Is your doctor ordering estrogen-level testing? If yes, then you must know why estrogen hormone is essential and what impact it has on your body functions. This hormone is essential for both men and women. If the level gets too low or too high, it can lead to many conditions. Learn about estrogen testing in this article.
What is an estrogen test?
This test is used to measure the estrogen levels in the blood. This test is done by a blood or urine sample. Estrogen is an essential hormone that plays a key role in female reproductive development and functions such as puberty, menstruation, menopause, and pregnancy. Additionally, it also helps in other essential functions of the body such as heart, bone, and brain health in both males and females. However, estrogen is less in quantity in males and high in females.
Estrogen is a group of hormones that contain many hormones but basically, three are common and get tested.
- Estrone: This hormone is called E1, which is the only estrogen hormone in females that continues to be produced even after menopause (Menopause is a period when a woman’s menstrual cycle stops, and they cannot get pregnant). This hormone is produced by adrenal glands and in body fat cells both in males and females. However, in females, it is also produced by the ovaries.
- Estradiol: This type of estrogen is known as E2, which is the main estrogen hormone in nonpregnant females of childbearing age. It is mostly produced by the ovaries and is essential for fertility. Additionally, it also supports brain and bone health. Males also produce estradiol in smaller amounts (by testicles).
- Estriol: This type of estrogen is called E3, which is produced in excessive amounts during pregnancy. The placenta (an organ that grows in the uterus to provide nutrients and oxygen to the unborn baby) produces estriol. Measuring estriol levels can help to monitor the health of the pregnant woman and her baby. Males and nonpregnant females have low levels of estriol in their bodies.
Estrogen levels usually change in females a lot over the course of life. In males, it usually stays the same. But if their levels are too high or too low it indicates health issues.
What is it used for?
This test is used to measure the levels of different forms of estrogen in males and females.
E1 and E2 testing in girls and women may be ordered by your doctor if you have signs of:
- Earlier or later development of sex organs.
- Having symptoms of abnormal vaginal bleeding after menopause or lack of menstrual cycles.
- If you’re experiencing infertility, a series of E2 measurements need to be done throughout the menstrual cycle to monitor follicle development before in vitro fertilization techniques.
- Having menopause symptoms such as night sweats, hot flashes, insomnia, and irregular or lack of menstrual periods.
- If a menopausal woman is taking hormone replacement therapy, the healthcare provider wants to check E1 levels to make sure the treatment is working effectively.
E3 testing in women may be ordered:
- During pregnancy, healthcare providers take the E3 samples to check whether there’s a rise or fall in the E3 level over time.
- Unconjugated E3 is measured in the 15th to 20th week of gestation as part of the triple-quad screen.
E2 and E1 testing in boys and men are needed if:
- If a boy has signs of delayed puberty such as lack of muscle mass, growth of body hair, lack of deep voice, slow or delayed growth of testicles and penis.
- Signs of feminization such as enlarged breasts.
Need help with estrogen testing? Don’t worry, we have the best endocrinologists who can diagnose your condition properly and treat you accordingly. Call us on +1-347-384-5690 and get answers to all your queries. Log on to www.doralhw.org or visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212 to book an appointment with our endocrinologist to get the best treatment. We have the best endocrinologists who treat these kinds of diseases and helpful staff to aid you during your treatment.