A patent application has been filed for a new method to test and determine what stage of menopause you might be in.
Menopause refers to the time of life when menstruation ends for good, marking the end of reproductive years for those assigned female at birth. Rather than a sudden change, however, menopause occurs over a transitional period that can be lengthy, often bringing with it a host of physiological changes affecting physical and mental health. .
Despite the fact that roughly half of the general population will go through menopause in their lifetime — typically between the ages of 45 and 55 — public information on this period of life is lacking, leaving many to suffer the signs and symptoms without knowing for certain what is happening to their body. A new invention aims to help solve this problem.
A new patent application, filed by SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GMBH, a company that specializes in the development and production of diagnostic products, describes a kit and algorithm for determining the exact stage of menopause you might be in using cycle information, age, and levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in the blood.
How the invention will determine your stage of menopause
While it’s typically confirmed that someone has entered menopause when it’s been 12 months since their last period, symptoms of the transition typically begin far before this point.
Symptoms of menopause include irregular periods, hot flashes and night sweats, lack of concentration, memory issues, mental health issues, and irritability. Menopause can also affect heart health and lead to osteoporosis, more prevalent urinary tract infections, and obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.
The method, therefore, claims to help users identify which of the four suggested stages they may be in: pre-menopause, early peri-menopause, late peri-menopause, and post-menopause.
According to the company, the invention does so by considering cycle information, age, and blood levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). Cycle information includes the timing of the person’s last period, cycle length, and the variability of their cycle length.
Patients would receive a kit to test their blood FSH hormone levels and input the required information into a device, which would then use an algorithm to assess the information and determine the individual's stage of menopause.
How it compares to other products on the market
Current home menopause testing kits already exist and typically detect blood FSH levels to determine if an individual is menopausal. However, they don’t usually provide an indication of the stage in which the individual may be in their transition to menopause. Some tests may also evaluate blood estradiol levels, a form of estrogen, and blood luteinizing hormone (LH) concentration, to provide a more comprehensive result.
However, the patent application explains that a menopause test that indicates not just menopause itself but also the transition to menopause is needed, particularly since the transition to menopause can take several years.
According to the application, an early diagnosis of menopausal status and its progression can help in the management of symptoms.
“An early diagnosis of the transition to menopause or confirmation of menopause is important since health and lifestyle changes can help manage menopause related symptoms as well as having benefits to cardiovascular health, and bone health,” reads the application. “Recommended lifestyle changes may include stopping smoking, limiting alcohol use as well as dietary changes, losing weight and taking regular exercise.”
An early diagnosis of menopause or the transition to menopause can also help individuals access treatments to manage menopause symptoms, such as hormone replacement therapy.
Plus, since the onset of menopause is unpredictable and gradual, symptoms can cause an individual to worry about their health without knowing that they’re attributable to the menopause transition. This invention could, therefore, offer much-needed peace of mind.
The effectiveness, ease, and affordability of this invention remain to be seen, and it is still unclear if and when the patent will be granted. It is also unclear whether the company intends to seek FDA approval for this test kit so it can actually be used as a method for diagnosis. If it does eventually reach the market, however, it could make this difficult period of transition easier for many individuals.
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