Your body produces around 50 different hormones that are all responsible for unique tasks and functions. It’s no wonder the slightest fluctuations can cause significant and frustrating symptoms! How do you know if you have an imbalance? Through hormone testing, which brings us to the FAQ we want to answer– what is hormone testing? So keep reading to get all the details about what the process looks like and what we test for.
What is hormone testing?
Through saliva, blood, and sometimes urine tests, we can determine and assess the various hormone levels in your body and whether an imbalance is causing your symptoms. From there, we can discuss your eligibility for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, a natural treatment option that corrects the imbalance, relieves your symptoms, and gives you your quality of life back. We also offer over-the-counter and non-drug supplement recommendations, lifestyle changes, and counseling to help achieve balance.
Should I have my hormones tested?
Hormone testing is a critical step in maintaining your overall health and wellness to identify imbalances before they become larger concerns, but if you’re experiencing side effects now, like fatigue, weight gain, insomnia, mood changes, low libido, headaches, etc. then getting your levels checked is a smart idea.
Here at LeFave Pharmacy, our team has worked with individuals suffering from hormone imbalances due to the various stages of menopause, adrenal fatigue, thyroid problems, andropause, hair loss/alopecia, low libido, insomnia, irregular menstrual cycles, PCOS, and more. Whatever is causing your hormone issue can be identified and corrected with hormone testing and treatment.
Hormone Testing at LeFave Pharmacy
Our 16 hormone saliva/blood test is available for purchase at our pharmacy location in Alpena MI, as well as on our online wellness shop! We use a home collection system that’s non-invasive and easy for you to give the sample and send it to the lab. There are two main parts to the test– a saliva sample and a blood sample.
The saliva test includes Estradiol, Progesterone, Testosterone, DHEA, and Cortisol x4:
- Estradiol levels are measured to evaluate ovary function.
- Progesterone helps determine if ovulation has occurred and detect any hormonal imbalances.
- Testosterone evaluates how the ovaries and adrenal glands are functioning.
- DHEA assesses adrenal gland function.
- Cortisol x4 (morning, noon, evening, night) looks at the body's stress response to identify any dysregulation or chronic stress-related conditions.
The blood portion of the test includes comprehensive thyroid hormone testing, Insulin, HgA1C, Vitamin D2, and Vitamin D3
- TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) assesses thyroid function.
- Free T3 shows how much active thyroid hormone is available in the body.
- Free T4 looks at the amount of thyroid hormone being produced by the thyroid gland and helps evaluate underactive or overactive thyroid conditions.
- TPOab (thyroid peroxidase antibodies) leads to the destruction of thyroid tissue and an underactive thyroid.
- Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that plays a crucial role in regulating blood glucose levels.
- HgA1C (hemoglobin A1C) measures the average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months.
- The Vitamin D2 & D3 checks the level of this particular vitamin in your blood. Highly recommended due to its involvement in thyroid, metabolic, and other hormone functions and the fact that it’s a highly common vitamin deficiency in adults.
So now you know more about what is hormone testing! Schedule a hormone consult (remote or in-person) with lead pharmacist and hormone expert Dr. Kristine Spicer today! We look forward to helping you feel like yourself again
