The Diagnos-Techs™ Female Hormone Panels (FHP and eFHP)
are easy-to-collect saliva tests to evaluate levels of various hormones that play a role in female reproductive function. These hormones fluctuate throughout the menstrual cycle; therefore, testing your levels on only one day of the month may not give an accurate portrayal of the dynamic balance of your hormones. With the Female Hormone Panels, 11 separate samples are taken throughout the entire menstrual cycle in order to gain a more complete understanding of what may be contributing to your symptoms. Your hormone levels can be measured from your saliva, which can be collected easily and painlessly in the convenience of your own home.
The Female Hormone Panels screen for:
• Hormone imbalances that may contribute to PMS and migraines
• Contributing factors to infertility such as luteal phase deficit, anovulation,
and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
• Inadvertent or excessive hormone exposures that may cause irregular menses
• Underlying hormone abnormalities associated with painful or heavy menses
• Early indicators of perimenopause
Eleven saliva samples are used to assess:
• Estradiol – Produced by the ovaries, this is the most active form of estrogen prior to menopause. Proper levels are necessary for healthy menstrual cycles and fertility.
• Progesterone – As the word indicates, progesterone is “pro-gestational”. This hormone prepares the endometrium (internal uterine lining) for implantation of the fertilized ovum. Abnormal levels can play a significant role in infertility and recurrent miscarriage.
• DHEA – A hormone produced in the adrenal glands,
which is a precursor to estrogen and testosterone. Too
much or too little DHEA can lead to abnormal levels of
these hormones.
• Testosterone – Usually considered a “male hormone”,
testosterone plays an important role in maintaining
muscle mass, bone density, metabolism, energy and libido in
women as well. Elevated levels are associated with symptoms
such as acne and facial hair growth, and may indicate PCOS.
The Expanded Female Hormone Panel (eFHP) includes all of the previously mentioned tests with the addition of:
• Follicle stimulating hormone
(FSH) - A hormone that regulates the production of estradiol by the ovaries. FSH is released from the pituitary gland in the brain.
• Luteinizing hormone
(LH) - Another pituitary hormone, which regulates progesterone production and
is necessary for ovulation.
The Female Hormone Panels may be helpful for determining the underlying cause of:
• Irregular or painful periods
• Infertility or miscarriage
• Premenstrual syndrome
(mood changes, breast
tenderness, water retention,
pelvic cramping
• Low libido
• Facial hair growth
• Acne
• Migraines
Symtoms / Cycle Chart
With a comprehensive picture
of your hormones over time,
your practitioner is able to seek
the underlying cause of your
symptoms to create the most effective treatment plan possible.
Why saliva instead of blood?
For hormones to be active, they have to exist in their free state. In blood,
most hormones are bound to proteins or red blood cells and are therefore
inactive. It can be difficult to determine how much of a hormone measured
in serum or blood is free and actually available to your cells. In saliva,
however, hormones exist in their free state and are therefore bioavailable.
Convenient, Simple, Thorough
• Collection is non-invasive and painless
• Saliva samples can be conveniently collected from your home,
office or other location
• Rather than a single “snapshot” blood test, salivary testing enables
repeated measurements throughout your entire cycle to provide
a more comprehensive look at hormone levels
Measurements of hormones can be used in two general ways:
• To estimate the body’s own hormone production as a baseline test
• To monitor levels of hormones during treatment