A Salivary Hormone Test for Sex Hormones Plus DHEA
Menopause Plus™ is a hormone test for menopausal women that can be used to identify hormonal imbalances. To enhance clinical utility, patient results are provided in comparison to standard reference ranges for various healthy cohorts and in comparison to a cohort of supplemented peri/menopausal women.
The Menopause Plus hormone test provides information about the impact that shifting hormone levels can have in women during perimenopause and menopause and in men during andropause (male menopause). In addition, imbalances of other steroid hormones, such as DHEA, can influence sex-hormone production. The scientific literature confirms that hormone imbalances can be associated with common symptoms such as:
- Hot flashes
- Mood instability
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Cognition
- Weight gain
- Low sex drive and performance issues
- Sleep disturbances
- Altered fat metabolism
- Altered blood-sugar control
- Vaginal atrophy
- Hair Loss
Why use the Menopause Check Plus profile?
Establishing baseline measurements of key hormones is critical in determining the need for and response to hormone therapy (HT). The Menopause Check Plus salivary assessment offers several advantages for patients presenting with hormone-related symptoms:
- Comprehensive testing: a single saliva sample, collected between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM, provides overview levels for all three estrogens, progesterone, and testosterone, plus post-awakening levels of DHEA.
- Reporting: reference and therapeutic ranges enabling the physician to choose the optimal reference cohort for their patient
- Patient ease-of-use: saliva testing is simple, non-invasive and at-home collection
Imbalanced hormone production affects a wide range of body functions, producing symptoms that can negatively affect the quality of life. Identification and targeted treatment of hormonal imbalances using customized hormone therapy, targeted nutritional supplementation and/or diet/lifestyle recommendations can improve symptoms and enhance quality of life.
To meet the individual needs of patients and clinical objectives, Genova offers two additional salivary hormone tests in the Menopause series, with varying collection time frames and specimen requirements.
- Menopause Plus – Menopause profile analytes plus cortisol, DHEA, and melatonin (8 samples; 7 days)
Clinical Overview
What is Salivary Hormone testing?
Salivary hormone testing is an easy, non-invasive diagnostic option to measure unbound and biologically active levels of key hormones. Depending on the salivary profile selected, these include the complete array of sex hormones, with select profiles also offering adrenal hormones (cortisol and/or DHEA), and the pineal hormone, melatonin. The option to assess adrenal hormones and melatonin in addition to sex hormones provides clinical insight into how these hormones function in concert and how they may be influencing the range of presenting symptoms. Menopause Plus is Genova’s most comprehensive salivary hormone profile.
Biomarkers offered:
- Estrone (E1)
- Estradiol (E2)
- Estriol (E3)
- Progesterone
- Testosterone
- Progesterone/Estradiol Ratio (P/E2)
- Cortisol
- DHEA
- Melatonin
The advantage of measuring hormones on different days and at different times of the day, depending on clinical objectives, providing insight into irregular patterns of hormone secretion over time in female patients.
When should Salivary Hormone testing be considered?
Salivary Hormone testing, such as the comprehensive panel offered by the Menopause Plus™ profile, is designed to assist in the management of hormone-related symptoms in both males and females such as:
- Weight gain
- Anxiety
- Fatigue
- Muscle mass loss
- Muscle weakness
- Low libido and sexual performance issues
- Hair loss
- Sleep disturbances
- Brain fog
- Mood instability
- Hot flashes
- Vaginal dryness
The various profiles are ideal for establishing a baseline assessment of parent hormones and their metabolites ahead of clinical intervention with hormone therapy (HT), as well as subsequent monitoring if needed.
What advantage does Salivary Hormone testing offer compared to other hormone tests?
Serum vs. Saliva:
With saliva measuring the bioavailable (non-protein-bound) fraction of circulating hormones that can freely diffuse into tissues, it provides a more accurate assessment of topical hormone supplementation than serum. Serum levels do not rise significantly after topical dosing. By contrast, saliva levels do – reflecting tissue delivery of the topically delivered hormone.