Q: Why is it important for me to use Revivelife™ Saliva Hormone Testing?

A: At Revivelife™ we use saliva testing methods which are more representative of hormones that are available for the body to use  or ” bioavailable” and thus more representative of what is available to your body.

“Salivary levels of steroid hormones and other analytes that are protein bound in serum reflect the unbound and active concentration of the hormone. Saliva can be used as a diagnostic specimen not only to obtain information more inexpensively and efficiently than serum, but also to provide information not readily available from serum testing.” J. Nutr. 131: 1621S–1625S, 2001.

“Although saliva has not yet become a mainstream sample source for hormone analysis, it has proven to be reliable and, in some cases, even superior to other body fluids”. Clin Chem 2008; 54:11 1759-1769

“Recent studies have demonstrated that late-night salivary cortisol measurements provide a sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of Cushing’s syndrome of more than 90%, and this procedure is emerging as possibly the simplest and most effective screening tool for patients in whom the diagnosis of hypercotisolism is suspected”. Greenspan’s Basic & Clinical Endocrinology 8^Th ed. 2007 page 364.

“It is expected that the use of the measurement of salivary cortisol will become routine in the evaluation of patients with disorders of the HPA axis”. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2009 Oct;94(10):3647-55

Q: What is the Revivelife™ Blood  Hormone Panel Set 1?

A: This panel was created by Naturopathic Doctor Joel in conjunction with Gammadynacare Labs as  a method of creating more detailed results for blood testing of female hormones.  In this panel Cortisol am , FSH, LH, Estradiol, Progesterone, Testosterone, TSH, Free T3, Free T4, Prolactin, DHEAs, Growth Hormone and Hemoglobin are checked four times in the month on days 7,14,21 and 28 to compare monthly variations in hormone levels.

Q: What are the differences of using blood serum testing vs saliva testing for hormones?

A:

• Blood Serum-Measures the hormones found in the serum or ” watery” portion of blood, which have not been delivered to the cells and thus which may not give an accurate measure of ” bioavailable hormones”.
• Saliva Testing-Because hormones are from a cholesterol backbone or fat soluble, research shows that saliva represents hormones that are actually delivered to the cells or ” bio-available” .

Q: What is the Female Hormonal Saliva Test?

A: The Female Hormonal Test  is a simple, non-invasive test. Eleven saliva samples are collected during specified time periods throughout the menstrual cycle. Because hormones fluctuate during the month , the evaluation will overview Estrogen and Progesterone simultaneously, allowing for most optimum treatment. In addition, a report of the cycle average for Testosterone and DHEA. Is given. It also includes 5 FSH & LH measurements to see if brain control and stimulation of the ovaries is optimal. This is significant because ovarian estrogen production is dependant of FSH. Ovulation and progesterone are dependant on the midcycle LH surge. This assessment technique thus helps to determine the level of imbalance ie at the level of the ovaries or Higher up the axis such as the pituitary or hypothalamus and gives more accuracy in correction. This would apply in conditions such as; PMS, Menopause and Fertility Concerns

Q: Why do I need to take 11 samples for the female hormonal saliva test?

A: Taking mulitple samples throughout the month gives the ability to chart your variations of hormones over the whole month vs only having one reading.  It is possible to have a blood serum test showing that your overall hormonal level is within ” norm” however have high or low hormonal readings at different times of the month.  Mapping the whole month shows the variations that may occur daily and relates to the symptoms that change throughout the month.

Q: What is estrogen dominance and will this test show this?

A: Estrogen dominance is when  the relative amount of estrogen to progesterone is higher.  This higher ratio may lead to PMS, Peri-menopausal changes, Uterine Fibroids,  Ovarian Cysts, Fertility Concerns, Endometreosis and increased risk of Estrogen related Cancers such as Breast, Uterine and Cervical.  Early prevention is important if this ratio is high.  Factors like long term stress increases this risk of high Estrogen to Progesterone Ratio.  The female hormone test will assess your estrogen to progesterone ratio and relative risk to hormone related cancers.

Q: Why is it important to test testosterone and DHEA for female hormonal concerns?

A: In women the impact of testosterone on certain target tissues is that it counteracts estrogen. Excess testosterone in women is a good indicator of ovarian cysts. Low levels of testosterone in women may indicate low libido. With androgenic such as testosterone and estrogenic hormones being formed from DHEA it is also an important measure as a low level would reduce the formation of these hormones.

Q: Why is this an important test for me if I am concerned about hormones?

A: This is an important test to help assess and determine the corrective approaches to balance your hormonal health. The tests allow for an in-depth functional analysis of hormone relationships that affect long-term health such as:

1. Detection of Luteal Phase Defect

There are at least three luteal phase defect patterns which are characterized by a reduced output of Progesterone that leads to Estrogen dominance. This imbalance is usually associated with PMS, infertility, fibroids and other female hormonal problems and can be readily detected by our panels.

2. Hormonal Imbalance and PMS

Many women suffer from hormonal imbalance in the Estrogen to Progesterone ratio. Our panels can objectively evaluate the hormonal state with great accuracy which, in turn, provides specific insights for appropriate intervention or treatment to relieve hormonal imbalance and PMS related symptoms.

3. Customized Hormone Therapy

Presently, female hormone therapy is not individualized to the needs of each woman because current diagnostic tests do not provide sufficient data. Consequently, most women are empirically treated without regard to their individualized physiology and specific needs. The eFHP,™ for the first time, will allow a clinician to customize therapy to each female patient.

Other Applications

The eFHP™ can also be used to detect & monitor the following: • Functional infertility • Influence of lifestyle (diet, exercise, etc.) on the cycle • Menstrual problems originating in the brain • Early pregnancy problems – spontaneous miscarriage • Cycle irregularities, following the use of birth control pills • Dysmenorrhea, i.e. painful and heavy periods • Migraine headaches • Endometriosis and cystic ovarian disease • Early Osteoporosis

Q: What are the advantages of the saliva hormone test ?

A: Convenience: requires no blood draws, therefore no repeated clinic visits and avoids the inconvenience of the 24 hour urine collection.

Economy: the fee for the 11 sample test is less than that of 2 blood determinations or a urine analysis for Estrogen and Progesterone.

Physiological Accuracy: research has demonstrated that the free hormone fraction predominates in saliva. Hormones can be found free or bound to protein. The free hormone fraction is very important to ascertain because it is the bioactive fraction that most significantly influences living cells. The salivary female hormone levels correlate at 93% with the free hormones in the tissues. One or two blood determinations or a 24 hour analysis of urine for these hormones cannot give an idea of the ovaries’ hormonal productivity. The female hormal tests gives a good approximation of the ovarian capacity over a whole cycle.

The  saliva samples are gathered throughout the month  in the convenience of your home and submitted to Diagnos Tech.  The results are available approximately 2 weeks after receipt.

Information courtesy of Diagnos Tech Labs