What’s the best testing method? Vein Blood or Capillary Blood.

Hormones are typically tested through vein blood. This requires a phlebotomist, special preparation such as centrifugation of that blood, and special packaging and shipment required to get the collected blood to a lab for analysis. 

Saliva and blood spot testing have multiple benefits: 

• No phlebotomist, special preparation such as centrifugation of the blood, or special packaging and shipment required, therefore less expensive and more convenient than conventional blood draws
• Simple and convenient collection of blood at home allows for flexibility of testing at the right time of day or month or following hormone therapy 
• Hormones and other analytes stable in dried blood spot at room temperature for weeks, allowing for greater latitude in collection and shipping

This is important. Blood spot tests blood in the capillary beds from the finger, and thus better reflects tissue hormone levels. 

Blood spot is ideal for measuring hormones and other analytes such as insulin, blood lipids, Vitamin D, thyroid hormones, and elements like lead and magnesium.

It offers distinct advantages over serum because it again, eliminates the need for a blood draw – saving patients time and money.

Dried blood spot is a form of collection where patients place blood drops on a filter card after a finger prick with a lancet.

Once dry, blood spot cards are extremely stable for shipment and storage, and the dried blood format offers excellent correlation with serum tests.

How are hormones balanced naturally?

Vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals play a major role in supporting and balancing healthy hormone production in your body.

The food and nutrients you consume, alongside the lifestyle you choose are major players in creating hormone abnormalities and/or improvements. For example, selenium can improve free T3 levels. Zinc, and Eurycoma Longifolia can improve testosterone levels. Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome can normalize the overproduction of testosterone with the b vitamin inositol.

Whilst there are synthetic laboratory made hormones—as in hormone replacement therapy (HRT),—there are non-drug therapies to support and improve hormone levels and function in the body. Targeted nutrients work very well once the imbalance has been found. HRT has been proven to be dangerous and increase risk for developing disease like cancer. Now, there are laboratory made hormones that look and act like your own hormones without the danger. These are bio-identical hormones that are typically created from plants in a compounding pharmacy.

However, it is important to consult with Dr. Z if you have lots of symptoms or a condition that needs further support to ensure that any supplements you take are suited to you and are not interfering with any medication that you may be taking.

If you do suffer from physical or emotional struggles caused by hormonal imbalance, you may want to consider getting proper testing done and then work to normalize your hormones without potentially dangerous synthetic hormones.

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