Quick Facts
- Sample: Saliva; optional add-on cheek swab
- Fasting: Overnight fasting recommended; water allowed
- Turn-around: 7–21 business days from receipt at the lab. May take longer based on weather, holiday, or lab delays.
Benefits
- 360° hormonal snapshot – measures sex hormones, stress rhythm, estrogen balance, and nutrient-related functional markers in one test
- Non-invasive home collection – no needles or clinic visits required
- Actionable precision – identifies root causes of fatigue, mood changes, and cycle irregularities with lab-grade accuracy
- Affordable & private – direct access with no insurance hassles or delays
Who Is This Test For?
- Women ages 30–65+ experiencing perimenopause or menopause symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats, irregular cycles)
- Anyone managing hormone replacement therapy or bioidentical HRT optimization
- Women with chronic fatigue, anxiety, sleep disturbance, or signs of adrenal burnout
- Those tracking fertility, confirming ovulation, or assessing luteal insufficiency
- Women with PCOS, endometriosis, or suspected estrogen dominance
- Anyone seeking nutritional assessment for B-vitamin, antioxidant, or mitochondrial deficiencies
How It Works – Just 3 Steps
- Order online & receive your kit – kit arrives with pre-labeled tubes, collection instructions, and prepaid return envelope
- Collect samples at home over 24 hours – saliva at four time points (morning, noon, evening, night); optional add-on cheek swab
- Mail samples & access results in 7–21 days – detailed report with hormone levels and balance patterns
FAQ
What hormones does this test measure? Eight salivary hormones: estradiol, estrone, estriol, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, melatonin, plus four-point diurnal cortisol. Optional add-on genetic SNPs include COMT, MTHFR, CYP1A1, CYP1B1, and ApoE.
How accurate is saliva hormone testing? Modern salivary assays achieve lab-grade precision and measure bioavailable (free) hormones—the biologically active form. Late-night salivary cortisol demonstrates 92–100% sensitivity for detecting cortisol dysfunction (Medix Biochemica 2024). However, methodological challenges exist for low-concentration hormones like estrogen; clinical expertise is essential for interpretation (ACOG 2020).
Can I test while on hormone replacement therapy? Saliva detects bioidentical hormones (estradiol, progesterone, testosterone) applied topically or sublingually. Synthetic hormones (oral contraceptives, synthetic HRT) are not accurately detected and may cause unpredictable results. Collect samples at least 12 hours after your final HRT dose (Genova Diagnostics 2026).
Who should I consult to interpret my results? Bring your report to a functional medicine practitioner, naturopathic doctor, or integrative gynecologist familiar with saliva testing and nutritional interpretation. Not all conventional physicians are trained in this approach (Genova Diagnostics 2026).
How does this compare to blood testing? Saliva measures free (active) hormones, while blood measures total hormone (bound + free). For monitoring topical HRT, assessing diurnal cortisol patterns, or tracking cycles, saliva is often more practical and clinically relevant than serum (ZRT Laboratory 2015).
More Details
What is the purpose of this test?
Women's Health+ provides a comprehensive hormonal, metabolic, and genetic assessment by measuring eight salivary hormones (including a four-point diurnal cortisol rhythm), functional nutritional markers related to B-vitamins, antioxidants, and mitochondrial health, and optional genetic variants influencing hormone metabolism. The test helps identify root contributors to perimenopause, menopause, fatigue, mood changes, fertility challenges, and stress-related symptoms using a convenient at-home saliva collection (Genova Diagnostics 2026).
Who would benefit from this test?
Women ages 30–65+ experiencing hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, irregular cycles, or brain fog benefit from quantifying hormone balance and adrenal patterns. The test is valuable for monitoring bioidentical HRT, assessing adrenal function in chronic fatigue or burnout, tracking fertility and luteal insufficiency, screening for PCOS or estrogen dominance, and optimizing nutritional status. Nearly 85% of women over age 35 experience hormonal imbalances, yet only 5% of menopausal women receive treatment despite 8–10 million experiencing symptoms annually.
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
Timing: For menstruating women, collect samples on cycle days 19–21 (or 5 days before expected period) when testing progesterone. For non-cycling or perimenopausal women, test any day.
Hormone users: Continue prescribed bioidentical HRT the day before testing. Apply topical or sublingual doses at least 12 hours before morning saliva collection. Oral progesterone may be taken before bed. Synthetic hormones are not accurately detected; inform your provider.
Supplements & medications: Discontinue non-essential supplements 3–5 days before testing if possible. Continue essential medications and prescribed hormones.
Lifestyle: Avoid heavy exercise, extreme stress, or unusual events 24–48 hours before collection. Maintain normal sleep and routine.
Oral hygiene: Do not brush or floss 1 hour before saliva collection to prevent blood contamination. Visibly blood-contaminated samples must be recollected (Genova Diagnostics 2026; ZRT Laboratory 2015).
How often should I get tested?
- Starting or adjusting HRT: Retest 4–6 weeks after a dose change
- Active perimenopause with changing symptoms: Every 3–6 months
- Targeted supplementation for adrenal or nutritional concerns: 8–12 weeks after intervention
- Maintenance/prevention (healthy women): Annually for trend data
Why early detection matters
Perimenopause symptoms begin earlier than commonly recognized: 55.4% of women ages 30–35 and 64.3% of women ages 36–40 report moderate-to-severe symptoms, yet most women do not seek treatment until age 56 or older (Contemporary OB/GYN 2025). Untreated menopausal symptoms cost an estimated $196 billion annually in lost workplace productivity, with individual women experiencing average annual costs of $2,116 (Women's Mental Health 2025).
During perimenopause, women spend significantly more days with unopposed estrogen (estrogen without adequate progesterone), increasing risk for ovarian, breast, and endometrial cancers (NCBI/PMC 2022). Early identification of estrogen metabolism patterns, cortisol dysregulation, and nutritional deficiencies enables targeted interventions—stress reduction, cruciferous vegetables, B-vitamin repletion, adaptogenic herbs—that restore resilience, reduce symptom burden, and mitigate long-term health risks.
Related tests you may consider
Thyroid #3 Extreme Blood Test Panel – hypothyroidism and autoimmune thyroiditis mimic perimenopause and menopause symptoms (fatigue, weight gain, mood changes, dry skin, irregular periods) and often co-occur in midlife. Thyroid dysfunction impacts estrogen metabolism and cortisol function. Mayo Clinic and the Endocrine Society recommend TSH testing as part of menopause evaluation (Mayo Clinic 2024).
Gastrointestinal (GI) Effects Comprehensive Stool Profile 1 Day- Genova Test Kit – gut health directly influences estrogen metabolism through the estrobolome (microbial genes encoding enzymes that metabolize estrogen). Dysbiosis, reduced beneficial bacteria, and intestinal permeability impair estrogen clearance and contribute to estrogen dominance and worsening perimenopause symptoms. Comprehensive stool analysis also identifies chronic inflammation, yeast overgrowth, and microbial imbalances linked to mood disorders, immune dysfunction, and metabolic syndrome (NCBI/PMC 2025).
MicroNutrient, Blood - SpectraCell Test Kit – Women's Health+ identifies organic acid markers suggesting nutrient insufficiency, but a direct blood micronutrient panel provides absolute nutrient levels and informs supplementation dosing. Vitamin D deficiency affects 80% of postmenopausal women, and B12 depletion is common in women over 60.
