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“How to test hormone levels at home” is a trending topic for those seeking to monitor their hormone levels. There are a plethora of options to decide from when choosing how to get your hormones tested, and where to go to get hormones tested. When it comes to hormone analysis, there are two options available: home testing and lab testing. You may be wondering where to go to get hormones tested – at home or in a lab.
Here are some pros and cons of each method to help you decide when getting hormones checked and tested. You can learn more about what is hormonal testing.
Hormone testing:
Hormone testing can be a valuable tool for identifying and treating hormonal imbalances and related conditions. However, whether or not hormone testing is worth it depends on several factors, including your symptoms, medical history, and overall health.
At home test kits:
Pros: These home test for hormones usually involve saliva or blood, which can be obtained by pricking your finger. At-home tests are easy to use and can measure most types of hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. When used correctly, they are quite accurate and deliver results comparable to lab tests.
Cons: Although samples can be collected at home, they must be sent off to a lab to be measured and analyzed for hormone levels. When administering the test at home, it is important to be cognizant of sanitation, as contamination can significantly impact results; at a lab, you will receive more guidance to ensure you are collecting your samples in a clean and effective way. At home kits will often diagnose your levels and indicate potential hormonal imbalance, but this does not include speaking to a hormonal health specialist or physician that can give you personalized treatment or advice.
The Bottom Line: If you are just looking to test your hormones and understand your hormone levels, at home hormone tests are great for you! But if you are more concerned about specific hormonal health conditions and how to treat them, it might be more useful to get your levels checked professionally in a lab.
At a lab:
Pros: When getting your hormone levels checked at a lab, they will generally take a larger sample that allows for analysis of a bigger variety of hormones. Sample collection is also more likely to be an accurate process as it is kept sterile and sanitized. If you get your hormone levels checked by a healthcare provider such as an OBGYN or hormone health specialist, they can help you interpret your results and give personalized recommendations to balance your hormones.
Cons: Sometimes, it may not be worth it to schedule an appointment to get your hormones checked and getting your blood drawn may be unnecessary if there is a specific hormone you would like to get checked.
The Bottom Line: If you’re looking for a detailed analysis of your hormones and wish to speak to a specialist about treatment and their recommendations, going to a lab to get your hormones tested might be the best step for you!
Hormone University was created as an educational platform with the mission to improve hormone health through accessible knowledge and to advocate for social impact in our communities.
You’re not alone.
80% of the adult female population has experienced hormonal imbalance at one point in their life that affected not only their physical health but also their mental health. Coping with pain, infertility, anxiety, depression, body image issues, and, on top of this, judgment is the heavy load most of these women have to bear each day and an important problem we need to tackle as a society.
