US health provider Labcorp introduces menopause testing

The US health provider Labcorp has started offering menopause testing through its digital platform in a bid to help women treat symptoms earlier.

More than one million women in the US enter menopause each year. While menopause officially marks the end of a woman’s menstrual cycles, most women begin experiencing symptoms much earlier, during perimenopause, which typically begins about eight to 10 years before menopause.

Recent studies show more than 60 per cent of women do not feel informed about menopause or the associated symptoms and only 38 per cent of women who are approaching menopause age have discussed it with their providers.

Labcorp argues its menopause test could help women understand hormonal factors related to menopause and take proactive steps to address their symptoms.

The blood test, recommended for women over 45, measures four key hormones, estradiol, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone and progesterone.

While it can’t diagnose menopause, it may help women better understand their symptoms and have “more informed” conversations with their providers.

“As individuals look to take an increasingly more proactive role in their health and healthcare, it’s critical they have easy access to trusted testing options,” said Amy Summy, Labcorp’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer, and consumer business lead.

“Our new menopause test is just one more example of how Labcorp is listening to the needs of consumers, empowering them to understand their symptoms, and enabling them to have more informed conversations with their doctors.”

With the addition of Ovia Health by Labcorp’s menopause support programme, the company says it aims to help women navigate this life transition through diagnostic testing, resources and education.

The menopause test is part of a suite of Labcorp blood tests available to consumers.