Checking your hormone levels usually means scheduling a doctor's visit, getting blood drawn and waiting days for results. Eli Health, a female-founded health tech startup, wants to make that process faster, easier and more affordable. The company just launched the Hormometer, the first at-home system for real-time hormone tracking. It primarily focuses on cortisol, a stress hormone, with results available through a small saliva sample and a phone.
"Hormometer's public launch brings cortisol tracking into daily life, making it as trackable as sleep, HRV [heart rate variability] or glucose," Eli Health cofounder and CEO Marina Pavlovic Rivas told CNET.
After more than five years of research and development, Hormometer is making its way to the public, focusing on cortisol, the body's primary stress hormone. It's a timely launch considering that most adults experience some sort of hormone dysregulation at some point in their lives, and nearly half of women in the US aged 30 to 60 have experienced symptoms of hormonal imbalance, which can be affected by cortisol levels, according to a survey by the American Psychological Association.
Hormones play a vital role in nearly every aspect of our health; they can affect our mood, metabolism, athletic performance and even the way we age. "Many people experience fatigue, weight changes or mood shifts without realizing hormones may be involved. Eli helps make those connections visible. For those who aren't sure if their symptoms might be related to hormonal health, we want to eliminate as much of the barrier as possible by helping them test and track their hormones," Rivas said.
Here's how it works: First, order your kit online through the eli.health site. Then collect a saliva sample at home, scan it with your smartphone and your results will appear within 20 minutes -- no blood work or lab needed. "The AI-powered Eli app scans the test using your phone's camera, converts the signal into a precise value and adds it to your trends and insights while providing immediate, actionable suggestions," Rivas explained.
Over time, the AI-powered app can help you track your personal hormone trends and give recommendations based on your results. Rivas told CNET that some recommendations someone might get if their cortisol levels are chronically elevated (or high when they shouldn't be) include:
- Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing, yoga, progressive muscle relaxation or meditation
- Stay physically active
- Eat brain-boosting foods (like omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidant-rich foods)
Hormometer isn't a wearable, but its promise echoes the rise of over-the-counter continuous glucose monitors and smartwatches that track metrics like heart rate, sleep and stress. These devices have made once-clinical data accessible at home. Cortisol tracking could complement existing devices. For example, if your smartwatch detects disrupted sleep, Hormometer could help you see whether stress hormones are a factor.
Eli Health's team has spent over six years researching and developing, building over a dozen patent-pending technologies to make at-home hormone monitoring possible. Earlier this year, Hormometer won CES 2025's Best Innovation Award in Digital Health, signaling industry recognition for its potential impact.
It's important to note that the Hormometer is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, but is FDA-registered for cortisol and progesterone testing and marketed under the FDA's General Wellness Policy. FDA-registered means the manufacturer has informed the FDA of its device, but has not gone through the full review process for safety and effectiveness.
While Hormometer launches with cortisol testing, Eli Health plans to expand to other hormones in the future. "After the public launch of cortisol Hormometer, we plan to expand hormone testing options to include progesterone later this year and testosterone early next year," Rivas said. For now, the launch marks an important step toward making personalized hormonal data accessible to the average consumer.
How much does the Eli Health Hormometer cost?
The Hormometer is available through a subscription model, and there are three options you can choose from:
- 12-month subscription for $32 a month (3-month supply, delivered every 3 months)
- 6-month subscription for $48 a month (3-month supply, delivered every 3 months)
- 3-month subscription for $100 a month (1-month supply, delivered monthly)
