Saliva hormone testing is a pain-free way to measure hormone levels. Some health professionals say that it is actually a more accurate way to measure how much of each hormone is actually available for use in the body. Blood tests measure hormones that are found in blood serum, but most of those hormones are bound to proteins in the blood and are not availabel for use in the body. Blood tests can show how much hormone is being produced, but saliva hormone testing does a better job of showing how much is available for use.

The levels of hormones shown in a saliva hormone test are much lower than those found in blood tests, but since you are looking at the bioavailable hormones, it can give you a more accurate picture of how hormones make you feel. Saliva hormone testing is not a replacement for medical advice, but it can help you and your doctor see how hormone replacement therapy is working or offer a more complete picture of your hormonal levels for infertility testing or menopause.

Saliva hormone tests are available for home use, making them a cost-effective way to get baseline hormone levels for various purposes. Since saliva is stable for several days, you can test at home and inexpensively mail it to a lab for results. You and your doctor may use home saliva testing to check hormones over a period of time or to get a baseline level before beginning hormone replacement therapy. Saliva testing can also help determine what the lowest effective dose is for hormone treatment, as it better shows how much of the hormone is available for use.

You can buy saliva hormone tests for progesterone, estradiol (an estrogen), testosterone, thyroid and more. Learn more about saliva hormone testing at http://tinyurl.com/salivatesting.

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The most common question I get about PCOS is how to lose weight with PCOS. The second most common question is how to get pregnant. Losing PCOS weight will boost your fertility and reduce your PCOS symptoms. While not all women with PCOS are overweight, the majority are. Losing that weight is not easy. I know. I struggled with my weight most of my adult life and much of my teen years.

Losing weight with PCOS is not easy. I know. I struggled with my weight for most of my adult life. I finally found what worked for me, and I am delighted to say that many other women with PCOS have shared with me their stories as they have used these same principles to change their weight, and their lives.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects between 6-10 percent of women. PCOS can start as early as puberty, and the symptoms often outlast menopause. While this disorder is often thought of as a reproductive or cosmetic issue, PCOS impacts your entire body. Even removing the ovaries does not cure PCOS because PCOS is a manifestation of a metabolic disorder, not the cause of metabolic problems. You can lose weight with PCOS. I have done it myself, restoring my periods, clearing my skin, and restoring my fertility. Three months ago I gave birth to a beautiful and healthy baby girl because I found ways to reduce my symptoms and heal my body.

There is no cure for PCOS, but you can lose weight and reduce your symptoms. While there are several PCOS-specific diet books, I happen to like The Truth About Abs. It has specific exercises you can do to reduce belly fat, build muscle and strengthen your core. The more muscle you build, the more fat you can burn and the better your body will process blood sugar. Building muscle is absolutely key to losing weight with PCOS. You must boost your metabolism by increasing muscle mass to help reduce insulin resistance and lose weight. As you lose weight you will continue to reduce your insulin resistance and decrease your symptoms. I really like the food section as well. Instead of a lot of rules, he simply states what works and what does not. If I had had this book a few years ago it would have shaved a lot of time off of my struggle to lose weight. Click here to read about why regular diets and common exercises actually hurt your chances of losing weight with PCOS.

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