Timing Your Saliva Collection for Accurate Test Results is important – read the instruction booklet!
1. Hormones are highest in the morning so testing first thing is important.
2. There are certain days when testing is optimal.
– MEN can test anytime.
– WOMEN who do not have a menstrual cycle can test anytime.
– WOMEN who are menstruating need to test between days 19 and 21 with day 1 being the first day of the previous menstrual cycle.
Who Would Benefit From A Saliva Hormone Test?
– MEN can test anytime.
– TEENAGERS with PMS should do a saliva hormone test.
– MEN who are concerned about being at risk for Prostate disease.
– MEN who are concerned about Andropause, Male Menopause and declining hormone levels.
– WOMEN who are concerned about declining hormone levels are encouraged to annually evaluate estrogen, progesterone and testosterone levels to prevent osteoporosis and to monitor hormone levels for those who already have been diagnosed with osteoporosis.
– WOMEN who would like to know if they are at risk for Breast Cancer. Dr. Zava has what he calls a Breast cancer profile. The breast cancer patient hormone profile we’re seeing is high estradiol and testosterone, low progesterone and DHEA and flat cortisol levels.
– WOMEN with symptoms whose blood tests did not reveal a hormone challenge. But they still intuitively know they have a problem. The saliva hormone test often validates how we feel when blood tests do not.
– WOMEN who have been on a progesterone cream and are not getting good results to determine if lack of absorption, weak cream, not using enough or using too much are the cause.
– WOMEN who have been on ERT and HRT and are concerned that their estrogen/progesterone levels may be out of balance – putting them at risk for breast cancer.
– WOMEN who are having problems getting pregnant. A saliva hormone test can reveal subnormal progesterone output, suggesting a possible reason for infertility.
– WOMEN with a diagnosis of PCOS would benefit with a saliva hormone test during the second half of the menstrual cycle (luteal phase) which assists in monitoring hormone levels while participating in a program to restore hormonal balance.
Testing your hormones is the best way to identify any hormone imbalance. There are many symptom pictures that may look similar; therefore knowing what your hormone levels are will enable you to determine the correct “NEXT STEP” for you.
More about which Hormones to test
Progesterone
We always recommend that Progesterone – Pg should be tested. Progesterone is a neutral hormone with neither male nor female attributes. It is the balancing hormone to E2 – estradiol. This hormone needs to be found in adequate amounts in both men and women as it has been shown to protect the prostrate in men by inhibiting 5-alpha reductase, and to protect the uterine lining and breast tissue in women. Low progesterone levels contributes to estrogen dominance in both men and women. Adequate progesterone assists the body in building new bone an important component in the prevention of osteoporosis.
Estradiol
We always encourage the testing of estradiol – E2 estrogen. E2 is an estrogen that causes cell proliferation and is the strongest estrogen that your body makes. It is produced with each women’s menstrual cycle and is the most common estrogen prescribed in hormone replacement therapy. A balance is usually maintained between estrone and estradiol of about 50/50 therefore we don’t recommend testing for Estrone – E1 estrogen as it is likely to be relative to E2.
Men over the age of 50 usually will have escalating levels of E2 often in larger amounts than women of the same age. Men too need to test this hormone.
Testosterone
New studies suggest that testosterone can be of real help, and potential harm, to women. It is important to determine testosterone levels for women – particularly women over 40 and women exercising regularly since high levels of testosterone can also triple heart risks for older women. High levels of testosterone may also be responsible for Hot Flashes in Peri and Menopausal women. Testosterone is a hormone that a women would only supplement if the saliva test shows it is deficient!
Men should always test testosterone levels since the decline of this hormone is at the core of male menopause (andropause). Often loss of energy, loss of sexual drive loss of ambition are written off as burnout or depression when in actual fact these symptoms could be related to low testosterone.
Additional Important Hormones to Test:
DHEA
This hormone is produced in the adrenals of both men and women from cholesterol. Nearly every cell in the body has receptor sites for this hormone. DHEA follows the pathway in the body converting to Testosterone and Estrogens. We know that DHEA declines steadily after early adulthood. When they test and find out they are deficient, both men and women generally feel marked improvements in well-being when they take a DHEA supplement.
AM Cortisol
Cortisol is made in the adrenal glands in reaction to stress. The effect of elevated Cortisol is often so subtle that we hardly pay attention to the symptoms – gaining a few extra pounds, a slight drop in sex drive and energy levels and a bit of trouble with our memory. Finding out if your stressful lifestyle is having an impact on your morning Cortisol can be determined through a saliva hormone test. If cortisol levels are shown to be out of range you will be motivated to do something about getting your stress levels under control.
We Recommend the basic 5 panel Saliva Test Kit
Total: 5 Tests (E2, Pg, T, D, C)
The Basic Hormone Profile provides a basic evaluation of the sex hormones and a brief glimpse at adrenal function with the AM cortisol level. This profile is useful when retesting patients who have begun hormone therapy, but we encourage use of the Comprehensive Profile for initial evaluation.
This is the minimal test recommended for symptoms that include:
Men Experiencing:
- Decreased libido
- Erectile dysfunction
- Loss of stamina
- Decrease in mental sharpness
- Reduced muscle size
- Tearful episodes or increased moodiness
- Metabolic syndrome
- Prostate enlargement or cancer
- Hot flashes
- Irritability
Women Experiencing:
- Hot flashes
- Anxiety/Depression
- Night sweats
- Breast tenderness
- Irritability
- Forgetfulness
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Vaginal dryness
- Urinary incontinence
- Uterine fibroids
- Increased facial / body hair
- Acne
Testing is as easy as 1-2-3
Order your saliva test kit and Remember: Read the saliva kit instructions booklet!
- Collect your saliva in a very small tube 4 x that day:
- before breakfast
- before lunch
- before dinner
- before bedtime.
- Simply call Fedex to pick up the samples and deliver them to the lab – Freeze your saliva samples and place the 4 specimen tubes with the completed requisition form into the box and contact Fedex as per the instructions in the kit.
- Your completed Test Results are emailed to you within 7 days of receipt of your saliva sample at the lab so it is important to clearly print your email address on the requisition in the kit.