Blog — Saliva Testing

Learn the science of saliva testing, how it measures bioavailable hormones, and why it’s trusted by patients, clinicians, and wellness experts.

Explore the vital role of estrogen in perimenopause, its impact on mood, sleep, heart and bone health, and the latest research on hormone therapy options.

Infertility is an increasingly common issue, affecting over 22% of married women who struggle to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term. While physical causes like anovulation, tubal damage, or endometriosis account for many cases, hormonal imbalances are often overlooked yet highly treatable contributors to infertility. The ZRT Fertility Profile offers a comprehensive and convenient way to evaluate hormone levels that are essential for conception and pregnancy maintenance. By testing markers like FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid hormones, and cortisol, this profile helps identify conditions such as ovarian insufficiency, luteal phase deficiency, PCOS, thyroid dysfunction, and stress-related hormonal disruption. Samples can be collected easily at home through fingerstick blood and saliva on specific days of the menstrual cycle, ensuring accurate and timely results. Early identification of hormonal imbalances empowers women to take corrective action—often through simple lifestyle changes or targeted therapies—before turning to more invasive fertility treatments. Whether you’ve been trying to conceive without success, experienced recurrent miscarriages, or are planning ahead for pregnancy, ZRT’s Fertility Profile provides critical insights to help you and your healthcare provider take proactive steps toward reproductive health and success.

Hormone testing is a critical tool in modern healthcare, guiding everything from fertility treatment to hormone replacement therapy. While blood testing has long been the traditional route, saliva testing has rapidly emerged as a scientifically validated, convenient, and non-invasive alternative—offering clinical accuracy with ease of use. But how reliable is it really?  The Scientific Foundation of Saliva Testing Saliva testing isn't just a novel idea—it's backed by science. Over 600 peer-reviewed studies in 2012 alone have utilised salivary analysis to measure hormone levels, with results showing a strong correlation to conventional serum (blood) tests. So, how does it work? In the bloodstream,...

Fertility Mapping: Navigating Fertility with PCOS and Insulin Resistance (Part II)By Dr. Alison McAllister Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a complex, multifactorial condition influenced by disruptions in hormone receptors, metabolism, neurotransmitter function, and nutrient balance. As a lifelong disorder, PCOS is a leading contributor to infertility, weight gain, and an increased risk for cardiometabolic issues. In this blog post, we dive deeper into laboratory testing, helping healthcare providers understand which tests are critical for women suspected of having PCOS. Lab Testing for PCOS PCOS is most commonly diagnosed through the Rotterdam Criteria, a diagnostic framework that considers various indicators, including...