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Month Long

Salivary Analysis of Hormones

Numerous studies support the use of salivary hormone analysis to map out menstrual cycle hormone profiles. A study by Gandara measured estradiol and progesterone in serum and saliva and rated menstrual cycles as normal or abnormal according to the results. There was good agreement between serum and saliva, with both sample types finding normal or near normal cycles in 78% of women studied. The author concluded that “whole saliva samples … provide a non-invasive, feasible method of determining menstrual cycle profiles.”

           The month-long assessment requires the collection of eleven saliva samples over 33 days. Progesterone and estradiol for all 11 samples plus an average testosterone are reported. Women with erratic bleeding, amenorrhea, fertility issues or cycle-specific symptoms such as migraine headaches, hot flushes, and mood disturbances may benefit from a Month-Long Assessment.

 

Month-Long Hormone Assessment

In the Month-Long Hormone Assessment, women report any significant symptoms that arise on sample days. By correlating the patient’s self-reported symptoms with hormone levels throughout the menstrual cycle, it is often possible to find hormone imbalance underlying a symptom or issue. Cases presented illustrate the benefit of knowing the correlation between symptoms and hormone levels.

 

Fertility issues

  • inadequate, early, or late progesterone surges in the luteal phase can affect ability to conceive.
  • menstrual cycle length may affect fertility. For example, a woman whose progesterone peaks on day 14 will have difficulty conceiving if she assumes she is ovulating at that time.

Erratic bleeding

  • heavy bleeding is usually associated with high estradiol levels, but may also occur as a result of low estradiol, a relative imbalance of estrogen and progesterone, anovulation or androgen excess. The month-long hormone assessment helps identify many of the causes of erratic bleeding.

Amenorrhea

  • month-long assessment shows if high androgens and/or anovulation are causes of amenorrhea.
  • the month-long assessment illustrates the effect of oral contraceptives on hormone production.

Mood Swings

  • by tracking mood-related symptoms with hormone levels, underlying hormone imbalances may be identified.

Cycle specific symptoms

  • certain symptoms may occur at specific times in the menstrual cycle. For example: hot flashes may occur late in the luteal phase when Pg is falling and E2 rises unexpectedly.