Saliva Hormone Testing

Saliva Hormone Testing: Non-Invasive Hormone Balance Test

Saliva hormone testing provides a simple, accurate, and non-invasive way to measure key hormones like testosterone, estrogen, cortisol, and others. Whether you’re experiencing symptoms of hormone imbalance, menopause, low T, or adrenal fatigue, saliva testing offers precise insights into your hormonal health. Forum Health specializes in advanced hormone saliva tests, providing patients with comprehensive results and guidance from specialists.

What is a Saliva Hormone Test?

When accessing your hormonal health, saliva hormone testing is one of the simplest, non-invasive methods to measure free steroid hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, androgens, thyroid hormones, and cortisol to help diagnose any hormonal imbalances.

How Does A Hormone Spit Test Work?

Used as an alternative to blood testing, saliva hormone testing is most commonly an at-home testing kit to test for hormonal imbalances. To complete a spit test at home, follow instructions thoroughly:

Follow the pamphlet’s instructions and your doctor’s guidance diligently. Before the test, you may need to avoid eating, drinking, or brushing your teeth.
Depending on the test, you will either spit into a tube or use a cotton swab to collect saliva.
You’ll collect multiple saliva samples throughout the day to more accurately see what your hormones are doing through a 24-hour period (vs. a snapshot like blood tests).
When completed, you’ll usually store the samples in the refrigerator or freezer.

Analysis:

Once sent to the lab, your saliva is most likely analyzed using immunoassay (like an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or radioimmunoassay (RIA) – the most common method. These tests use antibodies to detect and measure the concentration of specific hormones in the saliva. Some labs use liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), considered a more sensitive and specific method for at-home analysis.
Once the samples are analyzed, your doctor will sit down with you and review your results compared to optimal and normal ranges to pinpoint a diagnosis.

What are the Benefits of Salivary Hormone Tests?

Patients prefer salivary hormone tests because they’re a non-invasive and simple process that’s precise and accurate. Spit tests primarily measure hormones that are not bound to proteins in the blood – ensuring biologically active hormones are able to affect the body’s tissues. This provides a more accurate picture of what’s going on in your hormones.

In addition to testing for hormone imbalances, patients use at-home salivary tests to monitor their hormones when undergoing hormone therapy, especially when they are administered orally. Lastly, the multiple collections ensure more precision in hormone testing to assess how your hormones are fluctuating over a 24-hour period – or longer.

Who’s a Good Candidate for Saliva Hormone Testing?

Saliva hormone testing is appropriate for individuals with:

Symptoms like fatigue, mood swings, weight gain, low libido, missed periods, infertility, muscle or bone density loss – just to name a few.
Women going through perimenopause or menopause.
Men experiencing symptoms of low testosterone who want to check their testosterone levels.

Men and women with high stress or any kind of adrenal dysfunction that’s causing health symptoms.

Saliva vs. Blood Hormone Testing: Which is Better?

Saliva testing for hormones vs. blood testing for hormones have different functions, and it’s best to talk to your healthcare provider about which options are best for you. Here’s a breakdown of the differences:

Saliva test: This pain-free, at-home test gives patients more flexibility to test their hormonal levels. Saliva tests hormones in the saliva vs. in the blood, which detect “free hormones” much more accurately. This method measures the bioavailability of hormones, which is highly accurate for measuring cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels. It’s also superior when assessing adrenal function and cortisol levels.

Blood test: A bit more invasive and at a doctor’s office, a blood test requires a needle and blood drawn away from your home and at a doctor’s office. It analyzes hormone levels in the serum (liquid part of the blood) and measures the total hormone levels like thyroid hormones, FSH, and LH. However, this only takes a snapshot of what’s going on with a single blood draw vs. multiple saliva samples over the course of a 24+ period.

If you’re looking for better accuracy around your adrenal function, cortisol levels, or sex hormones (testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen), then saliva testing may be the best choice. Generally, saliva tests are deemed more accurate for measuring free, bioavailable hormones than blood tests. As always, talk to a healthcare specialist about your needs to determine which test is right for you.

Ready to get started?

Forum Health is committed to empowering you on your path to well-being. Don’t let hormonal imbalances dictate your quality of life. Take the first step towards a healthier, happier you with our specialized hormone saliva testing.

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FAQs

Is saliva testing for hormones accurate?

Yes. Saliva testing is considered the most accurate when measuring free, bioavailable hormones in your body. Saliva is collected multiple times over the course of 24+ hours, giving hormone specialists a clearer look at the fluctuations happening over time vs. a single snapshot with blood tests. However, it depends on what you’re testing for, so always talk to your healthcare provider if a saliva test is best for you.

When is the best time to do a saliva hormone test?

The short answer is: it depends. For cortisol and adrenal assessments, a few tests in the morning may be prescribed, while for female health testing, specific times of your cycle throughout the month will be required for accurate saliva testing results. Most testing requires multiple collections throughout the day.

What hormone does saliva test for stress?

Cortisol, nicknamed “the stress hormone”. Saliva tests measure the cortisol that is not bound to proteins in the blood – a form that is bioactivity readily available to the tissues. Cortisol levels fluctuate throughout the day, so multiple collections are required over a period of time to determine the most accurate results.

Is saliva testing better than blood testing?

If you’re looking for accuracy around your adrenal function, cortisol levels, or sex hormones (testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen), then saliva testing may be a more accurate and comfortable choice. While blood testing is better suited for thyroid function, FSA and LH levels, it doesn’t provide a thorough and accurate analysis of the whole hormonal picture.

Where to Find Saliva Hormone Testing Near Me

If you’re ready to get to the bottom of your symptoms and target key hormonal imbalances, then our Forum Health hormone specialists can help. Our team of functional doctors will work with you one-on-one for accurate and precise saliva hormone testing. With evidence-based, holistic treatments like bioidentical hormone therapy, supplementation, dietary and lifestyle shifts (and more!) you can get your health back on track to feel more energized, rested, and healthy.

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