Hormonal Tests
Hormonal Tests
A blood test for female hormones can provide crucial health insights. They can identify issues with fertility, the stage of your menstrual cycle, or the beginning of perimenopause.
What is under test?
Several important female hormones can be examined in hormone blood tests.
- Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH)
- Follicle stimulating harmone (FSH)
- Luteinizing harmone (LH)
- Estradiol (E2)
- Progesterone
- Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
- Serum prolactin
- Testosterone
Estrogen
Estrogen isn’t a single hormone. You have many types of estrogens.
Only three of them are commonly tested:
- Estrone (E1): The main post-menopausal hormone
- Estradiol (E2): The main female hormone before menopause and outside of pregnancy
- Estriol (E3): A form that increases during pregnancy
Low estrogen levels may be a sign of:
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- Decreased pituitary function (hypopituitarism)
- Anorexia nervosa
- Low body fat
High estrogen levels may occur with conditions such as:
- Obesity
- Light or heavy menstrual bleeding
- Worsened premenstrual syndrome
- Fatigue
- Loss of sex drive
Progesterone
Progesterone is essential for regulating menstruation and fetal development. During the luteal phase, it helps prepare the uterus to receive a fertilized egg.
When Progesterone Levels May Be Tested?
You may need a progesterone test to determine
- Whether you’re ovulating normally
- Why you’re having trouble getting pregnant
- Your risk of miscarriage or other pregnancy complications
- If you have a pregnancy outside of the uterus (ectopic pregnancy)
Follicle Stimulating Hormone
FSH can be checked with either blood or urine tests. FSH stimulates the growth of an egg in the ovary to get it ready for fertilization.
When FSH Levels May Be Tested
In adult females, the FSH test may be used in diagnosing
- Abnormal menstrual bleeding
- Infertility
- The start of perimenopause or menopause
- Ovarian function issues and PCOS
- Pituitary gland tumors
- Ovarian cysts
Thyroid Hormones
Thyroid function is determined by the levels of a group of hormones. These hormones are produced by the pituitary and thyroid glands. The three main ones are:
- Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): A pituitary hormone that tells the thyroid gland to produce more hormone
- Thyroxine (T4): An inactive thyroid hormone that can be converted to an active state
- Triiodothyronine (T3): The active thyroid hormone, most of which comes from converted thyroxine
Thyroid function tests are often included in a female hormone panel because thyroid diseases are more common in women than men. It may also be included to examine whether the thyroid is affecting fertility and pregnancy.
When Thyroid Levels May Be Tested?
You may need a thyroid hormone test if you have symptoms of either an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) or an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).