Analysis of Salivary Oestradiol, Progesterone & Testosterone by ELISASummary Sex-related differences in salivary oestradiol, progesterone, and testosterone were investigatedTestosterone was higher in males (830.05 ± 102.02 pmol/L) than females (278.82 ± 31.58 pmol/L) (p < 0.0001), whereas progesterone and oestradiol concentrations were similar in both sexesFluctuations of oestradiol and progesterone throughout the ovarian cycle were observed in premenopausal femalesProgesterone increased from 176.19 ± 75.2 pmol/L in the follicular phase to 406.61 ± 101.18 pmol/L in the luteal phase (p = 0.0838)Oestradiol showed no significant difference between each phaseTrends in steroid-hormone concentrations throughout the ovarian cycle differed slightly from literature values, possibly due to limited sample numbers AbstractThe aim of this experiment was to compare salivary oestradiol, progesterone, and testosterone concentrations in healthy, premenopausal males and females, as well as fluctuations in oestradiol and progesterone throughout the ovarian cycle. 76 saliva samples were collected and assayed, after which subjects on contraception, other significant medication or those with irregular cycles, were excluded from data analysis. Testosterone, being the primary male sex hormone, was significantly higher in males (830.05 ± 102.02 pmol/L) than females (278.82 ± 31.58 pmol/L) (p < 0.0001). Oestradiol and progesterone concentrations were predicted to be similar in males and females and this was observed in the results. According to literature values, oestradiol is the dominant steroid in the follicular phase and progesterone in the luteal phase. Results for oestradiol did not reflect this theory, as concentration was 9.58 ± 1.43 pmol/L in the follicular and 7.76 ± 0.64 pmol/L in the luteal phase (p = 0.2471). Progesterone, however, did increase from 176.19 ± 75.2 pmol/L in the follicular phase to 406.61 ± 101.18 pmol/L in the luteal phase (p = 0.0838). Fluctuations of oestradiol and progesterone throughout the ovarian cycle differed slightly from published reports, which could have been due to limited sample numbers.
