Cycling Female Hormone Testing & Consult

5 Reasons Why a One-Day Female Hormone Blood Test Doesn’t Make the Grade
Without doubt, such a one-day hormone test promotes patient compliance and fits in nicely with a busy schedule. But the relevant issue is whether the data gathered by this test gives an accurate account of a woman’s entire cycle. We don’t think so, and here’s why:

1. Every woman’s cycle is unique.

Duration, ovulatory timing, luteal phase length, and estradiol and progesterone patterns vary so much that a single-day sample, no matter how “complete,” can’t compare to the detailed data offered by a multi-sample test. In sports terms, a one-day test is like evaluating a quarterback’s performance during a game using four photographs taken in the third quarter.

2. Hormones follow a circadian rhythm.

To reflect this rhythm accurately specimens are collected throughout the cycle at the same time of day, determined by the patient’s convenience.

3. A single-day snippet of a woman’s month-long cycle may or may not correctly identify luteal phase failure or estrogen dominance.

Though the one-day saliva test in question has been compared to our 11-vial FHP™ it doesn’t offer the same detailed picture of hormonal changes over the cycle, necessary for a confident diagnosis of either luteal phase failure or estrogen dominance.

4. One size does not fit all when testing female hormones.

The pattern of progesterone deficiency (follicular and/or early, middle, or late luteal phase), which may produce menopausal or menstrual problems, must be evaluated completely. This pattern then points the way toward an appropriately designed treatment program, which may include biphasic progesterone supplementation.

5. A one-day assay is meaningless for evaluating women with fertility problems.

This single test does not provide invaluable sequential FSH and LH measurements, nor does it address multiple issues that may be interacting to cause infertility