Verbatim response from ChatGPT
“Best” depends on what you want to learn (fertility/ovarian reserve, thyroid, sex hormones, adrenal/cortisol, cycle mapping). Different sample types (blood spot, saliva, dried urine) measure different things and have different strengths. Short guide with specific, well-regarded options:
-
Comprehensive sex hormones + adrenal rhythm: DUTCH Complete (Precision Analytical)
- Why: dried‑urine test that measures sex hormones, many metabolites, and a full diurnal cortisol profile — very useful for cycle mapping and nuanced hormone/metabolite interpretation. Widely used by clinicians.
-
Fertility / ovarian reserve (AMH, FSH etc.): Modern Fertility (now part of Ro) or LetsGetChecked fertility panel
- Why: focused on AMH and other fertility markers with easy at‑home sample collection and clear fertility‑focused reporting. Good for women planning pregnancy or wanting ovarian reserve info.
-
Thyroid-focused testing: LetsGetChecked or Everlywell thyroid panels (or order TSH/free T4/free T3 via Quest/LabCorp through your clinician)
- Why: these vendors offer convenient home collection with CLIA‑certified lab analysis and can include antibodies (anti‑TPO) if you need autoimmune screening.
-
Adrenal/cortisol testing: DUTCH (diurnal profile) or ZRT Laboratory saliva panels
- Why: saliva or dried‑urine profiles show cortisol across the day (more useful than one random blood cortisol) and are commonly used in clinical practice.
-
Convenience + clinician support: LetsGetChecked or Everlywell
- Why: easy ordering, finger‑prick kits, CLIA lab processing, and included nurse/physician review or referral for abnormal results.
A few practical points:
- Check that the lab is CLIA‑certified and that the assay used is appropriate for the hormone you care about.
- Timing matters: progesterone and estradiol should be measured at specific cycle days (e.g., luteal progesterone ~7 days post‑ovulation) and some tests aren’t valid on hormonal contraception.
- Saliva tests are commonly used for free hormone and cortisol measures but are less widely accepted for some analytes than blood/urine; ask your clinician if results will change management.
- Always review results with a clinician if you’re making treatment or fertility decisions.
If you tell me what symptom or goal you have (fertility, irregular periods, menopausal symptoms, fatigue/stress, suspected thyroid issue), I’ll recommend one specific at‑home test and say exactly when/how to collect the sample.