Estrogen Testing

Estrogen Testing for Women

The female ‘sex hormone’ estrogen affects almost every aspect of a woman’s health and wellbeing. Most women understand that the female hormone estrogen plays a part in regulating the menstrual cycle, fertility, and even libido (sex drive). But estrogen also impacts almost every other organ and system within the female body – including cholesterol control, bone density (preventing osteoporosis), metabolism (weight gain), youthful skin, and much more.

Yet estrogen production declines dramatically in women sometime between 40 and 55. And during the first year of menopause, a woman will lose on average 80% of their estrogen. So, when a woman starts to experience increased belly fat, brain fog, loss of energy, painful sex, urinary incontinence and more as she ages, estrogen loss is likely the culprit.

Fortunately, modern methodology in estrogen replacement therapy can effectively restore lost estrogen levels. But the first step is estrogen testing to determine the woman’s current hormone levels – so that customized estrogen replacement can be accurately dosed.

In this article the hormone replacement experts at Tutera medical in Scottsdale, AZ explain the basics of estrogen testing for women.

What Is Estrogen Testing?

There are actually three forms of estrogen found in the female body:

• Estrone (E1): the primary form of estrogen that the female body makes after menopause.
• Estradiol (E2): the primary form of estrogen in the female body during a woman’s reproductive years. This is the most potent form of estrogen.
• Estriol (E3): the primary form of estrogen during pregnancy.

The types and amounts of these different estrogens will vary throughout a woman’s life, during each menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, and even throughout the day and from day to day.

Estrogen testing is most common during pregnancy and menopause – but it can also be beneficial for doctors in diagnosing and treating issues related to puberty, fertility, PCOS, endometriosis and other conditions.

Through comprehensive estrogen testing, the doctor can determine if a patient has too much or too little of a certain estrogen type.

Estrogen Testing Procedure

Estrogen testing is a quick, simple, relatively painless, in-office blood test. But interpretation of the results is best done by an experienced hormone specialist, like the HRT experts at Tutera Medical in Scottsdale, Glendale and Chandler, AZ.

While some doctor may conduct urine or saliva estrogen testing, blood testing is the most accurate way to assess estrogen levels.  During the blood test, the trained health care provider will take a little blood from a vein in your arm. The blood sample will then be sent to a lab for testing – after which the results will be returned to your doctor for interpretation.

Patients do not need to do anything special to prepare for estrogen testing. There is no fasting beforehand as there is with many other types of blood tests. However, patients should tell their doctor about all medications and supplements they are taking, including birth control pills and vitamins.

Estrogen Testing Results

Optimal or “normal” estrogen levels will depend on the patients age, gender, if they are pregnant, and even where she is in her menstrual cycle.

High or low levels of a specific form of estrogen aren’t typically enough to diagnosis an underlying medical condition, but they can be the first step in understanding what is going on inside the patient’s body.  The following list is not intended as medical advice – but rather provide examples of what various estrogen imbalances may mean.

Remember, estrogen testing results should only be interpreted by a doctor who is trained, skilled and experienced in diagnosing hormonal related conditions like the HRT experts at Tutera Medical in Scottsdale, Glendale and Chandler, AZ.

High Estrogen Levels

• High E1 or E2 levels in girls: This can mean early puberty in girls.
• High E1 or E2 levels in women: Can be sign of ovarian tumors.
• High E1 or E2 levels in boys and men: Can signal delayed puberty, tumors in the testicles, or gynecomastia (male breasts).
• High E1 or E2 levels in women and men: Can also be an indication of hyperthyroidism, cirrhosis (liver damage), tumors in the adrenal glands.
• High E3 levels in pregnant women: Typically means that labor will occur soon.

Low Estrogen Levels

• Low estradiol levels in women: this happens after menopause.
• Low estradiol levels in pregnant women: may indicate a failing pregnancy (when estriol levels drop)
• Low estrogen levels in women: This can be a signal of several conditions, including poorly functioning ovaries, eating disorders, or Turner syndrome (an abnormal or missing X chromosome)

Depending on the patient’s estrogen testing results and their symptoms, the doctor may recommend other tests to help pinpoint a diagnosis.

Estrogen Testing for Menopausal Women

Estrogen testing is the first step in helping women who are suffering from the many symptoms of menopause. Once a woman’s hormone levels are determined, customized hormone replacement therapy can be implemented to restore estrogen and other hormones to optimal levels.

Estrogen replacement therapy can restore a woman’s quality of life by eliminating the frustrating symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, low energy, loss of sex drive, painful sex, weight gain and more.

Hormone replacement therapy to replace menopausal estrogen loss also supports bone health, offers heart & artery protection, and can protect against cognitive decline.

Estrogen Testing | Scottsdale, AZ

If you are a woman or man who is showing signs and symptoms that you suspect may be related to hormone loss or imbalance, schedule hormone testing and a comprehensive consultation with the hormone testing and replacement experts at Tutera Medical in Scottsdale, Glendale and Chandler, AZ.

Take the first step to diagnosis the cause of your symptoms, and restoring your life to optimal health, wellbeing, and vitality.

Estrogen Testing | Scottsdale, AZ: 480-874-1515