Female Saliva Hormone Profile II (LCMS) | 7 Markers

Female Saliva Hormone Profile II

Do Your Energy, Mood or Sleep Change at Different Times of the Day?

Changes in your periods, energy, sleep, mood or libido can overlap, making it difficult to know which findings deserve attention—particularly when symptoms change from morning to bedtime.

The Female Saliva Hormone Profile II measures estradiol, progesterone and testosterone. It also measures cortisol at four points across the day.

This test helps answer two practical questions:

How do my measured sex hormone levels compare with the laboratory ranges?

How does my cortisol level change from morning to bedtime?

Your ZRT Laboratory report presents seven individual results with reference ranges, visual graphs and hormone-specialist laboratory comments. These comments explain relevant findings and suggest useful next steps to consider.

• Seven results from four saliva samples
• Measures four different hormones
• Estradiol, progesterone and testosterone included
• Four-point daily cortisol profile
• Collect at home without needles or a clinic appointment
• Hormone-specialist interpretation included
• Laboratory analysis included
• Normally reported within 3–5 working days after the laboratory receives your samples

Is This Test Right for Me?

This profile may be suitable if you want to explore concerns such as:

• Irregular, heavy or painful periods
• PMS, including mood changes, bloating or breast tenderness
• Perimenopausal or menopausal changes
• Reduced libido or changes in sexual wellbeing
• Persistent tiredness or reduced energy
• Midday or afternoon changes in energy
• Poor sleep or waking during the night
• Evening restlessness or difficulty winding down
• Mood changes, irritability or difficulty concentrating
• Changes in wellbeing during periods of sustained pressure
• Wanting more information than a single morning cortisol measurement provides

It may also be useful if you want:

• Sex hormone results combined with a four-point cortisol profile
• A baseline for comparison with future tests
• Results to discuss with your healthcare professional
• Laboratory information to support a practitioner-led review of hormone treatment, where appropriate

These concerns can have several possible causes. This profile measures the listed hormones; it does not establish one definitive explanation for menstrual changes, tiredness, sleep problems, mood changes or reduced libido.

What Will My Results Help Me Understand?

1. Review Your Estradiol Result

Estradiol is a key oestrogen. Your report shows the amount measured in your saliva and compares it with the applicable laboratory range.

Benefit: You receive an objective result to consider alongside your age, menstrual stage, symptoms and any hormone treatment.

2. Consider Progesterone Alongside Estradiol

Progesterone is interpreted in the context of your menstrual status and collection timing.

Benefit: Measuring estradiol and progesterone together gives your specialist more information than either result alone when reviewing menstrual, perimenopausal or menopausal concerns.

The test reports each hormone separately. It does not establish “oestrogen dominance”, identify the cause of symptoms or determine a treatment by itself.

3. Review Your Testosterone Result

The profile also measures testosterone.

Benefit: This provides additional hormone information to consider alongside concerns about libido, energy or physical wellbeing.

A testosterone result outside the applicable range may deserve further discussion, but it does not establish the cause of your symptoms by itself.

4. See How Cortisol Changes Across the Day

Cortisol is measured:

• In the morning
• Before lunch
• Before dinner
• Before bed

Benefit: Instead of receiving one isolated cortisol measurement, you can see how your levels differ at four points from morning to bedtime.

This may provide useful information when discussing:

• Morning tiredness
• Midday or afternoon energy changes
• Evening restlessness
• Difficulty winding down
• Night waking or disturbed sleep

5. Understand Your Results in Context

Your report includes individualised hormone-specialist laboratory comments based on your measurements and the information recorded on your requisition form.

Benefit: You receive an explanation of relevant findings rather than unexplained laboratory numbers. Depending on your results, the comments may:

• Highlight measurements outside the laboratory ranges
• Consider your menstrual or menopausal status
• Explain how collection timing affects interpretation
• Refer to relevant symptoms, medicines or hormone treatments
• Comment on your measured daily cortisol pattern
• Suggest matters to discuss with your healthcare professional
• Indicate whether further investigation may be useful

6. Create a Baseline for Future Comparison

Your report records all seven results and the collection time for each sample.

Benefit: If repeat testing is appropriate, you have a baseline for comparing future measurements after changes to sleep, workload, lifestyle or clinical care.

What Will My Report Include?

Your ZRT Laboratory report includes:

• Your estradiol result
• Your progesterone result
• Your testosterone result
• Four individual cortisol results
• Time-specific cortisol reference ranges
• Relevant sex hormone reference ranges
• A visual graph showing your measured cortisol pattern
• Visual presentation of your sex hormone results
• Clear indicators for results outside the applicable ranges
• Your recorded sample-collection dates and times
• Your menstrual status, where applicable
• Relevant medicines and hormone treatments reported on your form
• Your reported symptoms, where applicable
• Individualised hormone-specialist laboratory comments
• Suggested considerations or next steps based on the findings

The specialist interpretation is included within your ZRT Laboratory report. 

Providing complete information about your symptoms, menstrual status, medicines, supplements and hormone treatments helps make the laboratory comments more relevant to you.

What Does the Test Measure?

The profile measures four different hormones and provides seven individual results because cortisol is measured four times.

This test does not include DHEAS.

Saliva testing measures the unbound fraction of these hormones present in the samples. Saliva and blood tests measure hormones differently, so their results and reference ranges should not be used interchangeably.

Test Details

Test ID: S-140
Test panel: LCMS Hormones 3 with 4-Point Cortisol
Sample type: Saliva
Different hormones measured: 4
Results reported: 7
Samples required: 4 — morning, before lunch, before dinner and before bed
Testing method: LC-MS/MS
Laboratory: ZRT Laboratory — CLIA-certified
Hormone specialist interpretation: Included within the laboratory report
Suitable for: Adults and children able to provide the required saliva volume
Collection: At home — no clinic visit required
Laboratory reporting time: Normally 3–5 working days after the laboratory receives your samples
Kit validity: Use within 12 months of purchase

What Is Included?

Your purchase includes:

• At-home saliva collection kit
• One large morning collection tube
• Three smaller collection tubes
• Test Requisition Form
• Step-by-step collection instructions
• Laboratory analysis of seven results
• Laboratory reference-range comparisons
• Visual daily cortisol graph
• Visual presentation of your sex hormone results
• Individualised hormone-specialist laboratory comments
• Suggested next steps or considerations
• Digital ZRT Laboratory report
• Laboratory analysis fee

Return postage to the laboratory is arranged and paid for separately by the customer.

How It Works

1. Choose Your Collection Day

If you have periods, use the cycle-timing guidance below.

Women who do not have periods and children can collect on any day. If you use hormone treatment, follow the treatment-specific timing instructions.

2. Collect Your Morning Sample

Begin collecting into the large 10 mL tube within 30 minutes of waking.

Do not eat, drink anything other than water or brush your teeth before collecting.

3. Collect Three Later Samples

Collect into the smaller tubes:

• Immediately before lunch
• Immediately before dinner
• Immediately before bed

Avoid food, drinks other than water and toothbrushing for at least two hours before each later sample.

4. Send Your Samples

Complete the Test Requisition Form and return all four labelled samples using the supplied packaging and return instructions.

5. Receive Your Explained Results

Your report is normally issued by email within 3–5 working days after the laboratory receives your samples.

Kit delivery and return-postage time are separate from this laboratory reporting period.

When Should I Collect My Samples?

For estradiol, progesterone and testosterone testing, use the following collection schedule:

Day 1 is the first day of menstrual flow, not spotting. Collect all four samples on the same chosen day.

Collection is not automatically Day 19–21 for every woman. The appropriate day depends on your usual cycle length.

Which Female Hormone Test Should I Choose?

Choose Profile II if your priority is combining three sex hormone results with cortisol measurements across the day.

Choose the Comprehensive profile if you also want DHEAS included with the same four-point cortisol assessment.

Preparing for Your Test

To help produce usable samples:

• Avoid anti-ageing or anti-wrinkle facial creams and biotin supplements for three days before collection.
• Stay normally hydrated the night before without drinking excessive amounts.
• Record all medicines, supplements, hormone treatments and menstrual information on the Test Requisition Form.
• Collect the morning sample within 30 minutes of waking.
• Do not eat, drink anything other than water or brush your teeth before the morning sample.
• Avoid food, drinks other than water and toothbrushing for at least two hours before each later sample.
• Rinse your mouth with water and wait five minutes before collecting.
• Fill each required tube at least halfway, excluding bubbles.
• Label every tube with your name, collection date and collection time.
• Freeze the samples if they will not be posted within 24 hours.

If you use HRT, corticosteroids, troches or hormones dissolved under the tongue, follow the treatment-specific instructions before collecting. An alternative sample type may be recommended for some treatments.

Read the full Saliva Collection Instructions and follow the S-140 four-sample schedule.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does This Test Measure Four or Seven Hormones?

It measures four different hormones:

• Estradiol
• Progesterone
• Testosterone
• Cortisol

Cortisol is measured four times, so the report contains seven individual results.

How Many Saliva Samples Do I Need?

Four samples collected on the same day:

• Within 30 minutes of waking
• Before lunch
• Before dinner
• Before bed

Does the Report Include Specialist Interpretation?

Yes. Hormone-specialist laboratory comments are included within your ZRT Laboratory report.

The comments explain relevant findings and may suggest points to discuss, practical areas to review or further assessment to consider. They are not a separate medical consultation.

Does This Test Show My Complete Daily Cortisol Pattern?

It measures cortisol at four points from morning to bedtime, allowing the report to show how your measured levels differ across the day.

It does not monitor cortisol continuously, and it does not include the additional 30- and 60-minute samples used for a Cortisol Awakening Response test.

How Does This Differ From Female Saliva Hormone Profile I?

Profile I measures estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEAS and one morning cortisol result.

Profile II does not include DHEAS. Instead, it measures cortisol at four points across the day.

Will the Results Explain My Symptoms?

The results show whether the measured hormone levels fall within the applicable laboratory ranges and provide individualised laboratory comments.

This offers useful information, but menstrual changes, tiredness, sleep problems and reduced libido can have several possible causes. The test does not establish that a particular hormone is responsible for your symptoms.

Can I Use This Test After Menopause?

Yes. Women who no longer have periods can collect on any day.

If you use HRT or another hormone treatment, follow the treatment-specific collection instructions.

Can I Use This Test While Taking HRT?

It may be suitable depending on the treatment and how it is administered.

Continue prescribed treatment as directed, record all hormone use on the Test Requisition Form and follow the treatment-specific collection instructions. An alternative sample type may be recommended for troches or hormones taken under the tongue.

The report provides hormone measurements to discuss with your healthcare professional. It does not assess the safety or effectiveness of HRT by itself.

Does This Test Diagnose an Adrenal Disorder?

No. It shows your measured cortisol levels at four collection times.

The results may support further discussion, but they do not diagnose an adrenal condition or establish that cortisol is causing your symptoms.

Do I Need to Fast?

No separate fasting period is required. However:

• Collect the morning sample before eating, drinking anything other than water or brushing your teeth.
• Avoid food, other drinks and toothbrushing for at least two hours before each later sample.

Is the Test Suitable for Children?

Yes, provided the child can supply the required saliva volume and follow the four-sample collection schedule. Include their age, symptoms and reason for testing so the results can be considered appropriately.

How Quickly Will I Receive My Results?

The laboratory normally reports within 3–5 working days after receiving your samples. Kit delivery and return-postage times are additional.

Does the Price Include Laboratory Analysis?

Yes. The collection kit, laboratory analysis, digital report and hormone-specialist laboratory comments are included.

You are responsible for arranging and paying for return postage to the laboratory.

How Long Can I Keep the Kit?

Use the kit within 12 months of purchase.

Not Sure Whether This Is the Right Test?

Email info@hormonelab.co.uk with your age, main symptoms, menstrual status, medicines and current treatments. Our team will forward your enquiry to our specialist doctors and respond with a suggested testing option within 24 hours.