HORMONE Testing Guide

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "HORMONE Testing Guide"

Nathan Cunningham
6 years ago
Views:

1 HORMONE Testing Guide Maria Claps CHHC, FDN-P

2 There is no question that getting a hormone test and a protocol based on your unique results can do wonders for your health, weight, mood and ability to age with your wits and waistline intact. But with several types of testing, how do you decide which is right for you? There are 4 basic modalities of hormone testing. Each methodology has positive and negative aspects and choosing the right one can be confusing. This guide will explain (in easy to understand language) the pros and cons of each method and make it easy for you to decide which type of hormone test to get. SALIVARY HORMONE TESTING, ALSO CALLED AN ADRENAL STRESS INDEX (OR ASI) is a common method of testing sex and adrenal hormones amongst holistic practitioners. Relatively inexpensive Shows free (active) fraction of available hormone Can be done at home No need for an Rx, can be self ordered Is not sensitive enough to test estrogen, especially for women over 40. Does not show metabolites or methylation of estrogen (how the body gets rid of excess estrogen) Can be difficult to work up 4 full tubes of saliva Only shows up and down pattern of free cortisol, not total cortisol (both measure ments are crucial in proper assessment of adrenal function) Results can be skewed if gum disease is present Not accepted by the medical community Sample requires ice packs to ship back to lab Not typically covered by insurance Not as accurate as other methods of hormone testing APPROXIMATE COST: $215 VERDICT: NOT RECOMMENDED BLOOD (OR SERUM) TESTING. This is the most common way for physicians to test hormones. Is the best method for testing the thyroid but may not be best for sex and adrenal hormones. Usually covered by insurance Extremely accurate Nonfasting and can be drawn at any time in the cycle Normal lab ranges are established

3 Reproducible Good at showing trends when on hormone therapy Will show levels of Sex Hormone Binding Globulin which will allow the provider compare with levels of free or active sex hormones Venipuncture can be stressful for some Typically gives only an AM cortisol reading (all 4 cortisol readings and total cortisol are needed to assess adrenal function, not just an AM cortisol reading) Does not give the up and down pattern of free cortisol Does not show metabolites or methylation of estrogen Does not show metabolites of testosterone, but additional tests can be ordered Usually done in a lab unless special arrangements are made Only gives an assessment of your levels exactly when the blood was drawn APPROXIMATE COST: N/A if covered by insurance. However, beware if you visit a functional medicine physician who is outside your insurance and he/she draws blood, or if you don t participate in federal insurance programs, as the cost can easily be $1000. VERDICT: RECOMMENDED - usually the most ordered type of hormonal testing, but limited by interpretation and physician experience 24-HOUR URINE TESTING Can be done at home Tests for metabolites of estrogen Gives metabolized (total) cortisol Tests for aldosterone, an adrenal hormone which regulates salt and water balance in the body Can tell you metabolites of estrogen Is cumbersome-you must collect every drop of urine in a 24 hour period Does not show the up and down pattern of free cortisol, also called the diurnal cortisol rhythm Is expensive Is a high complexity test. Must have a skilled clinician interpret the results for you. Need to order a separate 24 hour urine test for sex hormones and a separate 24 hour urine test for adrenal hormones APPROXIMATE COST: $500 VERDICT: RECOMMENDED but outdated

4 DRIED URINE TESTING, also called the DUTCH test from Precision Analatytical Lab has been around for the last 4 years and is fast becoming the preferred method of sex and adrenal hormone testing. Super easy to do-just urinate on filter paper Gives up and down pattern of free cortisol Gives metabolized (or total) cortisol Shows levels of cortisone (the inactive form of cortisol) Gives levels of estradiol, estriol and estrone (the 3 main estrogens) Shows levels of 2-OH, 4-OH and 16-OH (important in assessing cancer risk) Shows testosterone and its metabolites Shows your level of estrogen methylation (an indirect measurement of how well your liver is helping to get spent estrogen out of the body) Is made to accommodate women on hormone therapy Doesn t need special packing-mails back to lab in a regular white envelope requiring 1-2 stamps The dried urine sample is stable for two weeks The test can be easily shipped outside of the USA Not a good choice for those with kidney problems Must limit fluids somewhat on the day you do this test APPROXIMATE COST: $250 VERDICT: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. If you want to test your sex and adrenal hormones, the DUTCH test is the gold standard of hormone testing. The adrenal complete version of the DUTCH test is what I recommend and use with clients. If you go to their website at you will see the price of this test is $399. However, when you work with a practitioner, you will pay $250 for the test.

ABOUT MARIA Maria Claps is a certified health coach and functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner who works with women who are experiencing hormonal problems all over the world.

5 ABOUT MARIA Maria Claps is a certified health coach and functional diagnostic nutrition practitioner who works with women who are experiencing hormonal problems all over the world. Being that she has been through every hormonal stage from menstruation to menopause, she can really relate to the hormone problems that women experience as they move through each stage of life. After receiving sub-standard care in NYC, Maria enrolled in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) in pursuit of a solution for her perimenopausal symptoms that began when she turned 40. Inspired by her training at IIN, Maria pursued 3 additional hormone-centric trainings: Dr. Sara Gottfried s training program for practitioners The Functional Diagnostic Nutrition program and The UK-based 3rd Age Woman Certification program with Burrell Education More recently, Maria launched an 8-week online program called Balance Your Hormones, Love Your Life to educate women on hormone health and DUTCH lab testing, with a dash of sass and fun. Women in their 40s and 50s who feel like they are not getting the support they need from the medical community benefit from the supportive group setting. When she s not facilitating her online community, Maria enjoys reading, recipe creation, and finding new things to eat at farmers markets. TO CONTACT MARIA CLAPS CALL OR VISIT

TEST NAME: DUTCH Adrenal

TEST NAME: DUTCH Adrenal Category Test Result Units Normal Range Creatinine (Urine) Creatinine A (Waking) Within range 0.25 mg/ml 0.2-2 Creatinine B (Morning) Within range 0.28 mg/ml 0.2-2 Creatinine C (Afternoon) Within range