Learn about the hormone meter: a home test that tracks cortisol in real time

Now you can track your stress hormones as easily as you track your sleep. Eli Health, a startup founded by a woman, just launched Hormometer, an at-home test that measures cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. All you need is a small saliva sample and your smartphone, and you’ll get information about your cortisol levels within 20 minutes.

“The public launch of Hormometer brings cortisol tracking into everyday life, making it as trackable as sleep, HRV (heart rate variability) or glucose,” said Eli Health co-founder and CEO. Marina Pavlovich Rivas He told CNET.

After more than five years of research and development, the Hormometer is on its way to the public, with a focus on… Cortisolthe basic body Stress hormone. It’s a timely release considering most adults are facing some sort of… Hormonal imbalance At some point in their lives, nearly half of women in the United States between the ages of 30 and 60 have experienced it. Symptoms of hormonal imbalancewhich may be affected Cortisol levelsThis is according to a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association.

Hormones play a vital role in almost every aspect of our health; It can affect us mood, MetabolismAthletic performance and even the way we age. “Many people experience fatigue, weight changes, or mood changes without realizing that hormones have something to do with it,” Rivas says. “Elle helps make these connections visible. For those who aren’t sure if their symptoms might be related to hormonal health, we want to remove as much of the barrier as possible by helping them test and track their hormones.”

Here’s how it works: First, order your kit online at eli.health location. Then collect a saliva sample at home, scan it with your smartphone, and your results will come back within 20 minutes – no blood test or lab needed. “The AI-powered Eli app scans the test using your phone’s camera, converts the signal into an accurate value and adds it to your directions and insights while providing instant, actionable suggestions,” Rivas explained.

Over time, the AI-powered app helps track your personal hormone trends and makes recommendations based on your results. Rivas told CNET that recommendations someone might get if their cortisol levels are chronically high (or high when they shouldn’t be) include:

The thermometer is not a wearable, But its promise echoes the rise of over-the-counter products Continuous glucose monitors and Smart watches That tracks metrics like heart rate, sleep, and stress. These devices make data that was previously stored available to clinics at home. Cortisol Tracking can complement existing devices. For example, if your smartwatch detects disrupted sleep, a hormone meter can help you figure out if stress hormones are a factor.

The Eli Health team has spent more than six years researching, developing, and building more than a dozen patent-pending technologies to make at-home hormone monitoring possible. Earlier this year, Hormometer won CES 2025 Best Digital Health Innovation Award, signaling industry recognition of its potential impact.

It is important to note that the hormone meter has not been approved by the FDA, but is registered with the FDA for testing cortisol and progesterone and is marketed under the agency’s public health policy. FDA registration means that the manufacturer has notified the FDA of its device, but it has not gone through the full review process for safety and effectiveness.

While the Hormometer is launching with a cortisol test, Eli Health plans to expand to include other hormones in the future. “Following the public launch of the cortisol meter, we plan to expand our hormone testing options to include progesterone later this year and testosterone early next year,” Rivas said. For now, the launch represents an important step towards making personalized hormonal data more accessible to the average consumer.

How much does the Eli Health Hormometer cost?

The hormone meter is available through a subscription form, and there are three options you can choose from:

• 12-month subscription for $32 per month (3-month supply, delivered every 3 months)
• 6-month subscription for $48 per month (3-month supply, delivered every 3 months)
• 3-month subscription for $100 per month (1-month offer, delivered monthly)