A recent national study on menopause reveals that two thirds of American women do not visit their doctors to discuss menopause symptoms. If they do, they wait a critical six months on average to seek counsel. According to Dr. Laura Corio, a renowned New York Obstetrician/Gynecologist, waiting this long may have negative effects on a woman's health and well-being.

"Early confirmation of menopause is important as it provides women with a sense of control and allows them to be proactive about countering the effects of menopause," states Dr. Corio, Ob/Gyn at Mt. Sinai Medical Center and best-selling author of The Change Before The Change. "By diagnosing the onset of menopause early, treatment can be sought for the relief of stressful symptoms. An early and accurate diagnosis can improve long-term health and offer peace of mind that symptoms, such as mood changes and feelings of anxiety, are associated with menopause and not a potential illness."

For the millions of American women who enter menopause annually, a simple self-diagnostic urine test device can now allow them to accurately check for the onset of menopause in the privacy of their own home. Menocheck, the first over-the-counter, at-home menopause indicator test, is now available nationwide at all Walgreens' Pharmacy locations. The easy-to-use midstream wand device offers females the convenience of a one-step test, and an attractive, non-invasive alternative to clinical blood testing, for initial screenings.

Menopausal women are at a greater risk for diseases such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. More than half of the women surveyed were not aware of this high risk. While the majority of women (75%) know that early diagnosis is beneficial to both alleviating symptoms and planning for longer term healthcare, many are reluctant to confirm with their doctors that menopause is the reason behind their discomfort.

"Women are suffering needlessly," stresses Dr. Corio. "Only 15% of women even bother to get diagnosed as menopausal by their doctors. They need to know that early confirmation of their condition has many benefits and can help prevent the onset of other menopause-related conditions such as heart disease."

While menopause is no longer a taboo subject with women - 79% of respondents felt they are more comfortable discussing menopause than their mothers were - it appears that the condition is not being discussed with their doctors early enough. Clearly, women seem to realize that it is beneficial to their health to know when menopause is starting, with an overwhelming 87% agreeing that early detection will enable them to manage discomfort and other long-term health considerations. However, 51% of the women reported that they would wait three months to a year after not having menstruated and 24% will not even seek counsel at all after menstruation ceases. This study shows that the majority of women are still prolonging diagnosis and not taking precautionary steps to improve their quality of life.

At-home testing with Menocheck can empower women by informing them when they have entered this transition in their lives so that they can then discuss the best course of action with their doctors. Eighty per cent of perimenopausal women surveyed confirmed they would consider using an at-home self-detection test, with the majority of them citing convenience and cost as the two biggest benefits.

"With Americans' increasing desire to be proactive about health issues, self-diagnostic tests are proving to fill an important need with consumers," says Dr. Joseph Ferroni, who serves as the Medical Advisor to Synova Healthcare Inc., distributors of Menocheck. "As with other self-help alternatives, consumers are always encouraged to discuss results with their doctors to help develop a collaborative, healthy-lifestyle plan."

It is evident that self-diagnostic tests like Menocheck, used in conjunction with a follow-up visit to the doctor, can offer a simple solution for most women.

Non-invasive and similar to an at-home pregnancy test in design, Menocheck works by measuring the levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) in the urine. Typically, as women enter menopause, FSH levels gradually rise and stay permanently higher once menopause has set in. Menocheck is FDA approved and has been shown to be 99% accurate(+) in laboratory tests, with results appearing in five minutes.