Description
The Male Hormone Plus Adrenal Profile monitors changes in hormone status.
Many factors may contribute to altered hormone levels. These include both environmental and lifestyle factors and specific disease conditions.
Changes in male hormones can contribute to:
- Low libido
- Poor Muscle Tone
- Infertility
- Depression
- Prostate Enlargement
- Stress, Fatigue and Exhaustion
- Sleep Disorders
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Results obtained from the Male Hormone Profile make it possible for practitioners to individualise treatment in order to establish optimal hormone balance.
Testing can also be used to monitor the effects of bioidentical/natural hormone replacement therapy.
How is the Test Done?
Purchase test as you would any other product on Emed by adding it to your shopping cart.
Once the transaction is completed Emed will a send the collection kit and instructions.
Using the supplied envelope you send the specimen to our pathology centre.
Analysis of your sample is performed, raw test data is sent to Emed and further evaluated along with your clinical profile.
An individual, comprehensive and in depth report is generated basedon your case history outlining your test results and how to implementthe changes to improve your health.
Emed will of course provide continuing online support to help you implement your specific plan.
What Hormones Are Tested?
Oestrone (E1)
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E1 (Estrone) is considered a weaker form of estrogen.
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It is typically produced by special belly fat cells
- Most of the circulating E1 is derived from peripheral aromatization of androstenedione (mainly adrenal). It is also converted from other hormones and external environment precursors.
Oestradiol (E2)
- Readily converts to E1
- Responsible for development of secondary sex characteristics
- Increases fat stores
- Required for maturation of long bones
- Improves memory
- Protection against heart disease
Oestradiol (E2) is the most potent of the three oestrogens. E2 is produced mainly by the ovaries, with secondary production by the adrenal glands.
Testosterone (TT)
- Builds muscle and promotes muscle tone
- Increases libido
- Helps strengthen bones
- Reduces depression
- Protects against heart disease
Testosterone is produced mainly by the testes in men, the ovaries in women and the adrenal glands in both sexes. Testosterone is synthesised from androstenedione, a metabolite of DHEA and progesterone.
Throughout most of the reproductive years, approximately 10-20 times more testosterone is produced in men than in women.
At puberty males have much higher levels of testosterone, which is responsible for the development of male external genitalia and secondary hair patterns, stimulation of spermatogenesis and stimulation of anabolic activity leading to increased muscle mass and behavioural changes.
DHEA-S
- Helps protect against heart disease
- Enhances immune system
- May increase energy levels, libido and memory
- Protects against the effects of stress
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is produced primarily in the adrenal glands from the steroid precursor pregnenolone. DHEA is the main precursor for oestradiol and testosterone. The body quickly converts DHEA to DHEA-Sulfate (DHEA-S). DHEA-S is a weaker androgen than testosterone.
Cortisol x 4
- Assists in stress response and coping with trauma, infection and environmental extremes
- Increases energy and metabolism
- Helps regulate blood pressure
- Enhances the integrity of blood vessels
- Reduces allergic and inflammatory response
Cortisol is the most potent glucocorticoid produced by the human adrenal glands.
Cortisol is also involved in the response to stressors and is essential for carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism.
Cortisol production has a diurnal rhythm, where levels peak in the early morning and drop to the lowest concentration at night. It is therefore important to measure multiple saliva specimens collected throughout the day.
Why do we Recommend Saliva Testing over Blood Testing for Hormonal Levels?
Saliva testing has been used to measure hormones since the late 1960s and has many advantages over serum testing. The most significant feature of saliva testing is that it reflects the non-protein bound ‘free’ fraction of hormones at a given point of time.
As steroid hormones are predominantly bound to carrier proteins (cortisol binding protein, sex hormone binding globulin and albumin) in the blood, the unbound fraction is considered more readily available to the cells of the body.
It is these ‘free’ hormones that best reflect a patient’s hormonally-related symptoms, rather than total or bound hormone levels (as measured in serum).
Furthermore, saliva testing effectively monitors the level of supplemented hormones as well as their absorption and utilisation.
Studies indicate salivary progesterone measurements confirm applied progesterone is being absorbed, despite the lack of change
in serum progesterone’.
Therefore, saliva testing can influence supplementation dosages and determine if bio-identical hormone therapy is being absorbed.
Advantages of Saliva Testing:
- Saliva reflects the free, bio-available hormone levels (unlike blood which measures total levels)
- Baseline hormone levels can be assessed and bio-identical hormone replacement therapy can be easily monitored and adjusted
- Testing is suitable for both men and women
- Simple, painless, non-invasive, economical and can be done at home
- Specimens are sent direct to the laboratory without special handling
- Multiple saliva collections can be taken over a day or a number of weeks
- Hormones are stable in saliva at room temperature
- Transport to laboratory by overnight courier from anywhere in Australasia.
