Comments on: Can Saliva Testing Help to Pinpoint Hormone Imbalances? http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2010/06/03/can-saliva-testing-help-to-pinpoint-hormone-imbalances/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=can-saliva-testing-help-to-pinpoint-hormone-imbalances Timely, Unbiased Information Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:15:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Larry http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2010/06/03/can-saliva-testing-help-to-pinpoint-hormone-imbalances/comment-page-1/#comment-1834 Larry Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:57:07 +0000 http://www.menopausetheblog.com/?p=1313#comment-1834 Great Article and follow up. At our clinic we have been working with a functional nutritionist about the best way to determine excess/deficiency in our patients hormone levels and he is very involved with saliva testing. I am glad to see that this is getting out more and more. The Specific Chiropractic Center is dedicated to improving their patients and having articles like yours is great! Great Article and follow up.
At our clinic we have been working with a functional nutritionist about the best way to determine excess/deficiency in our patients hormone levels and he is very involved with saliva testing.
I am glad to see that this is getting out more and more. The Specific Chiropractic Center is dedicated to improving their patients and having articles like yours is great!

]]> By: Wendy http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2010/06/03/can-saliva-testing-help-to-pinpoint-hormone-imbalances/comment-page-1/#comment-1783 Wendy Fri, 04 Jun 2010 06:10:36 +0000 http://www.menopausetheblog.com/?p=1313#comment-1783 Thanks Marsha for clarifying the benefits and limitations of saliva testing. Thanks Marsha for clarifying the benefits and limitations of saliva testing.

]]> By: Marsha Nunley MD http://www.menopausetheblog.com/2010/06/03/can-saliva-testing-help-to-pinpoint-hormone-imbalances/comment-page-1/#comment-1782 Marsha Nunley MD Fri, 04 Jun 2010 01:54:57 +0000 http://www.menopausetheblog.com/?p=1313#comment-1782 As in integrative and functional medicine doctor, who frequently prescribes bio identical hormones, I have found the saliva testing to sometimes be helpful but I think that all of the above references are a little bit right but not completely. Saliva testing is most useful when looking at diurnal cortisol which reflects the function of your adrenal glands. This is a well validated test and has been used by Nasa to test astronauts for stress as well as in studies regarding stress and cortisol levels. It is the best test we have to discern poorly functioning or over working adrenal glands. Regarding the sex hormones, a baseline saliva profile can be helpful and better reflects tissue levels of hormones. This is only useful if the person is NOT taking hormones. Once therapy begins, the testing is not very useful. Blood levels can fluctuate widely throughout the day but if hormones are chronically low which they frequently are this can be useful but once again when therapy begins, the levels can fluctuate widely and may not be very useful. So the physician who says you should treat according to symptoms is correct with the caveat that I think it is good to know where you are starting and to assure that the levels are indeed low especially in men and that your patient desires to take hormones. Aetna is correct in that you are looking for elevated cortisol levels in Cushings syndrome so saliva is the best test. Blood levels are as good as anything if one wants to measure levels. Its best to work with an experienced physician as there is lots of misinformation and differing opinions out there. Find a doctor who will work with you to provide you the best symptom relief that fits within your needs and wishes. As in integrative and functional medicine doctor, who frequently prescribes bio identical hormones, I have found the saliva testing to sometimes be helpful but I think that all of the above references are a little bit right but not completely. Saliva testing is most useful when looking at diurnal cortisol which reflects the function of your adrenal glands. This is a well validated test and has been used by Nasa to test astronauts for stress as well as in studies regarding stress and cortisol levels. It is the best test we have to discern poorly functioning or over working adrenal glands. Regarding the sex hormones, a baseline saliva profile can be helpful and better reflects tissue levels of hormones. This is only useful if the person is NOT taking hormones. Once therapy begins, the testing is not very useful. Blood levels can fluctuate widely throughout the day but if hormones are chronically low which they frequently are this can be useful but once again when therapy begins, the levels can fluctuate widely and may not be very useful.

So the physician who says you should treat according to symptoms is correct with the caveat that I think it is good to know where you are starting and to assure that the levels are indeed low especially in men and that your patient desires to take hormones. Aetna is correct in that you are looking for elevated cortisol levels in Cushings syndrome so saliva is the best test. Blood levels are as good as anything if one wants to measure levels.

Its best to work with an experienced physician as there is lots of misinformation and differing opinions out there. Find a doctor who will work with you to provide you the best symptom relief that fits within your needs and wishes.

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