The Estrogen, Total, Serum test contains 1 test with 1 biomarker.
Description: Estrogen is a blood test that will measure the amount of estrogen in the blood's serum. It is used in fertility treatment, hormone treatment, and can be used to help diagnose a problem with the endocrine system.
Also Known As: Estrogen Estrogenic Hormones Test, Estrogen Test, Total Estrogen Test, Estrogen Serum Test
Collection Method: Blood Draw
Specimen Type: Serum
Test Preparation: No preparation required
When is an Estrogen Total test ordered?
Testing for estrogen for girls and women may be ordered if:
- The development of a girl's sex organs occurs sooner or later than predicted.
- After menopause, a woman may experience symptoms such as abnormal vaginal bleeding or irregular or absent menstrual cycles.
- When a woman is unable to conceive, a series of estradiol readings taken over the course of her menstrual cycle may be used to track follicle development before using in vitro fertilization procedures.
- A woman is experiencing menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, sleeplessness, and/or irregular or absent menstrual cycles.
- If a menopausal woman is on hormone replacement therapy, her doctor may order estrone levels on a regular basis to check her progress.
Boys and men may be subjected to estrogen testing if:
- A boy's puberty is delayed, as evidenced by slow or delayed growth of testicles and penis, as well as a lack of deepening of voice or growth of body hair.
- Signs of feminization, such as larger breasts, can be seen in a guy.
What does an Estrogen Total blood test check for?
Estrogens are a class of steroids that have a role in the development and operation of female reproductive organs, as well as the generation of secondary sex characteristics. They help regulate the menstrual cycle, are essential in the growth of breasts and the uterus, and aid in the maintenance of a healthy pregnancy, together with another hormone, progesterone. Though they are primarily associated with women, they are also prevalent in men and play a role in bone metabolism and growth in both genders.
The amount of estrogen in a man's blood varies, but it does so much less over time and is much lower than in a woman's.
Lab tests often ordered with an Estrogen Total test:
- Estradiol
- Estriol
- Estrone
- Testosterone Free and Total
- Sex Hormone Binding Globulin
- FSH
- LH
- Progesterone
Conditions where an Estrogen Total test is recommended:
- Infertility
- Menopause
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
- Hormone Imbalance
- Premature, delayed, or abnormal development of sex organs
How does my health care provider use an Estrogen Total test?
Estrogen tests are used to detect a deficit or excess of estrogen in a woman, as well as to aid in the diagnosis of a range of illnesses linked to this imbalance. They may also be ordered to monitor the health of the growing fetus and placenta during pregnancy, as well as to help predict the timing of a woman's ovulation. Estrogen testing can be used to detect a hormone excess and its origin in men.
What do my Estrogen test results mean?
The sex and age of the person being tested determine the normal estrogen levels. It also depends on a woman's menstrual cycle or whether she is pregnant. The normal values indicated and the units used in reference ranges will differ slightly between laboratories.
Estrogen levels can be elevated or lowered in a variety of metabolic disorders. Because the levels of estrone, estradiol, and estriol change from day to day and throughout a woman's menstrual cycle, care must be used when interpreting the results.
Rather than examining single numbers, a health practitioner monitoring a woman's hormones will look at trends in the levels, rising or falling over time in connection with the menstrual cycle or pregnancy.
We advise having your results reviewed by a licensed medical healthcare professional for proper interpretation of your results.
