MENOPAUSE
Menopause is not a single point in time when hormone production is switched off, but a gradual decline that brings an end to female fertility. During menopause, a woman’s levels of estrogen and progesterone diminish – leading to a lack of menstrual periods.
A woman is considered to be in menopause when she’s had no menstrual cycles for 12 months.
The right balance of hormones is vital to a woman’s health. But in menopause, when levels are dropping, a deficiency of one hormone can trigger a relative excess of another and result in common imbalances such as:
Estrogen Dominance or Low Progesterone
Results in mood swings, migraines, fat gain in hips and thighs
Low Estrogen or Fluctuations of Estrogen
Triggers hot flashes, night sweats, palpitations, foggy thinking, memory lapse & vaginal dryness
Low Testosterone or DHEA
Leads to decreases in bone or muscle mass, metabolism, energy, strength, stamina, exercise tolerance & libido
High Cortisol
Results in insomnia, anxiety, sugar cravings, feeling tired but wired & increased belly fat
Low Cortisol
Causes chronic fatigue, low energy, food and sugar cravings, poor exercise tolerance or recovery & low immune reserves
Neurotransmitter Imbalance
Changes in estrogen and progesterone levels can impact neurotransmitter levels. For instance, a drop in estrogen can result in a drop in serotonin.
Thyroid Imbalance
Changes in estrogen levels can lead to thyroid symptoms like slowed metabolism and always feeling cold. In fact, many women experiencing menopause will be diagnosed with hypothyroidism.
Low Vitamin D
Sufficient levels of Vitamin D, estrogen and testosterone are important for maintaining bone health in the menopause years.
Learn More About Menopause
Recommended for Practitioners:
Webinar: The Menopause Mind
Recommended for Patients:
Webinar: Everything You Wanted to Know About Menopause
Handbook: Menopause & Your Health
Blog: Of Seahorses and Menopause
Menopause Testing Options
To restore the vital balance of hormones, we first need a detailed, accurate measurement of hormone levels. Not just numbers, but an assessment that offers real meaning.
Confused about when to test in saliva, blood, and urine? Click here to learn more.
Saliva Test Kit Includes:
Saliva Profile I – E2, Pg, T, DS & Cx1
Saliva Profile II – E2, Pg, T, DS & Cx2
Saliva Profile III – E2, Pg, T, DS & Cx4 (Sample Report)
Hormone Trio – E2, Pg & T
LCMS Saliva Steroid Profile – E2, E3, E1, EE, PregS, Pg, AlloP, 17OHPg, Adione, T, DHT, D, DS, 7keto, 11DC, C, Cn, Ccn, Ald, Mel, ANZ, FIN & LTZ (Sample Report)
Saliva + Blood Spot Test Kit Includes:
Female Comprehensive Profile I – E2, Pg, T, DS & Cx4 (saliva); TSH, fT3, fT4 & TPOab (blood spot) (Sample Report)
Female Comprehensive Profile II – Cx4 (saliva); E2, Pg, T, SHBG, DS, TSH, fT3, fT4 & TPOab (blood spot) (Sample Report)
Blood Spot Test Kit Includes:
Female Blood Profile I – E2, Pg, T, DS, C & SHBG
Female Blood Profile II – E2, Pg, T, DS, C, SHBG, TSH, fT3, fT4 & TPOab (Sample Report)
Essential Thyroid Profile – fT3, fT4, TPOab & TSH
Elite Thyroid Profile – T4, Tgbn, fT4, fT3, TPO & TSH
Vitamin D Profile – 25-OH D2, 25-OH D3, Total
Hormone Trio – E2, Pg & T
Serum Test Kit Includes:
Female Serum Hormones - Basic: E2, Pg, T, DS, C, SHBG & TSH
Male Serum Hormones - Basic: E2, T, DS, C, SHBG, PSA & TSH
Female Serum Hormones - Advanced: E2, Pg, T, DS, C, SHBG, TSH, fT3, fT4, TPOab, FSH, LH & FER (Sample Report)
Male Serum Hormones - Advanced: E2, T, DS, C, SHBG, PSA, TSH, fT3, fT4, TPOab, LH, PRL & FER
Methylation: FER, FOL, HCY & B12
Methylation and Memory - Basic: E2, Pg, T, SHBG, TSH, FOL, B12, HCY & BDNF
Methylation and Memory - Advanced: E2, Pg, T, DS, C, SHBG, TSH, fT3, fT4, TPOab, FER, FOL, B12, HCY & BDNF
Urine Metabolites Test Kit Includes:
Estrogen Essential Profile – A baseline view of how a patient is metabolizing estrogens. 12 tests.
Estrogen Elite Profile – Estrogen, progesterone and select androgen metabolites with BPA. 20 tests.
Advanced Metabolites Profile – Our broadest view of sex steroid hormone metabolite levels and cortisol metabolism with full diurnal melatonin and BPA. 44 tests. (Sample Report)
View Metabolites Tests Included in Each Profile
Neurotransmitters Test Kit Includes:
NeuroAdvanced Profile – GABA, Glu, Gly, DA, Epi, NE, HIST, 5-HT, PEA, DOPAC, HVA, 5-HIAA, NMN, VMA & Crtn (Sample Report)
Saliva Hormones add-on – E2, Pg, T, DS & C
Urine Hormones add-on – E2, Pregnanediol, Allopregnanolone, Androstenedione, T, Epi-T, DHT, DHEA, & 5α,3α-Androstanediol
Diurnal Cortisol add-on – Free Cortisol x 4 & Free Cortisone x 4
Diurnal Cortisol & Melatonin add-on – Free Cortisol x 4, Free Cortisone x 4 & Melatonin (MT6s) x 4
Diurnal Cortisol, Norepinephrine & Epinephrine add-on – Free Cortisol x 4, Free Cortisone x 4, NE x 4 & Epi x 4
Diurnal Cortisol, Melatonin, Norepinephrine & Epinephrine add-on – Free Cortisol x 4, Free Cortisone x 4, Melatonin (MT6s) x 4, NE x 4 & Epi x 4
Urine Toxic & Essential Elements add-on – I, Se, Br, Li, As, Cd & Hg
Reference Information
Testing Catalog
Overview of Kits
ZRT Test Directory & Abbreviations
Saliva Reference Ranges
LCMS Saliva Steroid Reference Ranges
Dried Blood Spot Reference Ranges
LCMS Dried Blood Spot Reference Ranges
Serum Reference Ranges
Urine Hormone Metabolites Reference Ranges
Neurotransmitter Reference Ranges
FAQs
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