Saliva hormone testing measures hormone levels in saliva. While there is some controversy about the validity of saliva hormone testing, many health professionals say that it is a more accurate way to measure how much of each hormone is actually available for use in the body.

Blood tests measure hormones that are found in blood serum, the part of the blood left when blood cells are removed. Most of the hormones in blood are bound to proteins in the blood, such as sex hormone binding glubulin, and are not available for use in the body. Rather, these hormones are headed for the liver where they will be broken down for disposal. Blood tests can show how much hormone is being produced, but saliva hormone testing does a better job of showing how much is available for cells to use. This can help you see if there is enough of each hormone to allow for optimum fertility, for instance.

Saliva hormone test results show much lower levels of hormones than those found in blood tests. However, since the test shows the bioavailable hormones, it can give you a more accurate picture of how hormones are making you feel and how your body is reacting. Saliva hormone testing is not a replacement for medical advice, but it can help you and your doctor see how hormone replacement therapy is working or offer a more complete picture of your hormonal levels for infertility testing or menopause.

Saliva hormone tests can be purchased online without a prescription, making them an inexpensive way to get baseline hormone levels. Saliva is stable for several days in the mail so you can test at home and send the sample to a lab for results. You and your doctor may use home saliva testing to check hormones over a period of time, to see how your body is reacting to treatment, or to get a baseline level before beginning hormone replacement therapy.

You can buy one saliva hormone test that will show levels of progesterone, estradiol (an estrogen), and testosterone. Learn more about saliva hormone testing at http://tinyurl.com/salivatesting.