You can get the most accurate results when you test your hormone levels on specific days of your cycle when they’re the highest and lowest. That way, you can recognize how they affect your symptoms.
On the other hand, while it’s essential to test on specific days, it’s unnecessary to test every day of your cycle. You might not need to test for all hormones at all times. To be clear, day one is the first day of your period.
Here are the specific times when you should have your hormones tested:
1. Fertility
It’s best if you have your hormones tested on the last day you’re fertile, which is the day you ovulate. This helps you determine the best time to conceive.
2. Hormones Post-Ovulation
This is the most important day of testing since it’s the day your luteal phase begins. It’s important to note that the length of your luteal phase can vary — and it’s what causes symptoms like breast tenderness, bloating, and fatigue. This phase can range from 10 to 20 days.
3. FSH and LH Surge
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) are both related to the day after you ovulate. This hormone surge occurs to help nurture the egg released and allow it to become fertilized.
4. Estrogen and Progesterone
The day after your FSH, vaginal fluid, and LH surge is when you can test for estrogen and progesterone. These will be the highest.
5. Testosterone
Testosterone levels start to drop when you are pregnant. Both the adrenal glands and ovaries produce testosterone. During pregnancy, the adrenal glands produce more of it. Testosterone can be tested on any day post-ovulation.
6. Thyroid
Your thyroid regulates how fast your metabolism is, how sensitive your cells are to insulin, and how much energy you have. You can have your thyroid function tested on any day. However, some women may have more symptoms during certain phases of their cycle, so it might be best to have thyroid function tested on specific days:
- Day 6 of your cycle provides optimal thyroid function testing because it’s the day the thyroid gland expels the most thyroid hormone.
- Day 12 of your cycle is also an excellent time to test your thyroid function because it’s the day the thyroid gland expels the second-most amount of thyroid hormone.
- Day 15 of your cycle is also an excellent time to test your thyroid function because it’s the day the thyroid gland expels the least amount of thyroid hormone.
7. Sleep
Sleep cycles can be affected by your hormones. In a study published in the journal Behavioral Neuroscience, researchers found that women’s sleep cycles were disturbed by low progesterone levels. Additionally, as estrogen levels rise, the sleep cycle of women becomes more fragmented and restless.
8. Other Ways to Test Your Hormones
You can also test your hormones at any time by using saliva collection kits. These can be sent to a lab to be tested. However, they only measure the two primary hormones, progesterone, and estrogen (and testosterone when testing women with PCOS).
You can also use a hormone tracker on your smartphone to track your symptoms throughout the month. You can also log in when you test to get more details about your hormone levels.
Conclusion
Getting tested for your hormones and tracking your symptoms throughout the month is a great way to determine how your hormones affect your health. It can also help you notice a change in your hormone levels when you change your diet, exercise, or stress levels.
At Infinity Medical Institute, we provide natural hormone replacement treatment plans for men and women who use only bio-natural hormones, identical to the body’s natural chemistry. Our approach to wellness is based on meeting people where they are in their personal life and developing an individualized plan of action in and around nutrition, supplementation, and lifestyle. If you need a hormone test for women in Tampa, FL, get in touch with us! Book a consultation now!
