Blood Test VS Salivia Test????

New Dr's office I am with says they are not big fans of salivia testing. However, compounding pharmacy says salivia testing is like "gold" to them. They said the results are more accurate and said something about free estrogen and bound estrogen.

Dr's office also said during my first visit that many times the compounding pharmacists know more about all this than they do. So who do I trust here?

Does anyone have a clue about which one is more accurate and what bound estrogen and free estrogen means exactly? Please tell me if you know anything about this. Thanks!

I and my doctor don't believe in Saliva testing for hormones. I have read much of inaccurate results. I would stick with the bloodwork.

My doctor uses a compounding pharmacy and does only blood testing. I trust her judgement.

My endocrinologist will not use saliva testing. She had in the past and said they were inaccurate and unreliable. Saliva testing tests "free hormones" only - those immediately available for use. Blood testing tests "free and bound" hormones, but studies have shown that your body can use both, and that bound hormones can later become free for use. Saliva testing believes that only free should be measured as they are the only ones available.

My other dr (gyn) prefers saliva testing. She has apparently done both at the same time on patients and the results are very different. She says she felt like she was overmedicating based on blood testing alone.

For me, I feel like the bloodtests more accurately reflect how I feel, symptom wise.

Usually insurance companies will not cover saliva testing, but usually cover blood testing.