Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that regulates blood pressure, stress response, and reproductive health. Testing for cortisol imbalances can be done through blood, urine, or saliva tests, with blood testing being the most common. Patients should inform their doctor of any medications they are taking and avoid strenuous exercise before testing. There is controversy over the effectiveness of saliva and urine testing compared to blood testing.
Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands. These glands sit just above each kidney and are responsible for regulating blood pressure and the body’s response to stress. The adrenal glands are also responsible for sexual development and reproductive health. If there is a cortisol imbalance, any of these functions can be negatively affected. Cortisol testing is a relatively simple way to determine if there is an imbalance relating to this hormone and can be done by blood, urine or saliva tests.
Cortisol testing is most frequently done through the use of a blood test. It is common to do this test twice in one day, with one blood drawn in the morning and another in the afternoon. Cortisol levels naturally fluctuate throughout the day, so having these two blood samples can help your doctor determine if your hormone levels fluctuate at an appropriate rate.
Cortisol testing using saliva has become a more popular choice for many patients. With this procedure, all the patient has to do is spit into a test tube. Instead of twice a day as in blood testing, cortisol levels should be measured four times over the course of a day when testing saliva. The patient typically performs this test at home and then ships the tubes to the lab for analysis.
Using urine as a form of cortisol testing is another possible method. A 24-hour urine sample is required for this test. The patient will be given a container to take home and use to collect urine. The container is usually stored in the refrigerator during harvest time. Once the 24 hours have elapsed, the patient will return the container to a previously designated location for testing.
It is important to let your doctor know what medications you are taking before having a cortisol test, as some medications can cause inaccurate results. Patients are often asked to avoid any type of strenuous exercise for a full day before cortisol testing. Lying down and resting just before the test will often help the test results be more accurate as well. There is a degree of controversy regarding the effectiveness of saliva or urine cortisol testing versus blood testing methods. Therefore, many doctors prefer to use traditional blood tests instead of using a procedure that may be more convenient for the patient.
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