Testing

In order to determine if a hormone imbalance or deficiency exists, a qualified Health Practitioner can order a number of tests to be carried out, including saliva testing, blood spot tests and urinary testing.

See a CHC Practitioner

For hormonal testing, see your qualified doctor or a CHC member* (Complementary Healthcare Council) whose aim and training is to provide wellness through complementary healthcare products.

Why see a specialist?

Endocrine disorders can be divided into six broad categories: subnormal hormone production, hormone over-production, production of abnormal hormones, resistance to hormone action, abnormalities of hormone transport or metabolism, and multiple hormone abnormalities. There is considerable overlap among these groups. The basis of categorisation based on the fundamental defect provides a useful means of analysing endocrine pathology – often through salivary or urine testing.

Immuno-assay analysis provides the sensitivity, specificity and reliability that made possible the studies of Invivo hormonal regulation that otherwise would not have been possible. The synergistic interaction between advances in the biochemistry of hormones and investigation with immunoassay resulted in this level of analysis. Serum is the predominant sample used for such measurements.

*The Complementary Healthcare Council (CHC) advocates appropriate government regulation on complementary healthcare products which recognises the low risk nature of the products but meet safety, quality and efficacy standards necessary to ensure consumer confidence.

Saliva tests: have been used for over 50 years to identify an imbalance in the levels of hormones being produced by the body. Convenient, pain-and-stress-free and fast, saliva tests can provide a clear indicator of the bio-available hormones that are active in your body.

Blood tests: used to measure the total amount of hormones available in serum. Blood tests to measure hormonal imbalance are often considered the least accurate of the methods available. This is largely because the tests are not able to distinguish the protein-bound or inactive form of the hormone, from its free or biologically active form, thereby providing only a rough estimate of current hormone levels.

Urine tests: more effective than saliva or blood tests in determining the existence of mild hormone deficiencies. Urine testing better reflects the cellular hormone status and may be used to measure the active metabolites of hormones, which can provide important information on any deficiencies that may exist.