Description
Saliva testing is a convenient, inexpensive, and above all, accurate means of testing steroid hormones. Scientific studies have shown a strong correlation between steroid hormone levels in saliva and the amount of hormone in the blood that is active or “bioavailable.” It is this fraction of total hormone that is free to enter the target tissues in the brain, uterus, skin, and breasts.
Saliva testing can be done anywhere anytime. Testing that relies on blood drawn in the doctor’s office makes it harder to obtain samples at specific times (such as in the early morning) or multiple times during the day. In addition, hormones in saliva are exceptionally stable and can be stored at room temperature for up to a week without affecting the accuracy of the result. This offers maximum flexibility in sample collection and shipment.
Hormones tested in the saliva profiles include:
- Estradiol
- Progesterone
- Testosterone
- DHEA
- Cortisol
Advantages
- Saliva measures the free, “bioavailable” fraction of steroid hormones that have moved out of the bloodstream and into the tissue — NOTE: Blood and urine measure “total” levels
- Saliva is the most reliable measurement of tissue uptake with topical hormone supplementation
- Painless, noninvasive and needle-free (stress caused by a conventional blood draw can alter test results)
- Private (home collection kit) convenient for both patient and doctor allows for optimal collection time
- Hormones are stable in saliva at room temperature up to three weeks allowing for worldwide shipment
- Transport of saliva samples to laboratory requires no special handling
- Less expensive than conventional blood testing
- Ease of collection allows for routine monitoring of hormone levels and adjustment of hormone supplementation as needed.
Clinical Utility
Saliva testing can help providers:
- Identify hidden hormonal imbalances (deficiency or excess) associated with patient symptoms of menopause and andropause as well as reproductive disorders, chronic illness and diseases of aging
- Link clinical symptoms to specific hormone imbalance(s)
- Maintain health and prevent disease through early detection of any hormonal imbalance(s)
- Establish treatment to restore hormonal balance and patient quality of life
- Monitor patient hormone levels for “individualized” hormone replacement therapy
- Track patient progress with comparative history reports provided with follow-up testing