I would like to thank Wray Whyte for providing the information on hormone testing, a great deal of research has gone into finding the correct information. All too often people will say that their hormone levels are 'normal' - but what is normal? Ask to see your results, you paid for them. I hope that this page will be of benefit to you all. It is important that you look at the links and research papers given.
This is something for you all to think about when having your estrogen level/s tested. There are 3 major naturally produced estrogens:
Once in menopause our E2 level should drop, but E1 rises. Doctors are fixated on E2, whether we are menopausal or not. E3 is of course the pregnancy estrogen. No test is ever done for the many estrogen mimics which all of us have in our blood now. There are over 100 of them see the website Our Stolen Future. It is the estrogen mimics which are a concern. Having a test for E2 only is incorrect. Strictly speaking all 3 should be tested, try if you can and insist that they test all 3. However, very few doctors or labs will test all 3 estrogen levels for reasons only they can explain. Perhaps it's because they look for a low level of E2 as an excuse to prescribe HRT, which should never be taken. They then ignore the other 2 estrogens. You decide.
There are 2 forms of testing:
Advantages of saliva hormone testing:
Disadvantages of saliva hormone testing:
Please note: The first figures given below are the Conventional Unit and the second figures are the SI Unit.
The Conventional Unit is usually used in America, while the SI Unit is used by the rest of the world. Reference ranges can vary between countries and laboratories. Some results are given in pg/ml and others in ng/ml, or pmol/L and nmol/L. A pg/pmol is 1000 times smaller than a ng/nmol.
Even more confusing, if there is only one Unit given, that is the standard the world over. For conversion factors see here.
All too often women are told that their progesterone and estrogen levels are 'normal'. The critical factor is not the LEVELS of each hormone, but rather the RATIO of progesterone to estrogen which is often written as P:E2, this is vital.
If saliva tests are performed, finding the ratio is easy - simply divide the estrogen result into the progesterone result. Adding to this complication which is often overlooked is that in blood tests, estrogen is measured in pg/ml and progesterone is ng/ml. A pg is 1000 times smaller than an ng, so divide the estrogen result by 1000 to convert it to ng. Then divide this into the progesterone result as per example:
If BLOOD tests are done and the estrogen result is 250pg/ml and the progesterone result is 5ng/ml - first divide 250 by 1000 = 0.25ng/ml then divide 5 by 0.25 = 20. The progesterone/estrogen RATIO is 20:1, it should be 600:1 and over. If SALIVA tests are done, simply divide the estrogen result into the progesterone result.
When to test Progesterone Levels? ~ The test should be done approximately 7 days after ovulation or before bleeding.
Progesterone - blood/serum
Pregnancy - serum
Estrogen (E1) - serum
Estradiol (E2) - serum
Testosterone total - serum
Free Testosterone - ranges from 1 to 4% of total
Free Testosterone - ranges from 1 to 4% of total
Progesterone - saliva
Estradiol (E2) - saliva
Testosterone - saliva
Serum hCG levels
GA (gestational age) occasionally given as LMP (last menstrual period). NOTE: this is not taken from time of conception, but from the last menstrual period. If the date of conception is known, take off the days for the follicular phase.
SHBG - sex hormone binding globulin
FSH levels
LH levels - an LH level higher than FSH is a possibler indication of PCOS
Prolactin
Vitamin D3 - essential test
The test should be done for 25-hydroxyvitamin D, also called calcidiol. The following list gives an indication of levels of vitamin D found in the blood:
PTH - parathyroid hormone
TSH - thyroid stimulating hormone or thyrotrophin
T3 total - triiodothyronine
T4 total - thyroxine or tetraiodothyronie
Iodine
Median Population Urinary Iodine Values (g/L)
CRP - C-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation
The level of CRP rises when there is inflammation throughout the body, normally none should be found
And
Homocysteine - a marker for inflammation
MDA - Malondialdehyde, a marker for oxidative stress/inflammation, it forms when lipids are oxidised
Cholesterol
Total cholesterol
HDL cholesterol
LDL cholesterol
Triglycerides
DHEA sulphate - Dehydroepiandrosterone-sulphate
Cortisol
Normally cortisol levels rise and fall during the day, repeating on a 24 hour cycle (diurnal variation). Highest levels are at about 6 - 8am and lowest levels are around midnight.
Physical and emotional stress can increase cortisol levels, because during the normal stress response, the pituitary gland increases its release of ACTH.
Higher than normal cortisol levels are expected in women who take estrogen (HRT)or birth control pills.
Glucose - fasting
Insulin resistance
The following are often tested:
Liver Function tests
Disclaimer: Although this web site is not intended to be prescriptive, it is intended, and hoped, that it will induce in you a sufficient level of scepticism about some health care practices to impel you to seek out medical advice that is not captive to purely commercial interests, or blinded by academic and institutional hubris. You are encouraged to refer any health problem to a health care practitioner and, in reference to any information contained in this web site, preferably one with specific knowledge of progesterone therapy.
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