What do you do when you don’t have a lab in your neighborhood and you are suspecting hormonal imbalance? Do you go to the local pharmacy and request a hormone test? If this isn’t an option, it’s still possible to test your hormone levels without going through the doctor.
Mood, emotions, and feelings are not just a woman’s domain. These hormones affect men as well. That’s why it is important to know how you feel and where that emotion came from so you can take the right actions in that situation.
5 Best Ways to Test Your Hormone Levels at Home
Here are five ways to test your hormone levels using an at home hormone test.
1. Saliva Kits
Saliva is a major component of your endocrine system. It is involved in producing and synthesizing hundreds of hormones that control how you feel and act. This is why when many women experience mood swings around the time of their periods, they often attribute it to pre-menstrual syndrome or PMS.
You can use a saliva kit for testing hormone levels in your body. It can be purchased online, over the counter, or at a health store. The kit is easy to use, and a lab technician will do most of the work. You only have to spit into a cup, rub some saliva on a test strip, and place it into a vial.
2. Pee On A Stick
You can test your hormones with the help of a dipstick that you pee on. These sticks are available at most health stores, drug stores, and pharmacies. They are easy to use, and you must dip the stick in a cup of water and place it onto a piece of filter paper.
Once complete, you’ll show the test results on the paper, which will vary depending on the level of your hormones. When using this method, you’ll want to use a reputable brand. Also, you want to ensure that you test on an empty stomach in the morning.
3. Blood Test
Your doctor can check your hormone levels if you have a referral from your primary care physician or an endocrinologist. In this case, the blood test is more accurate than the saliva test because it doesn’t contain any water, which may cause inaccuracies.
The blood test will be used to find out how much of each hormone you produce. If you are having a hormone-sensitive period, your doctor might suggest monitoring those hormones with the help of a private blood test.
4. Urine Hormone Test
Another way to test your hormone levels is with the help of a urine test. Urine tests are often used for testing the growth of bacteria when a woman has a urinary tract infection. Urine tests will also be used to test if you have diabetes or chronic renal failure. In these cases, the test can help diagnose and know the cause of your illness.
5. Hair Test
The hair test is the oldest form of testing hormones on the market. It was discovered by accident while researching a way to measure estrogen. Since then, it has been used to detect testosterone levels, thyroid hormones, and more. A hair follicle test can also calculate how much stress you are under and other chemicals in your body.
Hair tests are used for testing thyroid hormones, estrogen, or testosterone. You can buy a home hair test kit from several online retailers. It’s easy to use, and the results will be given in the form of a gauge. The color of your hair indicates the level of your hormone. Also, this test is good for women undergoing hormone replacement therapy. It will give you an idea of how your body reacts to the new hormone.
Bottom Line
Hormone testing at home will not always be accurate because stress, medical conditions, diet, and medications can affect hormone levels. You should note that there is no supplement or medication for regularity, and it is important that you maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle.