Testing
Saliva hormone testing
Reviewed by Carmen Farrugia — Advanced Diploma of Naturopathy, and an AHPRA-registered midwife (NMW0001034617)
Last updated
Saliva hormone testing measures hormone levels from samples you collect yourself at home and send to a laboratory for analysis. We offer six kits, each designed to answer a different testing question, priced at $185–$390 depending on the kit.
Testing may be useful when your symptoms or circumstances suggest that hormone levels are worth investigating — for example, irregular or difficult menstrual cycles, persistent fatigue, disrupted sleep, mood changes, skin concerns or difficulty conceiving.
The important part is choosing the right test for the question you are trying to answer.
Getting started — four steps
1. Choose the right kit and order it
Unlike the hair mineral tests, a physical kit is posted to you, so this is the step that starts the clock — there is nothing to collect until it arrives.
Getting the choice right matters. The six kits measure different hormones and, in some cases, require samples at different times. Choosing the wrong one can give you a technically valid result that simply does not answer the question you were trying to investigate.
If you are unsure, ask your naturopath before you order as it may save you having to repeat the testing. Kits are ordered at the foot of this page.
2. Collect your samples at home
Once your kit arrives, it tells you which days and times to collect. Following those instructions is important because hormone levels can change significantly throughout the day and, for reproductive hormones, across the menstrual cycle.
3. Send the samples to the laboratory
Your kit includes the materials and instructions you need to prepare and return your samples.
4. Have the results interpreted in context
A laboratory report gives you measurements. It does not provide a diagnosis or a personalised treatment plan.
Your results review appointment is an opportunity to discuss the findings alongside your symptoms, medical history, medications and other relevant information.
Saliva or blood?
Saliva testing measures the unbound fraction of some hormones — the portion not bound to carrier proteins.
One practical advantage of saliva testing is that samples can be collected at home and at specified times. This can be useful when the question involves changes across a day or requires multiple samples.
However, saliva is not the best test for every hormone or every clinical question. Where blood testing is more appropriate, your naturopath will recommend it rather than asking you to rely on saliva testing. Pathology fees are charged separately by the pathology provider for blood collection.
Before you collect
Read the instructions before your first collection so you know exactly what is required.
- Tell your naturopath about all medications and supplements you take. Hormonal contraception and hormone replacement therapy can affect hormone measurements, as can other medications and supplements. This information can affect which test is appropriate and how the results should be interpreted.
- Know which day of your menstrual cycle to collect, if you are testing reproductive hormones. The appropriate timing depends on the test and your circumstances.
- Follow your normal routine where possible. Major disruptions such as night shifts, long-distance travel or significant sleep loss may affect some hormone measurements.
⛔ Getting the timing right
Follow the collection times provided with your kit as closely as possible. Before each sample:
- Avoid food, alcohol, tobacco and chewing gum for at least one hour. Follow the kit instructions regarding water.
- Do not brush or floss immediately before collecting. Blood from irritated or bleeding gums can affect a saliva sample.
- Collect at the specified time, rather than whenever it is convenient. Timing is particularly important when measuring hormones that follow a daily pattern.
- Record the collection time on the tube or collection form as instructed. The laboratory needs accurate timing to interpret the sample correctly.
Collecting the saliva
- Rinse your mouth with water if instructed and allow the required time before collecting.
- Allow saliva to pool naturally in your mouth before transferring it to the collection tube. Avoid introducing excessive foam.
- Fill the tube to the required level. An insufficient sample may need to be recollected.
- Seal and label the sample with the date and time, then follow the storage and postage instructions supplied with your kit.
Allow yourself enough time to collect the samples properly. It is better to take a little longer than to rush and have to repeat the collection.
Which kit measures what?
| Kit | Measures |
|---|---|
| Female hormone | Oestrone (E1), Oestradiol (E2), Oestriol (E3), Progesterone, Testosterone, DHEA-S |
| Male hormone | Oestrone (E1), Oestradiol (E2), Testosterone, DHEA-S, Cortisol |
| Stress hormone | Cortisol × 4 across one day, DHEA-S |
| Sleep hormone | Melatonin, Cortisol — one tube, collected between midnight and 2am |
| Stress & female hormone | Cortisol × 4, DHEA-S, Oestrone (E1), Oestradiol (E2), Oestriol (E3), Progesterone, Testosterone |
| Stress & male hormone | Cortisol × 4, DHEA-S, Testosterone, Oestradiol (E2), Oestrone (E1) |
⚠ What a result is — and what it isn’t
A laboratory report is a measurement, not a diagnosis.
The laboratory analyses your samples and reports the results against its testing and reference framework. It does not have the complete clinical picture that your practitioner has — including your medical history, medications, symptoms and circumstances.
The results therefore need to be interpreted in context, rather than treated as an answer on their own.
Conditions such as PCOS, thyroid disease and endometriosis require appropriate medical assessment and diagnosis. Your naturopath will refer you for further investigation where necessary rather than treating a saliva result as a diagnosis.
Having your report explained
Your naturopath can review the report with you and consider the findings alongside your symptoms, medical history, medications and other relevant factors.
The aim is not simply to identify numbers outside a reference range, but to decide whether the findings are relevant to the question you were investigating and whether any further assessment is warranted.
Existing patients can book a results review appointment by phone or video.
Not sure which kit is appropriate? Ask your naturopath before you order.
Order a kit
There are six kits, and the right one depends on the question you are trying to answer. If you are unsure, ask your naturopath before ordering rather than choosing a kit based on a single symptom.
An at-home saliva collection kit measuring female reproductive and adrenal hormones, analysed by a laboratory and read with your naturopath.
An at-home saliva collection kit measuring male hormones, analysed by a laboratory and read with your naturopath.
An at-home saliva kit measuring cortisol across the day, for fatigue, sleep disruption and chronic stress presentations.
An at-home saliva kit measuring melatonin and cortisol from a single tube collected between midnight and 2am.
The four-tube cortisol day and the full female panel, from one day of collections — day 21 if you still have a cycle.
The four-tube cortisol day and the full male panel, from one day of collections at home.
You can also pay over the phone — call the clinic on (03) 9089 7568 and reception will take it.
Frequently asked questions
Why saliva rather than blood?
Can I do this without seeing a naturopath?
Does the result diagnose a hormonal condition?
Will hormonal contraception affect my result?
How long do results take?
Ready to order?
Collected at home, analysed by a laboratory, and read with your naturopath. If you're not sure which kit fits your situation, ask before you order.