Quick Facts
- Sample: Saliva and blood spot collection at home
- Fasting: No fasting required
- Turn-around: 7-8 Days once the lab receives the specimen. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays.
Benefits
- Comprehensive hormone assessment - Measures 10+ key hormones including sex hormones, stress hormones, and thyroid function
- Dual sampling advantage - Combines saliva and blood spot methods for superior accuracy and complete evaluation
- At-home convenience - Collect samples privately without clinic visits or phlebotomist appointments
- Bioavailable hormone measurement - Saliva testing captures free hormones that actually reach your tissues
- Ideal for hormone therapy monitoring - Blood spot method accurately tracks topical, oral, and pellet hormone treatments
- Cost-effective solution - Eliminates need for multiple separate hormone tests with one comprehensive panel
Who Is This Test For?
- Women experiencing unexplained fatigue, mood changes, or irregular periods
- Those considering or currently on hormone replacement therapy requiring monitoring
- Health-conscious individuals seeking preventive hormone screening and optimization
- Women with suspected PCOS, thyroid disorders, or adrenal dysfunction
- Anyone wanting comprehensive hormonal health assessment before symptoms develop
How It Works – Just 3 Steps
Collect samples at home - Follow simple instructions for saliva and finger-stick blood spot collection on specific cycle days
Ship to laboratory - Use provided shipping materials to send samples to ZRT Laboratory within recommended timeframes
Receive detailed results - Get comprehensive hormone analysis with reference ranges and clinical interpretation within 7-8 business day
FAQ
When should I collect samples for this test? Menstruating women should collect on cycle days 19-21 (day 1 = first day of period). Post-menopausal women can test anytime.
Is this test accurate for women on hormone therapy? Yes, the blood spot method is specifically designed for accurate monitoring of topical, oral, and pellet hormone therapies, unlike saliva-only tests.
What hormones does this test measure? The panel includes cortisol (4x daily), estradiol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA-S, SHBG, TSH, free T3, free T4, and thyroid antibodies.
Do I need to fast before collecting samples? No fasting is required. Simply avoid anti-aging creams 3 days prior and strenuous exercise 24 hours before cortisol collection.
How long are samples stable after collection? Samples are stable at room temperature for 24 hours, or up to one month if frozen before shipping to the laboratory.
More Details
What is the purpose of this test?
The Female Comprehensive Profile II provides a complete assessment of hormonal health by measuring sex hormones, stress hormones, and thyroid function to identify imbalances causing symptoms like fatigue, irregular periods, mood changes, and weight fluctuations. This dual-sampling approach uses saliva to measure bioavailable steroid hormones and blood spot testing for thyroid function and binding proteins, offering superior accuracy compared to single-method testing (Mayo Clinic 2024).
The test evaluates cortisol patterns throughout the day, reproductive hormones that regulate menstrual cycles and fertility, and thyroid hormones essential for metabolism and energy production. This comprehensive approach enables healthcare providers to develop personalized treatment plans addressing root causes of hormonal imbalances rather than just treating symptoms.
Who would benefit from this test?
Women experiencing hormonal symptoms benefit most from this comprehensive assessment. This includes those with irregular menstrual cycles, unexplained weight changes, chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances, mood swings, or decreased libido (Mayo Clinic 2024). The test is particularly valuable for women with suspected PCOS, affecting 6-10% of reproductive-aged women, or thyroid disorders that are significantly more common in women than men.
Health-conscious individuals seeking preventive screening also benefit, as approximately 80% of women experience hormonal imbalances during their lifetime, with many remaining undiagnosed due to lack of comprehensive testing. Women on hormone therapy require regular monitoring to optimize dosing and ensure treatment effectiveness, making this test essential for ongoing care management.
When should I order Female Comprehensive Profile II?
Timing depends on your menstrual status and symptoms. Menstruating women should collect samples on cycle days 19-21 for optimal progesterone assessment, while post-menopausal women can test anytime. Order this test when experiencing unexplained symptoms like persistent fatigue, mood changes, or irregular periods that suggest hormonal involvement.
Consider testing before starting hormone therapy to establish baseline levels, during treatment for monitoring effectiveness, or annually for preventive health screening. Women with family history of thyroid disorders, PCOS, or early menopause may benefit from earlier and more frequent testing to enable proactive intervention.
How do I interpret the results?
Results show your hormone levels compared to age-appropriate reference ranges with detailed clinical interpretation. The laboratory provides comprehensive analysis highlighting any values outside normal ranges and their potential clinical significance.
Within normal
- What it means: Hormone levels are optimal for your age
- Typical action: Continue current lifestyle and monitoring
Below normal
- What it means: Deficiency may cause symptoms
- Typical action: Consider hormone therapy or lifestyle changes
Above normal
- What it means: Excess may indicate dysfunction
- Typical action: Investigate underlying causes and treatment
Borderline
- What it means: Levels approaching concern range
- Typical action: Monitor closely and consider retesting
Cortisol results show your natural daily rhythm - levels should be highest in morning and lowest at bedtime for optimal health.
Abnormal thyroid values may indicate hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, or autoimmune conditions requiring medical evaluation. Sex hormone imbalances can suggest PCOS, perimenopause, or other reproductive disorders. Always discuss results with a qualified healthcare provider for personalized interpretation and treatment recommendations.
Disclaimer: Reference ranges may vary by laboratory. Listed ranges are general guidelines and may differ from those used by the performing lab. Always consult your healthcare provider for interpretation.
Pre-test preparation
No fasting is required for hormone testing, making preparation simple and convenient. Menstruating women should track their cycles and collect samples on days 19-21 for accurate progesterone assessment. Continue taking regular medications unless specifically contraindicated by your healthcare provider.
Avoid anti-aging creams containing hormones for 3 days prior to testing, as these can affect results. Refrain from strenuous exercise 24 hours before cortisol collection to prevent artificial elevation. For saliva samples, avoid eating, drinking (except water), or brushing teeth for 2 hours before collection to ensure sample purity.
How often should I get tested?
Testing frequency depends on your health status, symptoms, and treatment needs. Regular monitoring helps track changes over time and treatment effectiveness.
- Initial screening
- Suggested interval: Baseline, then annually
- Hormone therapy monitoring
- Suggested interval: Every 3–6 months
- Thyroid disorder management
- Suggested interval: Every 3–4 months initially
- PCOS or metabolic issues
- Suggested interval: Every 6–12 months
- Symptom resolution
- Suggested interval: Annual preventive screening
Women on hormone replacement therapy require more frequent monitoring during initial treatment phases to optimize dosing. Once stable, testing every 6-12 months may be sufficient. Those with chronic conditions like thyroid disorders or PCOS benefit from regular monitoring to prevent complications and maintain optimal health.
Why early detection matters
Early detection of hormonal imbalances enables proactive intervention that can prevent complications and significantly improve quality of life. Untreated thyroid disorders can lead to cardiovascular problems, osteoporosis, and metabolic dysfunction. Undiagnosed PCOS increases risks for diabetes, heart disease, and endometrial cancer.
Identifying cortisol dysregulation early allows for stress management interventions that can prevent adrenal exhaustion and associated health problems (American Heart Association 2023). Early hormone optimization can also ease perimenopause transitions and reduce long-term health risks associated with estrogen deficiency.
Proactive hormone testing enables personalized treatment plans showing superior outcomes compared to reactive approaches, helping women maintain vitality and health throughout all life stages.
Related tests you may consider
Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) Blood Test (Female Only) - Assesses women's fertility and reproductive health by measuring AMH levels in the blood.
Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP-14) with eGFR Blood Test - Evaluate nutrient levels, liver, and kidney function.
Thyroid #4 Comprehensive Blood Test Panel - Checks several important hormones, antibodies, and proteins to give a full picture of how well your thyroid is working, helping detect issues like thyroid disorders and autoimmune diseases.
