Androgens & Progesterones Profile
Doctor's Data
Sample type: Urine
Requires fasting: No
At home test
Details
Androgens and progesterone are tested together due to their proximity to each other on the hormone cascade. The Androgens and Progesterones Profile combines unconjugated steroid hormones and their metabolites, providing insight into the efficiency of the enzymes that metabolize them. This non-invasive test requires only 4 or 5 separate urine collections.
This profile is a consideration for baseline or follow up testing for patients with concerns that are particular to androgens and progesterones and/or monitoring for harmful metabolites due to the influence of HRT/BHRT.
- Etiocholanolone
- 5a-Dihydrotestosterone
- Epi-Testosterone
- 5b-Androstanediol
- 5a-Androstanediol
- Androsterone
- Testosterone
- Progesterone, Urine
- 21-Hydroxyprogesterone
- 11-Hydroxy-Etiocholanolone
- 11-Hydroxy-Androsterone
- Allopregnanolone
- 5b-pregnanediol
- 5-pregnanetriol
- Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate
- Creatinine/day
- 5a-pregnanediol (5a-pd)
- 17-Hydroxyprogesterone, Urine
- Androstenedione, Urine
Estimated days for results: Results should arrive 5 to 7 days after the lab receives samples.
Progesterones
Progesterone (P4) is primarily produced in the corpus luteum following ovulation in women, and to a lesser degree in the adrenal glands in both sexes. In urine, progesterone is a clinical marker of luteal activity and therapeutic oral progesterone administration. The most important progesterone metabolite, pregnanediol (PD), is a marker of endogenous progesterone levels and an indicator of ovulation. PD exists as two isomers, 5α-pregnanediol (5A-PD), and 5β-pregnanediol (5B-PD). 5B-PD represents the majority endpoint of endogenous progesterone metabolism and appears to have little physiological activity, while 5A-PD, the lesser metabolite of PDL, can cross the blood-brain barrier and has been shown to partially agonize GABA-A receptors, perhaps due to its role as an immediate precursor to allopregnanolone. Allopregnanolone (ALLOP) is a potent neuroactive steroid capable of binding the GABA-A receptor contributing to a sedative and anxiolytic effect. This calming action is seen with orally supplemented progesterone, as it is metabolized to neuroactive steroid ALLOP in the liver.
Androgens
Androgens play a significant role in structure and function of muscle, bone, and connective tissue, metabolic homeostasis and reproduction in both men and women. When evaluating the androgens, it is important to assess unconjugated hormones, enzymes, metabolites, and clinical symptoms to gain an understanding of the complete clinical picture. The key areas of focus within the androgen pathway are androstenedione, DHEA, testosterone, 5-alpha and 5-beta reductase. Testosterone is derived from androstenedione and DHEA. 5α-reductase converts testosterone into the metabolite 5α-DHT which is three times more potent than testosterone. Symptoms associated with higher androgen levels (thinning hair, acne, etc) are often seen when levels of 5α-reductase and its corresponding metabolites are elevated. 5b-reductase and its corresponding metabolites are much less androgenic. The assessment of 5 alpha and 5 beta metabolisms can be understood by following the metabolism of androstenedione to etiocholanolone (5α) and androstenedione to androsterone (5β). The relative ratio between these two pathways and the amounts of 5α androstanediol and 5β-androstanediol may give insight into the full androgenic picture. Androgen deficiency symptoms can be caused by lower levels of DHEA, testosterone, or 5α metabolites.
5–7 business days
- Add-on: Comprehensive Neurotransmitter Profile
- Add-on: DNA Oxidative Damage Assay
- Add-on: NeuroBasic Profile
- Add-on: Urine Amino Acids
BEFORE YOU START: Please read all of the instructions in the sample collection kit carefully.
Collect urine on days that are determined by you and your provider. We recommend that you adhere to your most common sleep schedule and collect your urine samples as close as possible to the times specified on page 5 of the instructions included in the sample collection kit. Shift workers should adapt the collection times in accordance with sleep schedule.
Never discontinue prescription medications without first consulting your provider. Please do not send any medications with your kit.
Collection Schedule Summary
Please follow instructions included in sample collection kit.
Day 1 Collection
#1 Dinnertime: collect within 1-2 hours prior to eating dinner
#2 Bedtime: collect within 1 hour prior to sleep
Mid Sleep
Midsleep: collect only if you wake to urinate while sleeping
Day 2 Collection
#3 Waking: collect within 10 mins of waking
#4 Post-waking: collect after 2-4 hours
What days of the month should I collect?
- Men, post-menopausal women, and those testing only corticoids: collect any day.
- Women with menstrual cycles: begin the collection between days 19 and 23 of a 28-day cycle, counting the first day of your period as day 1.
- If cycles are irregular, contact your provider for clarity about the timing of your collection.
Recommendations for women and men on hormones
- 72 hours prior and during collection: Discontinue oral and sublingual hormones.
- 72 hours prior and during collection: Do not use hormones vaginally, as this may directly contaminate the urine.
- Other hormones such as topical creams and gels, injectables, and patches can be used on your regular schedule.
- Do not skip doses of oral birth control pills unless instructed by your healthcare provider.
A baseline hormone level may require supplement usage to stop for a longer period of time. Call your provider with questions.
Additional Recommendations
- Cortisol/glucocorticoid supplementation: Consult with your health care provider if you are taking glucocorticoids. Certain medications such as asthma inhalers and hydrocortisone contain cortisol. To evaluate natural cortisol production, it is recommended to stop cortisol containing products 5 days prior to sample collection.
- 24 hours prior and during collection: avoid alcohol, caffeine, tobacco or nicotine-containing products and strenuous exercise.
- 24 hours prior and during collection: for best results, minimize fluid intake (between 4-8 cups/1-2L).
The intent of this collection method is to create a urine test that closely represents a 24-hour collection. With this in mind, we want you to include as much urine as possible that is produced throughout a day and night. During the time period that urine is being collected it is important to collect urine from a full bladder as much as possible. It is more important to get a good representation of urine than it is to collect at a precise time.
State restrictions:
Patient can't order this test if they are located in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, New Jersey, New York, or Rhode Island
