Common Hormone
Conditions
Interactions between the
four hormones of
the male panel are
fundamental to health so hormone imbalances may negatively impact
health. The following are examples of how hormone imbalance can affect
health:
Bone Loss
Testosterone and
estradiol help build bone, while high cortisol tends to break down bone.
High cortisol is of particular concern because it breaks down bone and
interferes with the bone buildng action of testosterone.
Erectile Dysfunction
Testosterone
receptors are plentiful in the brain, so a lack of testosterone may
result in decreased arousal response. Testosterone is also needed for
muscle contraction, so low testosterone may result in poor erection
quality Low testosterone may also lead to increased wait times between
erections.
Memory Loss
Because
testosterone receptors are abundant in the brain, low testosterone
levels often affect memory.
Apathy, Depression, Grumpiness
Our laboratory
data show that approximately 3/5 of men with self reported symptoms
including aggression, apathy, depression, irritabiliy and an inabiliy to
cope have at least one out of range hormone result. It isn‘t clear
whether restoring hormone balance will lessen these mood symptoms, but
many men experience some relief from mood disorders when hormone balance
is restored.
Breast Enlargement
Men who carry
extra weight around the middle have more of the enzyme aromatase, which
converts testosterone to estrogen. Increased estrogen can lead to breast
enlargement.
Weight Gain
High levels of the
stress hormone, cortisol, can cause unstable blood sugar levels and may
increase sugar cravings.
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Most men over the
age of 60 have signs of prostate enlargement, also known as BPH. Some
researchers have suggested that low testosterone and/or high estradiol
may be contributing factors in prostate enlargement.
Why Test Saliva Hormones?
-
Saliva hormone
testing is excellent at uncovering hormone imbalance.
-
Saliva
measures hormone that has actually made it into tissue, because
hormones pass through saliva gland tissue before getting into salia.
Blood measures hormones that might eventually get to tissue.
-
Saliva
collection is painless and easy to do at home. Blood collection
requires a trip to the laboratory, and some hormones cannot be
tested in blood (e.g. estriol).
-
The stress of
a needle puncture for blood collection tends to raise cortisol
levels. Saliva collection is not known to raise cortisol levels.
Talk to your
health care provider about
getting a saliva
hormone test
done.
**Description
courtesy of Rocky Mountain Analytical