There are 3 main methods for assessing hormone levels:

1. Blood or serum tests

2. Salivary tests

3. Urinary tests

Your Naturopathic Doctor will work with you to determine which testing method is most appropriate for your particular health concerns. After testing is complete, your ND will receive your report and contact you to schedule an appointment to review your results together. With this information a more targeted treatment program will be tailored for you.

Blood or serum tests:

• Ordering blood work is often a first step in assessing hormone levels for many female patients. Sometimes patients are coming in with previous results ordered through their family doctor. And in these cases recent blood work can be reviewed to determine if further testing is needed

  It’s important to note that testing hormones in the blood offers some advantages:

• It gives us a snapshot of total levels of hormones at the time of the blood draw, offering a baseline that is more cost effective to monitor over time

• More readily accepted research is available, depending on what we are investigating

• Blood draw is done at one of LifeLabs convenient locations, and may need to be done on specific days of your menstrual cycle

• Is the preferred way to assess thyroid function and offers an opportunity to add in additional bloodwork such as inflammatory markers, antibodies, blood sugar, nutritional status, etc. when relevant.

Salivary tests:

• Salivary testing allows us to measure active bioavailable hormone levels. When blood levels are known, or when we need to investigate more accurately how much of a particular hormone is entering the tissues and having an actual effect.

• We can also look at how your hormones are functioning throughout an entire 24-hour day by taking several samples throughout the day and before bed. This is helpful for assessing adrenal function as it relates to cortisol secretion in response to stress and sleep-wake cycles.

• Testing is done at home. You may need to collect saliva sample on specific days of your menstrual cycle and send the sample directly to the lab via a prepaid mailer.

• Tests are ordered through Genova Diagnostics in partnership with Rocky Mountain Analytical and LifeLabs. Learn more about these tests here.

Urinary tests:

• Are used when we want to understand how the body is metabolizing hormones - especially estrogens and androgens - allowing us to know more precisely where imbalances are coming from.

• Also includes a circadian cortisol curve measurement and assessment report.

• Doesn’t necessarily tell us about tissue uptake, but can tell us more exactly on how to improve metabolism or elimination of estrogens/androgens/cortisol (root cause treatment)

• Testing is done at home and does require some preparation for the test and collection may need to be done on specific days of cycle. Send samples directly to the lab via a prepaid mailer

• Tests are ordered through Dutch Complete by Precision Analytical. Learn more about Dutch Complete Testing here.

Please note: Naturopathic Doctors in Ontario have rights to ordering and interpreting labs, however, labs are considered private care and not covered under OHIP. All labs ordered through the clinic are first processed for payment and then a requisition and/or test kit is then provided. A follow up appointment will then be booked to review your results.

Hormones influence the way we move, think, and feel.