This is a great test for getting started, simple, painless, and cost effective. Covering a variety of hormones is key because they are all synergystic.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Saliva vs Blood or Urine
Advantage – Saliva tests are convinient and painless.
Advantage – Hormones fluxuate often and saliva collection shows the average level for about the past 3 hours. This gives a very accurate test result.
Advantage – Saliva testing is the cheapest testing model for the amount of hormons covered.
Disadvantage – The hormones that can be seen are limited. For more advanced testing, blood, or 24 hour urine is required.
Though each test contains instructions, here are some additional points.
- Wash face before bedtime the night before collecting saliva, and do not apply lotions or creams that night or next morning (some may contain interfering substances). Use of routine cosmetics is permitted.
- Do not brush, floss teeth or have dental work done 30 minutes prior to collecting saliva. Slight bleeding from these may alter test results.
- The timing of the first morning collection is critical; it must be collected thrity minutes after awakening. Begin timing upon awakening even if you remain in bed.
- Avoid food one hour prior to saliva collection times. Food particles will contaminate the sample.
Another thing to note are specific instructions for women and men.
FOR MEN
MEN NOT ON HORMONES:
Collect saliva on any day.
IF YOU ARE TAKING HORMONES:
- Topical hormones (cream): DO NOT APPLY ANY TOPICAL HORMONES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DAY OF SALIVA COLLECTION. This will contaminate your sample and compromise your tests results. Your last dose prior to saliva collection should be applied within a window of 12-24 hours before collecting your first saliva sample.
- Sublingual hormones or troches (dissolved under tongue): DO NOT USE ANY SUBLINGUAL HORMONES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DAY OF SALIVA COLLECTION. This will contaminate your sample and compromise your test results. Your last dose prior to saliva collection should be taken within a window of24-36 hours before collecting your first saliva sample, followed by two 8 oz. galsses of water.
- Oral hormones (pills): Should be used as prescribed on the day of collection.
- Injections, subcutaneous pellets and transdermal patches: The recommended dosage interval is mid regimen.
- Cortisol supplementation: CONSULT WITH YOUR PROVIDER for instruction if you are taking cortisol supplementaion for adrenal support. When testing cortisol (for baseline adrenal function), STOP USING CORTISOL CONTAINING PRODUCTS 5 DAYS PRIOR TO SALIVA COLLECTION. (Cortisol containing products include OTC hydrocortisone creams, etc.)
FOR WOMEN
WOMAN WITH MENSTRUAL CYCLES:
Collect saliva on day 19, 20, 21 of your cycle, counting the first day of your period as day 1.
POST MENOPAUSAL WOMEN OR WOMEN WHO HAVE HAD A HYSTERECTOMY:
Collect saliva any day of the month.
WOMEN TAKING HORMONE REPLACEMENT OR BIRTH CONTROL (REGARDLESS OF MENSTRUAL CYCLE):
- Topical hormones (cream): DO NOT APPLY ANY TOPICAL HORMONES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DAY OF SALIVA COLLECTION. This will contaminate your sample and compromise your tests results. Your last dose prior to saliva collection should be applied within a window of 12-24 hours before collecting your first saliva sample.
- Sublingual hormones or troches (dissolved under tongue): DO NOT USE ANY SUBLINGUAL HORMONES THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE DAY OF SALIVA COLLECTION. This will contaminate your sample and compromise your test results. Your last dose prior to saliva collection should be taken within a window of24-36 hours before collecting your first saliva sample, followed by two 8 oz. galsses of water.
- Oral hormones (pills): Should be used as prescribed on the day of collection.
- Injections, subcutaneous pellets and transdermal patches: The recommended dosage interval is mid regimen.
- Cortisol supplementation: CONSULT WITH YOUR PROVIDER for instruction if you are taking cortisol supplementaion for adrenal support. When testing cortisol (for baseline adrenal function), STOP USING CORTISOL CONTAINING PRODUCTS 5 DAYS PRIOR TO SALIVA COLLECTION. (Cortisol containing products include OTC hydrocortisone creams, etc.)
- IUD does not change usual testing guidelines.
his test includes the following hormones:
- Testosterone
- DHT
- Estrone
- Estradiol
- Estriol
- DHEA
- Progesterone
- Cortisol AM
- Melatonin
- Progesterone 17OH
- Androstenedione
