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In general, the following
guidelines are recommended:
Naturally Occurring Hormone Levels
Baseline Female and Male Hormone Levels: Except for melatonin, the best time
to collect saliva is in the early morning, preferably right after rising.
Melatonin is best tested at 3 AM (interrupting your sleep cycle) when the
hormone peaks.
Cycling Female Hormone Levels
For premenopausal or perimenopausal women to assess ovulation and peak
levels of estradiol and progesterone, the most favorable time for saliva
collection is during the middle of the luteal phase (the last two weeks of
your cycle). Counting from the first day of your menstrual flow, collect
your saliva between days 20 and 23. If your cycles are sporadic (you have
skipped several in a row), saliva collection may be done anytime as
ovulation is highly unlikely.
- Choose from list which hormones to test
- Supplies and results are sent only to you along with an
"interpretation guide" to help you understand the results.
- Fold the white copy of the requisition form around the specimen tube
and place both in the prepaid mailer. Cap both ends of the mailer and
strike smartly on a firm surface to secure contents. It is a good idea to
tape each end.
-
Send by U.S. mail. Patients outside the U.S. need
to provide postage. Please remember to include the requisition form
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