The importance of measuring your testosterone levels for the bodybuilder before, during, and after a steroid cycle cannot be underestimated. In my personal consultation programs, I have worked with hundreds of athletes and one thing I always insist upon is that pre-cycle, we establish baseline levels for testosterone and that we make sure they have returned to normal post-cycle.

And yet, for almost every athlete that consults with me, I consistently hear that they have never done any form of testosterone analysis. The two reasons cited are 1. the cost involved and 2. the fact that the test involves a visit to the doctor along with his possible questions.

The other blood test that I like my consultation clients to take is a complete thyroid panel. When I work with an athlete that cannot lose weight (bodyfat) regardless of how much dieting he does, then the usual culprit is a lazy thyroid. The contrary is true for the hard-gaining athlete, who may have cycled more drugs than Dorian Yates, yet has never been able to gain significant mass. In the case of the cycling hardgainer, nine times out of ten, he suffers from an overactive thyroid.

Testosterone and thyroid level screening is so important and so often overlooked, that I was very glad to hear about a company that provides an at-home saliva, hormonal test.

The test is called Endoscreen and compared to a blood test, it is a simple, non-invasive test that can be performed in the privacy of your home. Basically, you mail your saliva samples to a laboratory and you get your results back within five working days following receipt of the sample. The hormones in your saliva are stable at room temperature for 5 days and require no special shipping and handling.

For years, various screenings have been available to the public. It is not uncommon to see blood pressure screenings at the mall, osteoporosis screenings at gyms, or even cholesterol tests offered at grocery stores. However, endocrine (hormonal) testing is rarely available outside of the doctor's office.

This lack of availability is unfortunate since hormones are essential to health, energy and strength. Women, for instance, may be placed on hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills, possibly without even having a complete hormonal panel taken before the therapy begins. Young men may take legal OTC products like andro or Tribulus to enhance testosterone production without having any way of monitoring the results. Older women may get OTC progesterone creams at the health food store not knowing if they are helping them achieve hormonal balance. And of course so many bodybuilders begin a steroid cycle, not knowing their natural testosterone levels and therefore not knowing what levels they need to return to after the cycle to prevent health problems associated with a prolonged testosterone deficit.

Clearly, it's wise for individuals to screen for potential hormone imbalances when beginning any therapy that may alter hormones, when ending any therapy that may alter hormones, at various stages of life (such as menopause), or just as a general health screen.

Saliva testing measures the levels of circulating levels of hormones available to body tissues in men and women. Saliva is considered to be a better indicator of biologically active hormone levels than blood as it more accurately reflects the body's functional hormone status.

Saliva testing is a simple way to determine if hormone levels are within the expected normal range for your age and gender, and to ensure that your levels have returned to normal after a steroid cycle. Saliva testing is also an accurate method of evaluating how hormone replacement therapy, topical hormone creams, steroid precursors, diet, herbal therapy, and exercise influence these levels.

Saliva hormone levels are useful for:

Monitoring age related reductions in normal hormone levels which are responsible in large part for infertility, decreased energy and muscle strength, loss of libido, and an increase in the symptoms of menopause.
Monitoring the effectiveness of products containing hormones (skin creams, oral steroids, injectable steroids and supplements) containing hormones or their precursors.
Measuring the effect of phytoestrogens consumed in foods and herbs.
Measuring the effects of hormone replacement therapy.
Monitoring the level of cortisol at the cell level controlling thyroid hormone production.

Please do not take your hormonal levels for granted. Get them tested, either at the doctor's office, or using a saliva test like Endoscreen.