Saliva Testing for Estrogen Dominance
August 27, 2009 by Jenn
Filed under Hormone Testing
If you are suffering from symptoms of estrogen dominance, the easiest way for you to discover if you have the condition is to take a saliva test. The saliva test is quick, painless and will 
accurately show you the level of each hormone tested.
Why the Saliva Test Instead of a Blood Test?
For many years, a blood test was the only tool commonly used to evaluate hormone levels, but now many doctors think the saliva test is more accurate .
The saliva hormone test is not only less invasive and less expensive than a blood test, it measures the levels of biologically active hormones in your system. Hormones in your body are in two forms – ‘bound’ and ‘free’. The bound hormones, which make up 95-99% of your hormones, are already being used for specific purposes; they are ‘bound’ to carrier proteins and already on a targeted mission. Free hormones, or biologically available hormones, are hormones that do not yet have an assignment and are free to do other work in your body.
Blood tests measure the total amount of hormones in your system. What you need to know, however, is the amount of the free hormones you have. That is what is deduced through saliva testing.
How Do You Take a Saliva Test for Estrogen Dominance?
One of the simplest parts of taking a saliva test for estrogen dominance is that you can do it in the comfort of your own home. You can order test kits yourself, no prescription is necessary, or many doctors provide them if they feel hormone testing is needed.
Many tests will examine five different hormones in women, including estradiol (the primary form of estrogen), progesterone, testosterone, cortisol and DHEA. Some kits will test for only estradiol and progesterone.
Hormone saliva tests are available for men as well, who can also suffer from estrogen dominance. The hormones tested in men are testosterone, androstenedione, estradiol, progesterone and DHEA.
There are several sites available where you can buy the test kits online and then return the collected saliva to that lab for analysis.
Prices vary depending on how many hormones you wish to test, but basic kits start at around $65 to test two hormones and range up to about $200 for a more comprehensive test covering five hormones.
Menstruating women, non-menstruating women and men are directed to take the test in different manners. If you are still having your period you need to do the test on the 19th-21st day of your cycle, counting from the first day of your period, when progesterone levels are highest. Women who are postmenopausal or have had a hysterectomy or men can take the test any day of the month.
The test itself is simple. You just swab your mouth or spit into a collection vial, whichever your test kit provides. Some tests may involve taking multiple samples at various times of the day but saliva is very stable and can be safely stored for up to a week before reaching the laboratory for analysis. When the lab is finished with the test, they will send the results to you or your doctor.
The saliva test for estrogen dominance is one of the simplest ways possible to tell you if a hormonal imbalance could be the cause of your symptoms. Once you have that answer, you’ll be in a better position to take steps to correct the situation.
Related posts:
Comments
One Response to “Saliva Testing for Estrogen Dominance”Trackbacks
Check out what others are saying about this post...[...] that you can take to find out if you are suffering from this condition. Learn more about these tests for estrogen dominance in this earlier [...]