Best Home Hormone Test Kit
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Home testing kits typically use saliva or blood from the fingertip to measure your levels of cortisol, key thyroid hormones, and sex hormones such as progesterone and testosterone. Some tests may require a urine sample.
In spite of that, are at home hormone tests accurate?
Cost range: a basic urine test is only about $9.99, while a more extensive blood test can cost anywhere from $39 to $59. The verdict: Unfortunately, high or low levels of all these hormones is not a reliable indication of whether or not you are going through menopause, says Salas-Whalen.
By no means, is there an at home estrogen test? Estrogens can be tested in blood, urine, or saliva. Blood or urine is usually tested in doctors office or lab. Saliva tests can be done at home.
Somehow, how do I know if my hormones are balanced?
5 Signs Your Hormones Are Out of Balance
What kind of doctor do you see for hormone imbalance?
In medicine when a doctor specialises in diagnosing and treating conditions that are caused by, or that affect your hormones, they are called an endocrinologist. Most endocrinologists work in endocrinology and/or diabetes departments in general hospitals, rather than in a GPs surgery.
Treatment For A Hormonal Imbalance
There are many different treatment options for hormonal imbalances. The treatment you ultimately be given will depend on which hormone exactly is unbalance as well as the underlying cause of the imbalance. Sometimes, a life event might cause such a fluctuation in your hormones, such as menopause. In that case, your treatment would be short term one. However, if you have a genetic disorder that causes a lifelong hormonal imbalance, you will need to pursue a more prolonged course of medications.
Hormone therapy is a common treatment for hormonal imbalances. Women who are witnessing uncomfortable menopausal symptoms may choose estrogen therapy. Testosterone therapy is a common choice for men with low testosterone levels or adolescents facing delayed puberty. Taking thyroid hormones can help individuals with hypothyroidism. Such hormone replacement therapies may come in the form of pills, patches, or even injections. Your doctor will help you choose the appropriate dosage by checking your hormone levels test results. This is how he will determine the right amount of supplemented hormone you will need to recreate the balance.
Bioidentical hormones can be produced by pharmaceutical companies using different doses. Examples include bi-estrogen which is 50 to 80 percent estriol combined with estradiol, or tri-estrogen which is 10 percent estrone, 10 percent estradiol, and 80 percent estriol.
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Low Estrogen Levels And Weight Gain: Is There A Connection
Sex hormones, such as estrogen, influence the amount of fat in the body. Estrogen regulates glucose and lipid metabolism. If your estrogen levels are low, it can result in weight gain.
Research suggests that this may be why women approaching menopause are likely to become overweight. Being overweight can increase your risk for obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
If your estrogen levels are low and its affecting your weight, speak with your doctor. They can assess your symptoms and advise you on next steps. Its always a good idea to try to eat a balanced diet and exercise as often as possible. Talk with your doctor about developing a diet and exercise plan thats right for you.
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When Should You Get A Hormone Blood Test
If you have symptoms of a possible hormonal imbalance, you might need to get a hormone blood test. According to the Society for Endocrinology, its usually best to have your blood drawn for a hormone test in the first half of your menstrual cycle, because levels are more distinct at that time. However, if youre having a progesterone test to see if youre ovulating properly, it will likely be measured on day 21 of your cycle, which is in the middle of the second half.
What Is A Menopause Home Test
A menopause home test is a simple, noninvasive way to check for certain hormones in your blood, saliva, or urine. The primary hormone that these tests assess is follicle-stimulating hormone . FSH is a hormone released by the pituitary gland. Its involved in the menstrual cycle and egg development.
FSH level fluctuates over the menstrual cycle. It increases each month temporarily to stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs. It also rises as you approach menopause because your ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone. Therefore, your FSH levels can indicate if your body is preparing for menopause.
Some tests may also check your levels of estradiol, a form of estrogen, and luteinizing hormone . Estradiol thickens the uterine lining in preparation for egg implantation. After menopause, estradiol levels decrease while LH levels increase.
If youre approaching menopause or experiencing symptoms that may be related to hormonal changes, a menopause home test could be a helpful tool.
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Common Hormone Testing For Women
Before you begin your search and compare your options, lets take a look at 12 lab tests designed to help identify hormonal imbalances in women.
1. DHEA-S
This acronym stands for Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate. This is a weak male hormone that adrenal glands produce in both men and women.
What It Measures
A DHEA-S test measures the level of this hormone in your blood. It is appropriate for women who appear to have too many male hormones.
Clinical Test Reference Range
Normal levels of DHEA-S will vary depending on each individuals sex and age. The average normal ranges for females measured in mcg/dL, as reported by Quest, are listed below.
- < 1 Month: 15-261
There is a particular group of steroids responsible for regulating your menstrual cycle and functioning as your main female sex hormones. This group includes the most predominant form of estrogen, called Estradiol, also referenced as Estradiol-17 Beta or E2.
What It Measures
An Estradiol test measures the level of Estradiol in your blood.
As its produced mainly in your ovaries, doctors can analyze this hormonal activity to see if your organs are functioning as they should.
Clinical Test Reference Range
Normal levels of Estradiol in women will vary depending on the menstrual cycle and age. The following Estradiol levels are considered normal for women, as reported by Quest.
- Follicular Phase: 19-144 pg/mL
Normal levels for postmenopausal women should be lower than 10 pg/mL.
What an Imbalance Means
What Causes A Hormone Imbalance
Hormonal imbalance can occur when the endocrine glands are not functioning properly, for example, the thyroid gland and pituitary gland. An overactive or underactive thyroid can cause a hormonal imbalance.
If you suffer from chronic stress, then high levels of the stress hormone cortisol will impact the production of other key hormones such as progesterone. The body will create more cortisol by using available progesterone, thus depleting progesterone levels. Progesterone is a key balancing hormone so will impact the production of other hormones such as oestrogen.
Conditions such as type 1 and 2 diabetes and Cushings syndrome can also result in a hormone imbalance.
And finally, a poor diet and lack of good nutrition will also have an impact, as well as your age. As women enter the menopause around their mid-forties their hormones will begin to fluctuate.
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How To Check Hormone Levels At Home
Hereâs how to test hormone levels from the comfort of home:
The Everlywell Womenâs Health test lets you easily check for 11 key hormones all from the comfort of your own home. The kit includes everything you needâ even a prepaid shipping label to send your samples to the lab.
This easy-to-use female hormone test can detect an imbalance, and it also includes detailed instructions for how to collect your blood and saliva samples.
To collect your blood sample, just prick your finger and apply a few drops of blood to the collection card. The saliva sample is collected by spitting into the saliva tubes provided in the kit.
Youâll then send your samples to the lab, and just a few days later, your test results will be ready to view on our secure, online portal.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Low Estrogen In Men
In men, male menopause may result from too little estrogen in addition to lower testosterone levels, at least according to some recent studies. Diminished libido, strength and energy are the main symptoms. However, testosterone levels tend not to fall as sharply in aging men as estrogen does in women who are post-menopausal. Further research is needed to determine if changes that come with aging are due to hormonal declines and if so, which hormones are the culprit.
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How To Test Your Estrogen Levels At Home
If you suspect you have a hormonal imbalance, your first step may be looking for how to test estrogen levels at home. Whether you are working with your healthcare professionals, or are just looking for insight, at-home hormone tests provide a solution for you to monitor your hormones on your own. Its important to note that at-home tests do not diagnose or prescribe, they simply provide you with results.
The most common type of at-home test is a urine test, where you collect a sample to be analyzed for hormone levels. This classic pee on a stick method is used for a variety of reasons from measuring important fertility hormones like follicle-stimulating hormone to checking your estrogen levels.
Though less common, you can also check your estrogen levels at home via blood or saliva test. Depending on the test you choose, home collection kits may involve additional steps such as mailing the sample back to a lab before receiving the results of your hormone panel.
Can Hormone Imbalances Be Treated
In many cases, hormonal imbalances are treatable. For example, your healthcare provider may recommend hormone replacement therapy for certain thyroid hormone disorders, menopausal symptoms, and more.
Hormone therapy isnât the only possible way to treat hormonal imbalances, however. For example, your healthcare provider may prescribe medication that blocks the effects of testosterone if your T levels are too high.
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How To Increase Estrogen Levels Naturally
Foods To Eat
- Soybeans Soybeans or its products like tofu contain genistein, a plant product that mimics the effects of estrogen in the body. These bind to estrogen receptors producing estrogen-like benefits. These plant products are called phytoestrogens.
- Flax Seeds Flax seeds also contain phytoestrogens called lignans which are helpful in estrogen metabolism.
- Sesame Seeds Sesame seeds are a dietary source of phytoestrogens and are found to be beneficial based on animal studies.
Vitamins And Minerals
- B vitamins Are found to create and activate estrogens in the body
- Vitamin D Plays an important role in estrogen synthesis. Vitamin D supplementation is important in individuals with low estrogen levels.
- Boron Is a mineral necessary for the metabolism of estrogen. Boron influences the estrogen receptors and allows the body to use the estrogen available in the body more easily.
- DHEA Is a natural hormone in the body that is converted to estrogen. DHEA is found to produce the same effects as that of estrogen.
Herbal Supplements
- Exercises Increasing weight-bearing exercises improve bone health that is affected because of low estrogen levels.
- Caffeine and tobacco consumption can alter estrogen levels.
With the knowledge on why and how to test estrogen levels, one can easily get the tests done for information about fertility, the health of a pregnancy, menstruation cycle, and a variety of related health conditions.
Is This Test Still Useful If I Am Using A Form Of Contraception
If you are taking a progesterone only form of contraception such as progesterone-only pill, progesterone implant, or Minerva coil then this test is still useful as these forms of conception do not suppress normal production of FSH, LH, or oestradiol. This test is not useful if taking a combined form of conception e.g the combined oral conceptive pill .
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Everlywell Womens Health Test
The Everlywell womens health test measures levels of 10 key hormones in your body, including total testosterone, thyroid-stimulating hormone, free T3, free T4, cortisol, DHEAS, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, progesterone, and estradiol. It also checks for thyroid peroxidase antibodies, which can interfere with the function of your thyroid gland.
When youre ready to check out, youll be able to pay for your at-home hormone test with a credit or debit card, HSA or FSA account, or PayPal. Your kit comes with everything you need to collect blood and saliva samples and send them to the lab for processing. Everlywell also offers free shipping both ways to help keep your testing costs low.
Everlywell uses CLIA-certified laboratories to ensure the accuracy of your results. Once your sample arrives at the lab, you can expect to receive the results via email in no more than five business days. Physician support is included in the price of the kit to ensure you can ask questions and find out if theres anything you need to do to follow up on results that fall outside of normal ranges. Everlywell doesnt accept insurance, but you dont need to see a doctor before you order a hormone test kit, so home testing can still help you save money.
Cost: $199
How We Chose The Best At
In conducting our research, we reviewed more than 18 at-home kits from varying companies. We evaluated each one based on company history, testing kit quality, laboratory review policies, results sampling, website navigability, cost, and turnaround times. We also reviewed company privacy policies, if the company provided reimbursement information, and if additional counseling was available. Through this process, we selected and recommended six testing kits.
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Symptoms Of Low Progesterone Levels
Progesterone is primarily responsible for keeping your reproductive system healthy. Low levels of progesterone can mean estrogen dominance. So, you need to keep an eye out for the following symptoms:
- Migraines or Headaches
There are two main problems associated with low levels of progesterone. You may either have trouble conceiving or you may experience heightened symptoms of menopause. High progesterone levels not only increase your chances of conceiving, but it can also help in relieving the symptoms of menopause in some cases.
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Hormonal Imbalance In Children: Does It Exist
Yes. Hormonal imbalances in children typically occur around puberty. This is when the sex hormones are first produced, signaling future growth in the body. Children whose bodies produce few or no sex hormones often have a condition known as hypogonadism.
In boys, hypogonadism stops the body from producing the muscle mass, body hair, and voice changes that are associated with puberty. The sex organs dont develop as they should, and the arms and legs will experience an excessive amount of growth compared to the trunk. Boys may also develop breast tissue. When girls have hypogonadism, they dont develop breast tissue, start their menstrual cycle, or experience the growth spurt thats typical of puberty.
Hypogonadism can occur either because the gonads are not producing the right hormone levels or, because the pituitary gland and hypothalamus arent signaling to the gonads to produce hormones at all. Though hypogonadism is a common cause of developmental and growth problems, there are other causes that may be causative. Always speak with your healthcare provider to gt the proper diagnosis of any abnormal development in children.
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How Can You Choose The Best At Home Hormone Testing Kit
Besides looking for a testing service that uses CLIA-accredited laboratories to test samples, youll also need to choose which test kit is right for you. There are a variety of different types of hormone testing kits available, and different specific tests may be included in each one.
For example, when testing sex hormones, a man might choose to test only testosterone. However, he might want to test estrogen as well, since this hormone is also important for mens health. A woman might want to test the hormones LH and FSH, along with estrogen and prolactin, to find out whether shes entered menopause or is still in her fertile years. She may want a progesterone test to see whether ovulation is occurring, or if shes having symptoms that indicate low progesterone.
Some home test kits also check levels of other hormones, such as cortisol or thyroid hormones. If youre feeling sluggish and low on energy, or if youre frequently feeling anxious, then testing these hormones could be beneficial. If you want comprehensive home hormone testing, then you may need to order multiple separate home test kits, in order to ensure that you get all of the tests that you want.
Who Gets An Estrogen Test
Doctors may recommend testing of estradiol or estrone for symptoms such as:
- Menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and irregular menstrual periods
If you take hormone therapy to treat symptoms of menopause, your doctor may give you an E1 or E2 test to see how well treatment is going.
Girls whose sex organs develop earlier or later than normal may also get tested for E1 and E2 levels.
Doctors usually test E3 during pregnancy, when it temporarily becomes the main estrogen. Abnormal levels of estriol may be a sign of problems with the babyâs health — but youâd get a lot more tests to find out for sure.
You might need several tests to track changes in your estrogen levels over time.
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