Hormones: Testing
HORMONES: TESTING
Have you had your hormones tested? Do you remember the time of day or time of month they were tested? Was it blood, saliva or urine? If you’re not doing the right type of sample at the right time your results could be meaningless, and your concerns could be overlooked.
Hormones act as chemical messengers in your body. They control many different functions, such as your stress response, hunger, metabolism, temperature, mood, and of course your menstrual cycle and fertility. Issues with hormones can present as: menstrual irregularities, perimenopause, weight gain, acne, low libido, hair loss, abnormal hair growth, constipation, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and plenty more.
Hormonal testing is essential to understanding what is going on below the surface. Many hormonal concerns have overlapping symptoms, so testing is used to eliminates the guesswork. The key is to know when the testing should be done and what type of testing is required . Proper testing allows us to get to the root cause of your symptoms to get you feeling better, sooner.
TIMING
Both the time of day and time of month matter when it comes to accurately testing your hormones. Progesterone for example needs to be tested 5-7 days after ovulation (day 19-21), versus LH (luteinizing hormone, released from the pituitary gland) needs to be tested on day 3 of you cycle. If you have an irregular cycle, Basal Body Temperature tracking can be used to map out your cycle and ensure we get the most accurate results possible.
BLOOD TESTS
We use blood tests to measure estrogen, progesterone, pituitary function (LH, FSH, and prolactin) and thyroid function, as well as vitamin D, vitamin B12, iron levels, blood sugar and insulin levels. Testing can be done at any Life Labs location.
When it comes to your health and your hormones, don’t guess. Find a healthcare provider that will run the proper tests, at the proper time to help uncover the root cause of your symptoms and restore your balance.