Hormone Testing and YOU

Normally we don't think about hormones when we are young. They keep us youthful, happy and healthy. However, as we age our hormones gradually begin to decrease. The hormones that were keeping us happy, healthy and agile are now beginning to deplete causing an imbalance in our mind and bodies. Having a balance is critical to our physical and emotional well-being. With a reduction in these critical hormones we may begin to feel tired and lethargic, gain weight, become a little forgetful, lose interest in outside events, overall our zest for life is not what it once was,

Andropause in men and menopause in women begin to impact our lives. Hormone balance is important for age related concerns such as breast cancer, dementia, cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, not to mention our sexual desire is diminished (low libido).To understand what hormone or hormones we are lacking, we need be tested.

Hormone testing is an important tool to determine our optimal hormone balance. Our hormones govern many of our physiological functions such as sexuality, reproduction, thyroid function, bone density, cholesterol and certain aspects of normal brain function. When we think of hormones, we generally think of the sex hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. There are other hormones to consider also such as cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). So how do we take back control of our hormone imbalance? To understand what is going on, most professionals will review your symptoms and have lab work done to see which hormones are out of balance. This will give your healthcare professional an overall picture of what needs to be addressed. There are three types of hormone tests. Urine, blood and saliva.

The Urine test is the oldest method of hormone testing. Hormones appear in large amounts in the urine, more than in blood or saliva. To measure hormones in urine you must collect all urine produced in a 24-hour period. If all of the urine is not collected this may cause the test to be unreliable. Also, any type of kidney impairment may cause the levels to be unreliable. Urine tests only measure the total amount of hormones produced for the day and not the high and low levels that can occur throughout the day.

Blood testing is probably the most common test preformed. When we think of blood testing, many think of pain and needles. Testing now requires smaller blood samples because of improved testing techniques. Blood tests measure hormone concentrations in the serum or plasma part of the blood. This test looks for the protein bound and unbound hormones in the serum. Limitations for the blood test is that it can be considered a snapshot in time and that hormone levels can change over the course of the day. Blood testing evaluates all circulating hormones regardless of their availability to our body. Blood testing is still the mainstay of all lab testing.

Saliva testing is the best indicator of your body's need for hormone replacement. Saliva measure the bio-available or "free fraction" of the hormone. Collections are precisely time to correspond with cycles and daily hormonal patterns. Saliva testing is Non-invasive, economical and can be collected at home with no special handling requirements.

Hormone testing is a means to evaluate and maintain proper hormone balance. No matter which test your health professional will use, this information along with your symptoms will help to determine if hormone treatment is right for you. Don't waste another day. You DO NOT have to feel this way. Let me help you!!

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