Hormones such as testosterone and androstenedione are dominant in men, while the estrogens and progesterone are dominant in women. Aside from normal aging, hormones can easily drift out of balance from their peak levels in the mid-to-late 20s. This is due to many factors, but chief among them are nutritional deficiencies, lifestyle choices, environmental disrupters and the side effects of prescription drugs.

The effects of shifting hormone levels are profound, and symptoms vary considerably among individuals. Depression, loss of energy, lack of sexual interest (libido), lack of sexual ability (erectile dysfunction), poor muscle tone, atherosclerosis, anemia, general weakness, lack of energy and a loss of interest in life are common.

When a hormonal imbalance is suspected, doctors typically measure the level of testosterone in men and estrogen in women. However, all hormones are interrelated, and even when these individual levels are in range, imbalances can still occur and cause a wide range of symptoms.

Comprehensive hormone testing, in which a group of the major sex steroid hormones are tested simultaneously via saliva samples, can provide a more complete picture. Combined testing using saliva is more accurate, convenient and less expensive than blood samples and can be done in the privacy of the home. Afterward, measured hormone imbalances can be corrected with lifestyle changes, nutritional and herbal supplementation or bioidentical hormones made from plant extracts.

Bringing wayward hormone levels back to their normal biological balance can help relieve disabling symptoms, prevent diagnosis errors and optimize overall health.

James Occhiogrosso is a natural health practitioner specializing in anti-aging and the author of several books. For more information about home saliva hormone test kits, call 239-652-0421, email [email protected], or visit HealthNaturallyToday.com.