Why Take A Womens Hormone Test
A hormone level test can tell you a lot about your bodyâs well-being. The test results can point you to a hormone imbalance, which can affect your health. This is because hormones regulate many vital functions in the body by acting as âchemical messengers.â So out-of-balance hormones can disrupt your bodyâs normal, healthy functioningâand result in a variety of symptoms.
For example, if your thyroid hormones are out of balance, you might experience symptoms like fatigue, cold sensitivity, irregular periods, dry skin, thinning hair, and more.
Or if your steroid hormones are imbalanced, you could have symptoms like increased body fat, lowered sex drive, loss of strength, and so on.
Is There Anything Else I Should Know
Blood and urine results are not interchangeable. Your healthcare practitioner will choose which estrogen and sample type to test. In addition to blood and urine, estrogen testing is occasionally also performed on saliva or on amniotic fluid.
Beyond daily and cycle variations, illnesses such as high blood pressure , anemia, and impaired liver and kidney function can affect estrogen levels.
Check The Size Of Your Balls
The size of your testicles is one of the best indicators of how much testosterone you are producing.
After all, its where they come from so if they feel small then your t-levels are low.
However, if they feel big and inflated then you likely have high testosterone.
One way to see this effect in action is to go into a department store and inhale some womens perfumes.
These products tend to contain a lot of estrogen and as a result your balls will likely shrink a bit .
Similarly, your balls will feel smaller after a night of heavy drinking since booze lowers testosterone levels.
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Why Do You Usually Recommend The Test To Be Done On Day 3
Hormones varying during menstrual cycle, therefore traditionally advice is to take day the sample on day 3. However, if it is not possible to take your sample at this time, as there are ranges for different phases of cycle, then day 3 sample is not an absolute requirement. If your sample is taken at another point in your cycle your results range will be adjusted accordingly.
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Q What Other Things Do I Need To Consider Before Taking The Test
A.There can be interferences in the results of your saliva test. It is very important to follow the directions included in the test kit as closely as possible to ensure the results are as accurate as possible. Foods and beverages can interfere with the results, therefore it is very important that the test be done upon waking, before eating or drinking anything, unless otherwise instructed. Some chewing gums and saliva increasing agents many also interfere with the results. Some medications can interfere with your results if taken just before collection. Be sure to include all medication and herbals or vitamins you are currently taking when filling out the forms included in the test kit. The use of sublingual hormones can cause elevated saliva hormone levels. If you are currently using sublingual hormones, please consult Rocky Mountain Analytical before using the saliva test kit. If you are currently using transdermal hormones, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly before carrying out the saliva collection. Traces of hormones on your hands or lips can contaminate the collection tube.
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Causes Of Estrogen Level Fluctuations
The levels of estrogen in women decrease as they approach menopause. Surgery to remove a womans ovaries can also lead to low estrogen levels. A womans estrogen levels may increase due to medications like birth control. Higher levels of the estrogen estradiol have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.
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How Do You Fix High Estrogen
Its important to keep in mind that everyones hormone levels are unique and there are a number of factors that can play a role in a persons hormonal health. With that said, there are some lifestyle changes that may potentially help in lowering estrogen levels, these include:
- Incorporate magnesium and B vitamins into your diet
- Try adding fresh and organic foods to your everyday diet whenever possible
- Get the right amount of sleep
Discover What Your Body’s Hormone Levels Are Like
This easy-to-use female hormone panel will provide you with your levels of each of the 11 biomarkers measured in our Womenâs Health test and whether your levels fall within established normal ranges for your age.
As with all of our tests, we encourage you to share your results with your doctor as he/she can best offer guidance in your health and hormonal questions.
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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.
Getting Tested At Your Healthcare Providers Office
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What Can You Learn From Hormone Testing
In some cases, hormone testing can unveil a major imbalance indicative of, say, a thyroid condition or polycystic ovary syndrome . But even a slight hormonal shift away from the optimal range can have an impact on your well-being. There are a lot of conditions that fall on the imbalance spectrum. Your cycle can be thrown off a little, or you could have PMS or premenstrual dysphoric disorder . A hormone imbalance can even put you into premature ovarian failure, which is something that can be really life-altering.
Q How Does Saliva Hormone Testing Differ From Serum Hormone Testing
A.In blood, 95 99% of steroid hormones are bound to proteins. The remaining 1 5% remains unbound and are referred to as free hormones. These free hormones are regarded as bioavailable, since they are available to bind to receptor sites. When hormone levels are measured by a serum sample, theoretically the amount of free hormone is approximately 1 -5% of the total measured. The amount of free hormone, however, cannot be distinguished from the total amount of bound and unbound hormone in the serum. As a result, the level of free hormone cannot actually be measured by serum, it can only be estimated. When hormone levels are measured by saliva samples, only the free, bioavailable hormone is measured. This is because the hormone must pass through the salivary gland into saliva by passive diffusion. This means that by the time the hormone reaches the saliva, it has already been delivered to tissue, where the receptor sites are available for binding. Therefore the amount of hormone measured in saliva should only be the free, bioavailable portion.
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What Is An Estrogen Dominance Test
Oestrogen dominance is a condition described by Dr John Lee in 1996. His theory claimed that this metabolic condition occurred when oestrogen levels were high in relation to progesterone levels. If there was an elevated oestrogen-progesterone ratio, even when oestrogen levels were normal, he considered the patient might be presenting oestrogen dominance, proposing progesterone as treatment.
This has been criticised for lacking scientific evidence in the past and, as our understanding of biochemistry and the ovarian cycle has advanced, the oestrogen dominance theory is now considered incorrect. The logic behind this theory suggested that a person that is going to be tested for oestrogen should also be tested for progesterone however, this is misleading. Progesterone should be tested when requested by your doctor, usually during pregnancy or for the determination of ovulation date.
What Does The Test Result Mean
Normal estrogen results depend upon the sex and age of the person being tested. With women, it also depends upon their menstrual cycle or whether they are pregnant. Reference ranges will vary somewhat between laboratories, both in normal values listed and in units used.
Increased or decreased levels of estrogens are seen in many metabolic conditions. Care must be used in the interpretation of estrone, estradiol, and estriol results because the levels vary on a day-to-day basis and throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle.
A healthcare practitioner who is monitoring a woman’s hormones will be looking at trends in the levels, rising or lowering over time in conjunction with the menstrual cycle or pregnancy rather than evaluating single values. Test results are not diagnostic of a specific condition but give the healthcare practitioner information about the potential cause of a person’s symptoms or status.
Below are conditions with which one might see an increase or decrease of estrogen levels.
Increased levels of estradiol or estrone are seen in:
Girls and Women:
- Tumors of the ovary or adrenal glands
Boys and Men:
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
- Extreme endurance exercise
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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
Lifestyle Changes
- 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.
Why Take The Oestrogen Test
Our Female Hormone home blood test kit allows you to measure essential female sex hormones.
It is recommended for all women over 35 to assess your risk from the menopause.
If you do have the menopause, we also recommend monitoring your Bone Health as lowered oestrogen levels put you at an increased risk of developing osteoporosis .
Note: If you are still having periods then as female hormones fluctuate over time in a natural rhythm it is important this test is taken on day three of your menstrual cycle . We recommend your periods have returned to a regular cycle before testing, if you have recently stopped hormone replacement or contraception.
Take control of your health without any of the inconvenience of going to the doctors with one of Vitalls at-home blood tests.
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Who Should Take The Oestrogen Blood Test
Check female sex hormones and assess menopausal status using a home finger-prick blood test kit.
You get the convenience of home testing with the reassurance of professional clinical analysis. Your results are delivered quickly & securely online.
This Female Hormones Test is advised if you:
- have a low sex drive & loss of libido
- are aged over 35
Take a complete health check-up with Vitall.
Why Estrogen Balance Is Critical To Aging Men
Originally Published by Life Extension Magazine
When we started offering comprehensive blood test panels, men did not understand why we were checking their estrogen levels. Back in those days, estrogen was considered a hormone of importance only to women.
We tested estrogen based on published data indicating that when estrogen levels are unbalanced, the risk of degenerative disease in aging men skyrockets. Of concern to us 14 years ago were reports showing that excess estrogen contributes to the development of atherosclerosis. Human clinical studies conducted more than a decade later confirmed our suspicions. Men with even slightly elevated estrogen levels doubled their risk of stroke and had far higher incidences of coronary artery disease. Our early observations also revealed that men presenting with benign prostate enlargement or prostate cancer had higher blood estrogen levels . Subsequent clinical studies help confirm our early observations.
Insufficient estrogen, on the other hand, predisposes men to osteoporosis and bone fracture.
The fact that 99% of men today have no idea what their blood estrogen levels are helps explain the epidemic of age-related disease that is bankrupting this nations medical system.
New Study Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association
Conventional doctors tend to ignore hard science until it appears in their own medical journals.
Low Estradiol and Testosterone Predict Mortality in Aging Men
REFERENCES
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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 Do The Results Mean
If your estradiol or estrone levels are higher than normal, it may be due to:
- Early puberty in girls delayed puberty in boys
If your estradiol or estrone levels are lower than normal, it may be due to:
- Primary ovarian insufficiency, a condition that causes a woman’s ovaries to stop working before she is 40 years old
- Turner syndrome, a condition in which a woman’s sexual characteristics don’t develop properly
- An eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa
- Polycystic ovary syndrome, a common hormone disorder affecting childbearing women. It is one of the leading causes of female infertility.
If you are pregnant and your estriol levels are lower than normal, it may mean your pregnancy is failing or that there is a chance your baby might have a birth defect. If the test shows a possible birth defect, you will need more testing before a diagnosis can be made.
Higher levels of estriol may mean you will be going into labor soon. Normally, estriol levels go up about four weeks before you start labor.
If you have questions about your results, talk to your health care provider.
Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.
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How To Test Progesterone Levels At Home
Dr. Amy Beckley, PhD, Founder and Inventor of the Proov test the first and only FDA-cleared test to confirm successful ovulation at home.
Low progesterone can make it more difficult to get pregnant. Keep reading to learn how you can test your progesterone levels at home!
If you are trying to get pregnant, you have probably heard of progesterone. This powerful hormone is critical when trying to conceive without enough of it, it can be more difficult to get pregnant!
Since progesterone is so important, you may be wondering how to know you have enough. Keep reading to learn how you can test your progesterone levels at home!