Karen Martel Women's Hormone Specialist
Helping women to navigate peri & post menopause and balance their hormones to lose weight and feel their best!
Key Facts About ZRT:
Unraveling the Confusion over Saliva, Serum & Urine Testing for Steroid Hormone Levels
Saliva vs. Urine vs. Blood:
Serum (blood): for sex hormones there is no distinction in serum between bound and unbound (free) hormones. It can be misleading in which hormone levels appear as normal or even high normal because of the amount of bound hormones. If free hormone level is low, the patient can be functionally deficient even with normal total hormone levels. Serum is ideal for testing hormones such as FSH, LH, prolactin, fasting insulin, and thyroid hormones including Reverse T3, as well as thyroid antibodies. For sex hormones, serum testing has a more limited utility. I don’t recommend serum unless you are menopausal or close to it.
Saliva: Saliva test measures free, unbound, bioavailable biologically active hormones, which can be delivered to the receptors in the body’s tissues. Only unbound hormones are able to pass through into the saliva. Saliva is best used to evaluate cortisol and the balance and flow of the estrogens and progesterone in women who are still having menstrual cycles. This is a great affordable place to start on testing your hormone levels and is the gold standard for testing cortisol throughout the day. Saliva measurements are greatly affected by the use of exogenous hormones. Transdermal progesterone and testosterone, in particular, can result in supra-physiological levels in saliva testing. Because of this if you are on HRT I recommend urine testing.
Urine: Gold standard of hormone testing! Measures the hormone metabolites and gives you the most comprehensive look at your hormones. Some estrogen metabolites have a protective effect on estrogen-sensitive tissues, other metabolites have a more carcinogenic effects. Measuring the hormone metabolites give us insight into what hormones are doing in the body. Analysis of 44 different hormones: estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA-S, and cortisol along with their metabolites. This is a more comprehensive test then saliva or serum. An important advantage of a 24-hour urine hormone collection is the ability to measure hormone metabolites. It is well-established that certain estrogen metabolites are “good” estrogens, having a protective effect on estrogen-sensitive tissues. Other metabolites are known to have more carcinogenic effects.
If you are trying to choose which test is best the Advanced Urine Metabolite Test is the most comprehensive and affordable for what you get.
Listen to the podcast Karen did called “Everything You Need to Know About Hormone Testing.”
Advanced Metabolites Profile – Our broadest view of sex steroid hormone metabolite levels and cortisol metabolism with full diurnal melatonin and BPA. With 44 unique markers, ZRT’s urine hormone profiles are more comprehensive than any other lab’s!
*The Advanced Urine Profile is comparable to a DUTCH test kit but includes several more markers and is more affordable.
The kit includes:
• Easy directions and filter paper collection strips
The results include:
• Analysis of 44 different hormones: estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA-S, melatonin, creatinine and cortisol along with their metabolites.
• Daily free cortisol patterns to provide insight into adrenal insufficiency or symptoms of chronic stress
The results include:
Price: $399
Bonuses:
Each kit includes a FREE 20 minute consult for test interpretation and supplement suggestions (Value $50).
*ZRT tests can be shipped worldwide please contact us for prices.
Download Sample Test Report.
Estrogen, progesterone and select androgen metabolites with BPA. 20 tests. *Does not include cortisol.
A comprehensive profiling of estrogen hormones and metabolites, as well progesterone and androgen hormones/metabolites. This tests shows available hormone levels as well how your body is breaking them down. An excess level of certain metabolites can show increased risk for cancer and other diseases.
Includes testing for Bisphenol-A (BPA) which is a chemical that is normally used to make plastics, but can also be found in paper receipts and in the coating on the interior of aluminum cans and is considered a hormone disruptor and a xenoestrogen.
DRIED URINE: Estrogens (13), Progestogens (2), Androgens (5), Creatinine (1)
Price: $325
Bonuses:
Each kit includes a FREE 20 minute consult for test interpretation and supplement suggestions (Value $50).
*ZRT tests can be shipped worldwide please contact us for prices.
Female/Male Saliva Profile Eight tests: Estradiol (E2), Progesterone (Pg), Testosterone (T), DHEA-S, and 4 point Cortisol test morning, noon, evening, and night Cortisol (C).
Regular price $325
SALE Price: $275
Bonuses:
Each kit includes a FREE 20 minute consult for test interpretation and supplement suggestions (Value $50).
Assesses gonadal, adrenal, and thyroid hormones. Includes saliva: Estradiol E2, Progesterone Pg, Testosterone T, DHEA DS, Diurnal 4x Cortisol; and blood spot: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone TSH, Free T3 fT3, Free T4 fT4, Thyroid Peroxidase TPO.
Regular price: $400
SALE Price: $350
Bonuses:
Each kit includes a FREE 20 minute consult for test interpretation and supplement suggestions (Value $50).
A FREE 30 DAY HORMONE BALANCING MEAL PLAN (VALUE $50)!
Recommended for people with chronic stress, fatigue, sleep disturbances, allergies and/or lowered immunity; indicator of adrenal imbalance. Tests adrenal hormones DHEA-S and diurnal cortisol (morning, noon, evening, nighttime). (Saliva Test).
Regular $245
SALE Price $195
Bonuses:
Adrenal kits come with a written test interpretation and supplement suggestions based on your results (Value $50).
A FREE 30 DAY HORMONE BALANCING MEAL PLAN (VALUE $50)!
The DUTCH Complete™ is an advanced urine metabolite hormone test, offering an extensive profile of sex and adrenal hormones and melatonin, along with their metabolites, to identify symptoms of hormonal imbalances. Easily collected in the comfort of your own home, samples are then sent to our lab to be processed.
The results include:
• Analysis of 35 different hormones: estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA-S, and cortisol along with their metabolites
• Daily free cortisol patterns to provide insight into adrenal insufficiency or symptoms of chronic stress
• DUTCH OATs: Oxidative stress marker – 8-Hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), melatonin (6-OHMS), and six organic acid tests (OATs) including markers for vitamin B12 (methylmalonate), vitamin B6 (xanthurenate), kynurenate, glutathione (pyroglutamate), dopamine (homovanillate), norepinephrine/epinephrine (vanilmandelate).
Price: $499
Bonuses:
Each kit includes a FREE 20 minute consult for test interpretation and supplement suggestions (Value $50).
*DUTCH tests can be shipped worldwide please contact us for prices.
California
Maryland
New York
*We can however ship DUTCH to those states.
The world’s only personal health testing service designed around you.
I have partnered with Lets Get Checked Labs to help you get easy access to important health tests that can help you determine your weight loss code! This laboratory carries the highest levels of CLIA approval and CAP accreditation. They use an automated process, anonymized patient IDs and revolutionary technology to ensure quick analysis of your samples. All tests are done form the comforts of your own home.
Lets Get Checked has a wide range of tests to cover your health needs. Order with next day shipping and avoid sitting in a doctor’s office or clinic.
Activate your test and collect your sample in the morning. Return your sample on the same day, using the prepaid shipping label provided.
Once your sample arrives in the laboratory, confidential results will be available from your secure online account within 2 to 5 days.
Your health record is reviewed in real-time by a LetsGetChecked physician and additional support services will be provided to you as needed. Once your sample has been processed, their team of physicians will review your results. A member of the nursing team will contact you to deliver your results and discuss the next steps. They can provide advice on lifestyle changes to improve your health and in some cases they can offer prescriptions.
Ships to the US only.
*Please note LetsGetChecked test kits DO NOT include a free interpretation session or meal plan.
Understand your thyroid with our home thyroid testing options.
Price $99
USE COUPON CODE “KAREN” AT CHECKOUT TO GET 20% OFF!
Price $119
USE COUPON CODE “KAREN” AT CHECKOUT TO GET 20% OFF!
At home Vitamin test to identify vitamin B12, vitamin D and folate deficiencies with online results in 5 days.
Price:$109
USE COUPON CODE “KAREN” AT CHECKOUT TO GET 20% OFF!