Why Saliva Hormone Testing?

Saliva hormone testing has been proven for decades to be the most reliable testing format for evaluating the free, bioavailable hormone activity at the cellular level. Hormone levels in saliva represent the quantity of the hormone that is currently available to target tissues and actively exerting specific effects on the body. Because of this, salivary hormone levels often relate to specific symptoms of hormone excesses or deficiencies.  In order to achieve the perfect balance, we certainly have to know where someone's hormonal level is at the time of symptoms.

Why Not a Blood Draw?

The results of the saliva test are the actual level of hormone at the cellular level, not what is in the blood stream.  There is no relationship between what is in the cell and what is in the blood serum. Steroid hormones in the bloodstream are mostly bound to carrier proteins. Blood that is taken from the veins, or serum, will only show the amount of bound hormone, and in this form we are unable to target specific tissues.

Advantages of Saliva Testing 

• Measures the bioavailable ("free") levels of steroid hormones, correlating with symptomatology and potential deficiency
• Samples are collected by the patient at home, allowing convenient timing of collection especially for cortisol, which must be measured at specific times of the day or night
• Hormone levels can be assessed during topical hormone supplementation
• Convenience of collection allows frequent sampling (during a menstrual cycle, fertility problems can be determined)
• Saliva collection avoids the stress of a blood draw, which can affect levels of cortisol
• Hormones are stable in saliva at room temperature for up to 2 weeks, allowing for shipment and convenient mailing of samples for testing.
• Saliva testing is less expensive than conventional serum testing

Saliva Testing Helps Physicians:

• Identify specific hormone imbalances associated with symptoms
• Identify hormone imbalances prior to the appearance of symptoms or disease
• Establish hormone baselines prior to beginning therapy
• Monitor hormone levels while supplementing, allowing for individualized hormone dosing

How do I get a saliva test?