Hormones are chemical messengers that coordinate various bodily functions by traveling through the blood to organs, skin, muscles, and other tissues. Integral to life and overall health, hormones influence metabolism, growth, reproduction, and mood. When hormone levels are unbalanced, either too high or too low, noticeable symptoms can arise. This article explains how individuals can have their hormone levels checked.
Why Get Your Hormones Tested?
Common symptoms can indicate a potential hormonal imbalance, prompting individuals to consider testing. These include unexplained fatigue, unexpected weight changes, and mood swings. Sleep disturbances, changes in skin and hair texture or growth, and alterations in libido can also signal an underlying issue.
Hormone testing is pursued during specific life stages or for particular health conditions. These include fertility challenges, irregular menstrual cycles, menopause, and andropause. Suspected thyroid disorders, with symptoms like changes in heart rate or temperature sensitivity, are also common reasons for testing. These indicators warrant further investigation, not definitive diagnoses, underscoring the need for professional medical assessment.
Types of Hormone Tests Available
Several methods assess hormone levels. Blood tests are a widely used method for measuring circulating hormones. Common hormones tested via blood include Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), estrogen, testosterone, cortisol, Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinizing Hormone (LH), and prolactin. Some blood tests may require fasting beforehand to ensure accurate results.
Saliva tests offer a non-invasive way to measure “free” or unbound hormones, which are the active forms available to tissues. This method is particularly useful for tracking hormones that fluctuate throughout the day, such as cortisol, or for assessing sex hormones. Saliva collection can be done at home.
Urine tests, especially 24-hour collections, provide a comprehensive picture of hormone output and metabolism over an extended period. These tests measure hormone metabolites, offering insights into how the body processes and eliminates hormones. Certain adrenal or sex hormone metabolites are commonly assessed through urine samples.
Navigating the Testing Process
Hormone testing begins with a consultation with a healthcare provider. A primary care physician can evaluate symptoms and medical history, determining appropriate tests. Depending on findings, the physician might refer to a specialist, such as an endocrinologist or a gynecologist.
Direct-to-consumer (DTC) testing services offer an alternative, allowing individuals to order kits online and collect samples at home. While convenient and private, these services lack direct medical guidance. Interpreting DTC test results can be challenging without clinical context, so discuss them with a doctor to avoid misinterpretation or inappropriate self-treatment.
Preparing for a hormone test involves specific instructions for accurate results. Fasting may be necessary for some blood tests, for 8-12 hours before collection. The time of day for sample collection is important, such as morning for cortisol, or specific menstrual cycle days for sex hormones. Informing the lab or doctor about medications or supplements is also important, as these can affect test outcomes. During the test, individuals can expect standard procedures like a blood draw, saliva collection, or 24-hour urine collection.
Interpreting Results and Next Steps
Once hormone test results are available, understanding them requires careful consideration of the provided reference ranges. Laboratories typically include a “normal” range, but individual optimal levels can vary based on factors like age, sex, and overall health. A result within the “normal” range might still be suboptimal for an individual experiencing symptoms.
Professional interpretation by a qualified healthcare provider is important for contextualizing hormone levels. Results must be considered alongside a person’s symptoms, medical history, and other diagnostic information. Self-diagnosing or self-treating based solely on numerical values can lead to inaccurate conclusions and inappropriate actions.
Several factors can influence hormone test results, including sample collection time, stress levels, current medications, and, for women, menstrual cycle phase. Overall health status also plays a role in hormone regulation. After interpreting results, common next steps may involve lifestyle adjustments like dietary changes, increased physical activity, or stress management. Medication might be prescribed, further diagnostic testing recommended, or a specialist referral made for ongoing management of a hormonal imbalance.