Posted by BarbaraCat on August 26, 2003, at 12:00:06
In reply to Re: Receive Mail-In Hormone test from home, posted by Angel1 on August 25, 2003, at 21:49:38
> Dr. Elizabeth Vliet who wrote "Screaming to be Heard" says the saliva tests are not valid and a waste of money. She recommends the serum blood tests for the all important hormone levels. According to her, they are much more accurate and the saliva tests do not give accurate results. I had blood drawn today for my hormones and sent the saliva sample about a week ago, so am curious to compare results. I wouldn't waste my money on the saliva tests, but that is just my opinion.
> best of luck in whatever you choose.**Yes, I read that in her book as well, but that hasn't been the word on the block as far as holistically oriented med practitioners say, MD's included. I wanted to make sure and so screamed until I was heard at my HMO and got the serum hormone tests that I as also testing by by saliva (not cortisol because it's notoriously inaccurate and not DHEA because it was too expensive and the 'jury wasn't in' about it's effect on anything) and the levels coincided. I really had to very strongly insist on getting these serum tests because I was told that the values 'didn't mean anything'???!! What can this belief possibly mean?
Saliva tests have gotten much more sensitive and accurate than when Dr. Vliet wrote her book. Although I agree with much of what she says, I strongly disagree with her insistance that low estrogen is the main culprit for everything. Mine was way too high and caused a pre-cancerous condition. My progesterone was too low and not absorbing well.
Also, did anyone know that oral estrogen (as opposed to skin patches or other transdermal delivery methods) causes low values of human growth hormone? This is NOT a good thing.
poster:BarbaraCat
thread:253283
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030823/msgs/254309.html