Comprehensive Female Saliva Hormone Profile
Want to Review Your Sex Hormones and Daily Cortisol Pattern Together?
Changes in your periods, energy, sleep, mood or libido can overlap—particularly when your symptoms change at different times of the day.
The Comprehensive Female Saliva Hormone Profile measures estradiol, progesterone, testosterone and DHEAS. It also measures cortisol at four points from morning to bedtime.
This test helps answer three practical questions:
How do my measured sex hormone levels compare with the laboratory ranges?
What does my DHEAS result add to the overall picture?
How does my cortisol level change from morning to bedtime?
Your ZRT Laboratory report presents eight individual results with reference ranges, visual graphs and hormone-specialist laboratory comments. These comments explain relevant findings and suggest useful next steps to consider.
- Eight results from four saliva samples
- Measures five different hormones
- Estradiol, progesterone, testosterone and DHEAS 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
- Difficulty becoming alert in the morning
- 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:
- A broader female hormone profile that includes DHEAS
- 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 the hormone 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 Testosterone and DHEAS
The profile also measures testosterone and DHEAS.
Benefit: These results provide additional information to consider alongside concerns about sexual wellbeing, energy or physical health.
DHEAS is an adrenal androgen involved in the production of other steroid hormones. It adds another measurement to the profile but does not represent total adrenal capacity.
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
- Consider your DHEAS result alongside your age
- 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 eight 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
- Your DHEAS result
- Four individual cortisol results
- Time-specific cortisol reference ranges
- Relevant sex hormone and DHEAS reference ranges
- A visual graph showing your measured cortisol pattern
- Visual presentation of your other 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?
| Result | What it adds to your assessment |
|---|---|
| Estradiol (E2) | Provides a key oestrogen measurement to consider alongside your life stage, symptoms and hormone use |
| Progesterone | Adds reproductive-hormone information when collected at the appropriate stage of your cycle |
| Testosterone | Measures an androgen relevant to female sexual and physical wellbeing |
| DHEAS | Measures an adrenal androgen involved in the production of other steroid hormones |
| Morning cortisol | Shows your cortisol level at the beginning of your waking day |
| Midday cortisol | Provides a measurement around the middle of the day |
| Evening cortisol | Shows your cortisol level later in the day |
| Bedtime cortisol | Provides a measurement as you approach sleep |
The profile measures five different hormones and provides eight individual results because cortisol is measured four times.
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-141
Test panel: LCMS Hormones 4 with 4-Point Cortisol
Sample type: Saliva
Different hormones measured: 5
Results reported: 8
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 eight results
- Laboratory reference-range comparisons
- Visual daily cortisol graph
- Visual presentation of your other 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:
| Your cycle or situation | Collection day |
|---|---|
| Regular cycle lasting 23–26 days | Day 17, 18 or 19 |
| Regular cycle lasting 27–30 days | Day 21, 22 or 23 |
| Regular cycle lasting 31–34 days | Day 25, 26 or 27 |
| Shorter or longer regular cycle | 5–7 days before your next expected period |
| Infrequent or unpredictable periods | Any non-bleeding day |
| No menstrual periods | Any day, following treatment-timing instructions where applicable |
| Children | Any day |
| Using hormone treatment | Follow the treatment-specific collection instructions |
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?
| What do you want to understand? | Suggested test |
|---|---|
| Estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEAS and one morning cortisol result | Female Saliva Hormone Profile I |
| The same five hormones, with cortisol compared upon waking and before bed | Female Complete Saliva Hormone Profile |
| Estradiol, progesterone and testosterone with cortisol measured at four points across the day | Female Saliva Hormone Profile II |
| Estradiol, progesterone, testosterone and DHEAS with cortisol measured at four points across the day | Comprehensive Female Saliva Hormone Profile |
Choose the Comprehensive profile if you want the broad core panel—including DHEAS—together with cortisol measurements across the day.
Choose Profile II if you want the same four-point cortisol profile but do not need DHEAS included.
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-141 four-sample schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does This Test Measure Five or Eight Hormones?
It measures five different hormones:
- Estradiol
- Progesterone
- Testosterone
- DHEAS
- Cortisol
Cortisol is measured four times, so the report contains eight 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?
Both profiles measure estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEAS and cortisol.
Profile I provides one morning cortisol result. The Comprehensive profile measures cortisol at four points across the day.
How Does This Differ From Female Saliva Hormone Profile II?
Both profiles include estradiol, progesterone, testosterone and a four-point cortisol assessment.
The Comprehensive profile also includes DHEAS.
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, mood changes and reduced libido can have several possible causes. The test does not establish that a particular hormone is responsible.
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, effectiveness or appropriate dose of HRT by itself.
Does DHEAS Measure My Adrenal Reserve?
No. DHEAS provides one measurement of an adrenal androgen.
It adds information to the profile but does not, by itself, measure total adrenal capacity, diagnose adrenal dysfunction or establish the cause of symptoms.
Can This Test Diagnose an Adrenal Disorder?
No. It shows your measured cortisol levels at four collection times and your DHEAS result.
These findings 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.
