3 ways to test hormone levels
(1) Blood tests for active hormones are irrelevant
Blood tests measure only the protein-bound hormones not the free, bioavailable (active) hormones – Hormones, such as the estrogens and PROGESTERONE are fat soluble, i.e. not dissolvable in water, and must be attached to a protein to be transported in the blood to the appropriate organ.
Many hormones are secreted in a pulsatile fashion.    Causes blood levels fluctuate;
Conventional medicine persists in using serum tests rather than urine or saliva tests –Â since results are incorrectly low, physicians are apt to greatly over-dose their patients, resulting in success rates usually < 30%.
(2) Saliva test
Transdermally absorbed hormones are biologically active (not protein bound) and show up in the mucins of saliva.    Therefore saliva hormone radioimmunoassay (RIA) is a relevant and convenient way to measure how much transdermal, free estrogen, PROGESTERONE , TESTOSTERONE, DHEA and other fat soluble hormones are actually available to carry messages to other organs. Women experiencing perimenopausal symptoms will almost always have salivary hormone levels that reflect a PROGESTERONE deficiency, estrogen excess or both.
What are normal saliva levels for hormones?
- Normal saliva PROGESTERONE level.   About 0.3-0.5 ng/ml. With 1.5ng/ml at the upper limit.
You can order saliva tests to determine your hormone levels online at John R. Lee. M.D.
(3) Urine test
A 24 hour urine test is the most accurate testing method for hormone levels –Â advocated by Dr. Jonothon Wright, who along with Dr. Lee, is considered a pioneer in introducing bioidentical hormone therapy in the U.S..
| E.g. Progesterone has 2 forms in the blood | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form | Where | Solubility | Bioavailability | Comment |
Protein-Bound CBG (43-48%) Albumin (50-54%) | Serum (10%) (watery, non-cellular part) | Water-soluble | 10% | Being water-soluble, the protein-bound hormones pass through the kidneys and are excreted in the urine. |
“Free” (2-3%) | RBCs, Fat cells, uterus, brain, saliva | Fat-soluble | 90% | Â |
