What is Oestradiol (Saliva)?
Oestradiol is the most potent endogenous oestrogen, produced mainly by the ovaries with peripheral contributions from aromatisation in adipose tissue. The salivary fraction is taken to reflect the free, bioavailable hormone, as only unbound steroid is thought to enter saliva. Measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, salivary oestradiol is offered as an index of bioavailable oestrogen status across the cycle and life stages.