THE PRE-MENOPAUSAL HORMONE PANELS (for menstruating women)

Research has demonstrated that free hormone fraction predominates in saliva. Hormones can be found here in a free (biologically active) form that influences living cells. The salivary female hormone levels correlate with the free hormone levels in the tissues. The female hormonal panel gives a good estimate of the ovarian function over a whole menstrual cycle.

The two major classes of ovarian hormones released during the menstrual cycle are progesterone and estrogens, which are named female steroid hormones. The most active estrogen is estradiol, while the most active progestin is progesterone. The female cycle has three physiologic phases:

follicular (starts with the onset of menstrual blood flow, is of variable time, and ischaracterized by both low progesterone and estrogen output),

  • ovulation (one-three days long, in which the egg is released, and this period is characterized by high levels of estrogen),
  • luteal (usually lasting 12-14 days and ending with menses, characterized by high level of progesterone and moderate increase in levels of estrogen).

Estrogens and progesterone affect several target organs involved in successful conception and pregnancy, as well as a number of secondary sexual characteristics such as soft skin, reduced body hair and its distribution, a higher voice pitch, release of pheromones, etc. The principal target organs of estrogens and progesterone are: uterus, fallopian tubes, vagina, external genitalia, breasts, liver, kidneys, skin and bones.

The female hormonal test is a simple, non-invasive test. Eleven saliva samples are collected during specified time period throughout the menstrual cycle. The diagnostic guesswork is minimized, allowing for hormonal balance evaluation and according to results individual, customized treatment for each female patient. For instance detection of luteal phase hormonal imbalance usually is associated with PMS, fibroids, menstrual problems that may originate in the brain, menstrual cycle irregularities following the use of birth control pills, migraine headaches, endometriosis, polycystic ovary disease, early osteoporosis, and other female hormonal problems, even infertility or spontaneous miscarriage.

Currently, female hormone therapy is not individualized to the needs of each woman and most women are empirically treated without regard to their physiology and specific needs. Female hormonal panel allows a clinician to appropriately customize therapy to balance female sex hormones.

In America, a large number of couples are having difficulty trying to get pregnant and maintain that pregnancy. Current statistics show that 7.4% of all married women between the ages of 15-44 in the USA are infertile, which is defined as not achieving pregnancy despite using no contraception in the past 12 months or more. When the survey considered only married, childless women, this number increases to 16.6%. The incidence of female infertility is significantly age related, being higher with increasing age. The main causes of infertility are significantly attributable to:

  • ovulatory failure (21%),
  • tubal damage (14%),
  • endometriosis (6%),
  • unexplained (28%),
  • polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS),
  • hypometabolism/thyroid deficiency,
  • stress

Yet in the absence of physical cause, many cases of female infertility may be explained by something as simple as a correctable hormone imbalance, which can be assessed by hormone testing.