single point testing can be really misleading', Abernethy said. 'I recommend people speak to a clinician, as a single blood test is not enough. Vaginal dryness, minor cognitive changes, hot flushes and sweats are pretty indicative – you don’t get them for many other reasons.'

Around a quarter of women don't get classic perimenopause symptoms, she said, but for the majority, symptoms combined with age alone could offer a diagnosis. 

We shared the concerns of the experts we interviewed with the regulator of self test kits, the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA), which told us: 

'Self-testing kits can give women some indication of their hormone levels, however a diagnosis of menopause / perimenopause should only be made by an healthcare professional... so any diagnosis can be informed by a full assessment of their symptoms.' 

The regulator added it was reviewing the regulation of self test kits more generally, to 'strengthen public protection as more people take a proactive role in their own health'. 

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Read up, and advocate for your needs at the GP

Awareness of menopause issues is improving, but there is still a way to go. Kathy recommends reading up on evidence-based information sources – such as the NHS – and tracking symptoms, which can help you build a clearer picture to take to your GP.

When we asked more than 600 Which? members for their top tips on perimenopause, based on their experiences, many emphasised the importance of advocating for yourself with your GP and requesting an action plan to manage symptoms.  

'Be firm with your GP if you experience anything unusual and don’t accept that it can be "usual in women". My symptoms were UTIs, which were treated each month, but I kept saying it’s not right/usual.' said one reader. 'I didn’t think I had other symptoms but when I saw a female GP she suggested HRT. This solved my UTI issue and also rectified symptoms I hadn’t necessarily noticed or hadn’t linked to perimenopause.'

'Keep going back to the GP until you get the help you are entitled to,' said another. 'Don't suffer in silence, and don't be fobbed off by anyone.'

Which? members also spoke about the importance of being open with loved ones about what you're experiencing, and finding practical ways to manage symptoms.

'Be honest and forthright with your friends and family members about how you are feeling so that they understand your moodiness, your tiredness, your hot flushes and your sleep deprivation' offered one Which? member, while others reiterated the importance of being kind to yourself if you're struggling with symptoms.

As for testing, it might seem like a quick answer, but it's best to work with your GP to get the answers and help you need. For more tips, see our guide to getting the best from a GP appointment.

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