Women’s Health
Women generally live longer than men, but they also face a higher risk of chronic health issues. Conditions like autoimmune diseases—such as lupus, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis—are more common in women.
Pregnancy can bring its own set of challenges, including hormonal fluctuations, weight gain, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia. As women age, menopause introduces further health concerns like hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and insomnia. Additionally, diseases such as heart disease and diabetes can present differently in women compared to men.
Unfortunately, research on women’s health has historically received insufficient funding, leading to gaps in understanding and treatment options for conditions that predominantly affect women. It’s essential to prioritize awareness and support for women’s unique health needs, including hormone imbalances and chronic illnesses.
What Do Women’s Health Tests Measure?
Women’s health tests are designed to assess various hormones and factors critical to a woman’s physical and emotional well-being. These tests help diagnose and manage conditions that impact women’s health across several areas, including gynecological, reproductive, sexual, hormonal, stress, heart, and bone health.
Anchor Medical Center offers a variety of women’s health tests, including:
Anti-Aging Women’s Health
The Women’s Anti-Aging Health Panel is a cost-effective blood lab test designed for the early detection, prevention, treatment, and reversal of age-related diseases.
Biomarkers
ALP
ALT
AST
Albumin
BUN
Calcium
Carbon Dioxide
Chloride
Creatinine
Cortisol AM
E2
FSH
Prolactin
Fasting Glucose
Globulin
HDL
Hematocrit
Hemoglobin
LDL
MCH
MCHC
MCV
MPV
Platelets
Potassium
RBC
RDW
Sodium
TSH
Total Testosterone
Total Bilirubin
Total Cholesterol
Total Protein
Triglycerides
WBC
eGFR
fT3
fT4
hs-CRP
Vitamin D
Vitamin B12
Reverse T3
Hemoglobin A1C
Anti TPO Ab
Anti-Tg
Magnesium
Insulin Fasting
IGF-1
Homocysteine
Folate
DHEA-S
DUTCH Sex Hormone Metabolites (Dried Urine)
The DUTCH Sex Hormone Metabolites test measures estrogen, progesterone, and androgen hormones, along with their metabolites. It’s ideal for establishing a baseline hormone reading or monitoring bioidentical hormone replacement therapy effectiveness.
Biomarkers
16-OH-E1
2-Methoxy-E1
2-OH-E1
2-OH-E2
4-OH-E1
4-OH-E2
5a-Androstanediol
5a-DHT
5b-Androstanediol
Androsterone
DHEA-S
E1
E2
E3
Epi-Testosterone
Etiocholanolone
Progesterone
Testosterone
Total Estrogen
a-Pregnanediol
b-Pregnanediol
Shipping Time: 3-5 Business Days
Avg. Sample Processing Time: 10 Business Days
BHRT Hormone Initial – Women
The Comprehensive Women’s Hormone Panel measures various hormones and key markers, offering an in-depth assessment of a patient’s health. This profile helps identify hormonal imbalances and guides treatment for various health concerns. This test package is specifically designed for initiating and monitoring Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy.
Biomarkers
ALP
ALT
AST
Albumin
BUN
Calcium
Carbon Dioxide
Chloride
Creatinine
E2
FSH
Fasting Glucose
Globulin
HDL
Hematocrit
Hemoglobin
LDL
MCH
MCHC
MCV
MPV
Platelets
Potassium
RBC
RDW
Sodium
TSH
Testosterone
Total Bilirubin
Total Cholesterol
Total Protein
Triglycerides
WBC
eGFR
fT3
fT4
hs-CRP
Vitamin D
Vitamin B12
Thyroid Peroxidase Antibody
Reverse T3
Hemoglobin A1C
Prolactin
Cortisol AM
BHRT Hormone Follow Up – Women
This profile helps identify hormonal imbalances and guides ongoing Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for various health concerns.
Biomarkers
Estradiol
Total Testosterone
FSH
BHRT Hormone w/Thyroid Follow Up – Women
This profile helps identify hormonal imbalances and guides ongoing Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for various health concerns.
Biomarkers
Estradiol
Total Testosterone
FSH
TSH
T4 Free
T3 Free
Saliva Hormone Profile I
The Saliva Profile I offers a baseline assessment of morning cortisol levels, along with four key sex and adrenal hormones. This profile helps to identify hormonal imbalances and guides treatment for various health issues.
Biomarkers
Cortisol Morning
DHEA-S
E2
Pg/E2 Ratio
Progesterone
Testosterone
Shipping Time: 2-3 Business Days
Avg. Sample Processing Time: 7 Business Days
Saliva Hormone Profile II
The Saliva Profile II provides a baseline assessment of four key sex and adrenal hormones, along with two cortisol measurements. This comprehensive profile helps to identify hormonal imbalances and supports effective treatment planning.
Biomarkers
Cortisol Morning
Cortisol Night
DHEA-S
E2
Pg/E2 Ratio
Progesterone
Testosterone
Shipping Time: 2-3 Business Days
Avg. Sample Processing Time: 7 Business Days
Saliva Hormone Profile III
The Saliva Profile III offers a baseline assessment of four key sex and adrenal hormones, along with a diurnal cortisol profile. This helps to evaluate hormone fluctuations throughout the day and informs treatment strategies.
Biomarkers
Cortisol Evening
Cortisol Morning
Cortisol Night
Cortisol Noon
DHEA-S
E2
Pg/E2 Ratio
Progesterone
Testosterone
Shipping Time: 2-3 Business Days
Avg. Sample Processing Time: 7 Business Days
In addition to these specialized tests, a comprehensive medical history, physical examination, and complete blood count can provide valuable context. Depending on the results, further assessments such as bone density testing or mental health evaluations may be beneficial, as mental health can significantly impact conditions like menopause, infertility, and pregnancy.
Treatment Plans
Managing women’s health requires understanding each woman’s unique hormone profile and individual needs. Treatment interventions are tailored to alleviate symptoms and reduce the risk of long-term health issues.
Common treatment plans may include:
- Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy: Balancing hormone levels to alleviate symptoms.
- Nutrition and Exercise: Enhancing diet and physical activity to support overall health.
- Nutritional Supplements: Providing essential nutrients that may be lacking.
- Emotional and Social Health: Focusing on mental well-being and social support.
- Stress Management: Implementing strategies to reduce stress and promote relaxation.
References
- https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007458.htm#:~:text=Women%27s%20health%20refers%20to%20the,physical%20and%20emotional%20well%2Dbeing.
- https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/womenshealth
- https://www.who.int/news-room/commentaries/detail/ten-top-issues-for-women%27s-health
Men’s Health
Men are at a higher risk for preventable causes of death, such as heart disease and unintentional injuries. Men’s health focuses on conditions specific to them, including prostate-related illnesses like erectile dysfunction and prostate cancer, as well as serious diseases where men are at greater risk, such as heart disease and lung cancer.
Key areas of men’s health encompass reproductive, sexual, cardiovascular, and mental health, along with cancer prevention and treatment. Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy can be crucial for addressing hormonal imbalances, while weight loss plays an important role in managing chronic illnesses. Lifestyle factors, including diet, stress management, and exercise, as well as preventive screenings, are essential for overall men’s health.
What Do Men’s Health Tests Measure?
Men’s health tests assess hormones and biomarkers that are crucial for understanding male health, including testosterone, cortisol, prostate-specific antigen (PSA), cholesterol, and HbA1C. Anchor Medical Center offers a variety of tests utilizing different sample types (blood, saliva, urine).
Some examples of these tests include:
Anti-Aging Men’s Health
The Men’s Anti-Aging Health Panel is a cost-effective blood lab test designed for the early detection, prevention, treatment, and reversal of age-related diseases.
Biomarkers
ALP
ALT
AST
Albumin
BUN
Calcium
Carbon Dioxide
Chloride
Creatinine
Cortisol AM
E2
FSH
LH
Prolactin
Fasting Glucose
Globulin
HDL
Hematocrit
Hemoglobin
LDL
MCH
MCHC
MCV
MPV
Platelets
Potassium
RBC
RDW
Sodium
TSH
Total and Free Testosterone
Total Bilirubin
Total Cholesterol
Total Protein
Triglycerides
WBC
eGFR
fT3
fT4
hs-CRP
Vitamin D
Vitamin B12
Reverse T3
Hemoglobin A1C
PSA
Uric Acid
Magnesium
Insulin Fasting
IGF-1
Homocysteine
Folate
DHEA-S
DUTCH Sex Hormone Metabolites (Dried Urine)
The DUTCH Sex Hormone Metabolites test measures estrogen, progesterone, and androgen hormones, along with their metabolites. It’s ideal for establishing a baseline hormone reading or monitoring bioidentical hormone replacement therapy effectiveness.
Biomarkers
16-OH-E1
2-Methoxy-E1
2-OH-E1
2-OH-E2
4-OH-E1
4-OH-E2
5a-Androstanediol
5a-DHT
5b-Androstanediol
Androsterone
DHEA-S
E1
E2
E3
Epi-Testosterone
Etiocholanolone
Progesterone
Testosterone
Total Estrogen
a-Pregnanediol
b-Pregnanediol
Shipping Time: 3-5 Business Days
Avg. Sample Processing Time: 10 Business Days
BHRT Hormone Initial-Men
The Comprehensive Men’s Hormone Panel measures various hormones and key markers, offering an in-depth assessment of a patient’s health. This profile helps identify hormonal imbalances and guides treatment for various health concerns. This test package is specifically designed for initiating and monitoring Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy.
Biomarkers
ALP
ALT
AST
Albumin
BUN
Calcium
Carbon Dioxide
Chloride
Creatinine
Cortisol AM
E2
FSH
LH
Prolactin
Fasting Glucose
Globulin
HDL
Hematocrit
Hemoglobin
LDL
MCH
MCHC
MCV
MPV
Platelets
Potassium
RBC
RDW
Sodium
TSH
Total and Free Testosterone
Total Bilirubin
Total Cholesterol
Total Protein
Triglycerides
WBC
eGFR
fT3
fT4
hs-CRP
Vitamin D
Vitamin B12
Reverse T3
Hemoglobin A1C
PSA
BHRT Hormone Follow Up – Men
This profile helps identify hormonal imbalances and guides ongoing Hormone Replacement Therapy for various health concerns.
Biomarkers
Total Testosterone
Estradiol
PSA
CBC
BHRT Hormone w/Thyroid Follow Up – Men
This profile helps identify hormonal imbalances and guides ongoing Hormone Replacement Therapy for various health concerns.
Biomarkers
Total & Free Testosterone
Estradiol
TSH
T4 Free
T3 Free
PSA
CBC
Saliva Hormone Profile I
The Saliva Profile I offers a baseline assessment of morning cortisol levels, along with four key sex and adrenal hormones. This profile helps to identify hormonal imbalances and guides treatment for various health issues.
Biomarkers
Cortisol Morning
DHEA-S
E2
Pg/E2 Ratio
Progesterone
Testosterone
Shipping Time: 2-3 Business Days
Avg. Sample Processing Time: 7 Business Days
Saliva Hormone Profile II
The Saliva Profile II provides a baseline assessment of four key sex and adrenal hormones, along with two cortisol measurements. This comprehensive profile helps to identify hormonal imbalances and supports effective treatment planning.
Biomarkers
Cortisol Morning
Cortisol Night
DHEA-S
E2
Pg/E2 Ratio
Progesterone
Testosterone
Shipping Time: 2-3 Business Days
Avg. Sample Processing Time: 7 Business Days
Saliva Hormone Profile III
The Saliva Profile III offers a baseline assessment of four key sex and adrenal hormones, along with a diurnal cortisol profile. This helps to evaluate hormone fluctuations throughout the day and informs treatment strategies.
Biomarkers
Cortisol Evening
Cortisol Morning
Cortisol Night
Cortisol Noon
DHEA-S
E2
Pg/E2 Ratio
Progesterone
Testosterone
Shipping Time: 2-3 Business Days
Avg. Sample Processing Time: 7 Business Days
Alongside men’s health tests, a physical examination and medical history are crucial for a comprehensive assessment. Recommended age-group screenings include blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and prostate cancer screenings to ensure overall health and early detection of potential issues.
Treatment Plans
Treatment plans for men’s health typically focus on promoting self-care, which includes supporting mental health, encouraging appropriate exercise, healthy eating, and taking supplements, as well as undertaking preventive screenings.
Depending on the specific health concern, common treatment plans may include:
- Prostate Health: Regular screenings, beneficial supplements to improve urinary tract function, staying hydrated, and dietary changes to limit caffeine and processed foods.
- Low Testosterone: Ensuring adequate sleep, engaging in regular exercise, maintaining a balanced diet, managing stress, and taking supplements like vitamin D and ginger to help boost testosterone levels. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy may also be considered to restore hormonal balance. Symptoms of low testosterone may include unexplained fatigue, depression, irritability, increased body fat, male breast tissue growth, loss of muscle tone, and decreased libido.
- Heart Health: Managing and reducing stress, incorporating daily activity and exercise, and including omega-3 fatty acids and magnesium in the diet.
References
- https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/menshealth/conditioninfo/commonconditions
- https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db88.pdf
- https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/men#:~:text=Men%20are%20at%20higher%20risk,for%20men%20of%20all%20ages.
- https://medlineplus.gov/menshealth.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4854098/#:~:text=Traditionally%2C%20testosterone%20and%20estrogen%20have,%2C%20erectile%20function%2C%20and%20spermatogenesis.
- https://holisticintegrativewellness.com/male-health-4-common-concerns-and-how-to-treat-them-naturally/