Menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation but is usually not
scientifically diagnosed until one full year after a woman’s menstrual periods
have stopped. The period leading up to menopause, and the 12 months following is
known as perimenopause. Many women experience symptoms during this time
including hot flashes, irregular menstrual cycles, sleep disorders, vaginal
dryness, hair loss, anxiety and mood swings, short-term memory loss and fatigue.
The onset of perimenopause is caused by changes in the levels of hormones in the
female body that regulate the menstrual cycle. As the body produces less and
less estrogen, it increases its production of Follicle Stimulating Hormone
(FSH), which normally regulates the development of a female’s eggs. Therefore,
testing for FSH can help determine whether a woman is in the perimenopause
stage.
The BIOTEST Menopause Test Kit is a rapid, one-step chromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative
detection of FSH in urine to aid in the detection of menopause. The test utilizes a combination of antibodies
including a monoclonal FSH antibody to selectively detect elevated
levels of FSH.
