Hormone Level Testing

The current standard for hormone level testing is a blood test. This test measures the amount of hormones that are protein bound in the blood. Biologically active hormones in the body are not protein bound. This raises the question: if blood tests only measure hormones that are protein bound and biologically active hormones are not protein bound - why are we still relying on blood tests to measure active hormone levels? Saliva hormone testing offers an accurate alternative to traditional blood tests and has been the standard of the World Health Organization for over fives years.

Saliva testing is quicker, less expensive, and less painful than blood tests, and is a reliable way for you or your doctor to measure hormone levels and test for hormone deficiencies. Most saliva test kits require a minimum of two hormones be tested and allow for additional hormones to be tested for. Testing for five hormones, progesterone, estradiol, DHEA, testosterone and coritsol, is optimum. If you wish only to test for the minimum number of hormones we recommend you test for estradiol and progesterone.

Timing of when to take a saliva sample for testing is crucial. For menstruating women, the test needs to be performed in the luteal phase (the later half of the menstrual cycle). In a normal 28-day menstrual cycle, this is usually about one week before the menstrual period, or days 19-21 of the cycle, counting the first day of your menses as day #1 of the cycle. Men and Postmenopausal women not taking hormones can take the test at any time during the month. Women taking hormones should be tested towards the end of a hormone treatment cycle.

A quick note: If you are supplementing with non-protein bound biologically active hormones it may take several weeks for this to show up on a blood test. Saliva hormone testing is able to record changes in hormone levels as quickly as they occur. For example: a saliva hormone test is able to detect changes to progesterone levels within hours of using transdermal natural progesterone.

We are proud to offer saliva hormone testing through ZRT Laboratory. The cost is $30.00 per hormone and requires a minimum of two hormones be tested. Test kit includes pre-paid mailer, sample tube, directions, questionnaire, and a request form for additional hormones to be tested. Test results will be sent directly back to you. We are available to assist you with any questions you may have regarding your results.

Hormone Level Testing using Saliva

The usual way to test hormone levels has been with a blood test that measures the blood serum or blood plasma content of the hormones. These tests have been somewhat unreliable because they do not give your biologically active hormone levels. Saliva testing is quicker, less expensive, and less painful than blood tests, and is a reliable way for your doctor to measure hormone levels and test for hormone deficiencies.

Protein-bound progesterone is more soluble in the watery component of the blood. While protein-bound, only a small percentage of the hormone is active. This is also true of estrogen, testosterone, and the corticosteriods. For this reason, blood serum concentration of these hormones is not an accurate measure of the amount of active hormone in the body because it misses the larger amount that is riding on red blood cell membranes.

Blood tests measure protein-bound hormone. Transdermally absorbed progesterone is not protein-bound but is most certainly biologically active. It’s riding around in the bloodstream on red blood cell membranes and other fat-soluble constituents of the blood. Blood testing for progesterone levels simply isn’t a reliable measure. A far better test for bioavailable progesterone (and other steroid hormones) is by saliva essay. The World Health Organization has been using the saliva assay with good results for over five years.

Timing of when to take a saliva sample for testing is crucial. For menstruating women, the test needs to be performed in the luteal phase (the later half of the menstrual cycle). In a normal 28 day menstrual cycle, this is usually about one week before the menstrual period, or days 19-21 of the cycle, counting the first day of your menses as day #1 of the cycle. Men and Postmenopausal women not taking hormones can take the test at any time during the month. Women taking hormones should be tested towards the end of a hormone treatment cycle.

Most insurance companies will cover a saliva test, if a doctor renders the test. We can provide you with a doctor in your area who will provide the saliva tests and work with you in balancing your hormones.