The Comprehensive Plus Hormone Profile reports hormone levels and also calculates two important ratios. The Estrogen Quotient is a simple ratio of the cancer protective E3 relative to the proliferative estrogens E1 and E2, to assess breast cancer risk. The Pg/E2 ratio assesses the relationship between estradiol, which can drive cellular proliferation, and progesterone, which mitigates that growth and potentiates cellular differentiation. 

Hormones are powerful molecules essential for maintaining physical and mental health. We frequently think of estrogen as being a female hormone, and testosterone as being a male hormone. But men AND women make both, plus several more that need to be in balance for optimum health. An imbalance of any one hormone can throw your physical and mental health out of balance, causing aggravating and even serious health problems. 

One size does not fit all when it comes to hormones. For decades western medicine has prescribed hormone replacement therapy as if everyone needed the same thing and the same amount. Nothing could be further from the truth. Your hormones are like your fingerprints and in order to achieve optimal health, you need to know what your specific imbalances are. Female and male hormone tests can help identify these imbalances. 

There are several ways to test for hormones (saliva, serum and urine). Saliva is the best method to test the active/bioavailable portion of hormones, which are reflective of tissue levels. If your patient is seeking bio-identical hormone replacement (BHRT), you'll need to know active hormone levels. In addition, if using a topical (transdermal) hormone preparation for treatment, saliva testing is the most accurate tool to measure and monitor hormone status. 

Analysis of urinary neurotransmitters is non-invasive; testing may provide therapeutic opportunities that improve clinical success and patient health outcomes. 

Neurotransmitters are secreted from pre-synaptic neurons into the synapse between nerve cells to stimulate receptors on post-synaptic neurons. The neurotransmitters are all produced from essential aromatic amino acids. Neurotransmitter metabolism may be mediated by a variety of enzymes expressed differently throughout the body. Circulating levels of neurotransmitters and metabolites may have distinctive sources. 

A lack of nutritional cofactors (vitamins, minerals) required for normal enzyme function may decrease enzyme function and neurotransmitter levels. Neurotransmitter receptors and metabolic enzymes may be subject to mutations and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that may affect receptor or enzyme function. Normal neurotransmitter receptor function is also necessary for normal neurotransmitter activity. Neurotransmitter levels may be influenced by many factors, such as diet, lifestyle, age, sex, body mass index, hormone imbalance, environmental exposures, infection, chronic inflammation, and nicotine use.

Neurotransmitter analysis provides an overall assessment of a patient's ability to synthesize and metabolize neurotransmitters, which must occur in both the peripheral nervous system and behind the blood brain barrier (BBB). Alterations in urinary neurotransmitter status may result from a variety of conditions including metabolic disorders, mood/behavioral disorders, environmental exposures or (rarely) the presence of certain tumors. Evaluation of neurotransmitters may provide increased clarity about a patient's health and functional status. 

Information gained through neurotransmitter testing may provide therapeutic opportunities that improve clinical success and patient health outcomes. Associations between urinary neurotransmitter levels and health conditions have been documented in scientific literature and may provide valuable insight as part of a comprehensive health assessment.

The testing for this profile consists of collecting 4 saliva samples for hormone analysis and urine collected as either a 1st morning collection, a 2nd morning collection, or a 24-hour urine collection for neurotransmitter analysis. BEFORE YOU START: Please read all of the instructions carefully. Consult your physician for specific instructions and before stopping any medications. Make sure your physician has selected a test profile on the requisition form. Menstruating women should not collect urine during their period.

2 days before and during collection: Avoid avocados, eggplant, tomatoes, bananas, melons, pineapple, grapefruit, plums, fruit juice, nuts, nut butters, wine, cheese, rice, and chocolate 

1 day before and during collection: Avoid strenuous exercise, alcohol, caffeinated beverages, and nicotine products. On the day before and during testing it is recommended to avoid all supplements and medications until after all samples have been collected (including those that regulate allergy, mood, sleep, pain and inflammation.) Never discontinue prescription medications without consulting your physician.

 Day of collection Do not eat or drink anything 1 hour prior to saliva collection Do not brush, floss or have dental work done 30 minutes prior to saliva collection. Use of cosmetics, other than “anti-aging” creams, is permitted.

Topical Hormones (cream) Last dose prior to collection should be within a window of 12-24 hours before collecting your first sample Do not apply topical or use sublingual hormones throughout the entire day of saliva collection. This will contaminate your sample and your test results 

Sublingual Hormones or Troches (dissolved under tongue) Last dose prior to collection should be within a window of 24-36 hours, followed by two full glasses of water to cleanse the tissues. Then collect your first sample. 

Oral Hormones (pills) and Transdermal Patches Should be used as prescribed on the day of collection 

Injections, Subcutaneous Pellets and Transdermal Patches Collect at the halfway point between doses

CONSULT WITH YOUR PROVIDER for instruction if you are taking a cortisol supplement for adrenal support (or any other glucocorticoid for medical reasons). Note: certain medications, including hydrocortisone creams and asthma inhalers, contain cortisol. To evaluate your natural cortisol production, it is recommended to stop using cortisol-containing products 5 days prior to sample collection. Consult with your provider prior to stopping cortisol-containing medication(s). 

If testing melatonin, last dose should be at least 36 hours before first saliva sample collection.

Women with menstrual cycles Collect 1 day during days 19-23 of a 28-day cycle, counting the first day of your period as day 1 

Post-menopausal women, Women who have had a hysterectomy, Men not on hormones, Neurotransmitter and adrenal function profiles only (cortisol, sIgA, and/or DHEA), Women w/ hormonal IUD (and no cycle)  Collect any day of the month. If you are taking hormones or are on cortisol and/or melatonin supplementation, please read and follow the recommendations listed above